A/N: One hundred percent AU. Harry and Ron left Hermione behind to look for Horcruxes and then Hermione's mandatory presence at Hogwart's is requested.

Pairing is Hermione/Draco, rated M for themes of profanity, perhaps smut, torture, and death.

Let me know what you think :)? X

MEMOIRS OF AN UNTOLD STORY

CHAPTER FIVE:

HOPELESS THOUGHTS

oOo

It was hot summer days like this that reminded Hermione of the Muggle world, it's normality and her parents. While Hermione always knew that she no longer fitted in with the Muggle World, it was the simplest things that made her feel relaxed; a friendly wave from the postman, the sounds of the birds in her back garden, two cars stopped in the middle of an empty road with both the drivers hanging out their windows, content with light conversation. However, long summer nights had long been forgotten and before Hermione could let herself be pulled into a world of old memories, she raised her head slightly and saw that Blaise had entered the library.

Hermione straightened up and pretended to re-read the open book in front of her, moving slightly as the sun's direct contact on her back became unbearable. Blaise moved casually over to the Magical Creature's section and Hermione waited a couple of seconds before closing her open book and walking over to the section next to Blaise. She slid her book back into it's place and glanced over to Blaise, seeing he was fingering a big black book with gold lettering. Almost in an unspoken agreement, they swiftly switched sides and Hermione pretended to be interested in other books before she casually picked up the big black book with gold lettering Blaise had held.

Hermione saw through the reflection of the window that Blaise was now holding the book she had in her hands mere minutes ago and smiled slightly. She turned and walked back to her table, opening the book's front page. She turned to chapter one and saw a black piece of paper, folded up and crumpled. Hermione looked around and saw that Blaise was sat down at the other side of the room and that they were virtually alone. She let out a deep breath before she opened the note, and read in Blaise's white scribbled handwriting;

'Found something we could use; crystals. I got them as a present years ago and there's enough for all of us. I wrapped them in a brown paper bag and hid them in the clock tower. Hope you had some luck with the spell'.

Across the room, Blaise opened up his note in the book laid out before him and saw Hermione's neat, prim words;

'Have a lead on the spell but it's tricky and powerful - get back to you soon. Hope you got wearable objects to enchant. We can't give up'.

Hermione crumpled the enchanted note back over and watched it magically turn to ash, waving her hand about to get rid of the small puff of smoke. Hermione smiled; she really was smarter than most people. She looked over and saw Blaise doing the same. Throwing him a small smile, she closed the book in front of her over and got up to put it back. In a confident stride, Hermione walked by Blaise - choosing not to give him a look as more students had entered the library - and walked out, heading for the main hall. She'd go for the crystals when it was dark with the Invisibility Cloak. A part of her itched to go for them now but she couldn't risk being followed by a nosey Slytherin, or worse - a Death Eater.

Before she was almost approaching the main hall, another figure stepped into her pace and Hermione's head jerked round to see short blonde hair. Draco. Her heartbeat rose unexpectedly and she slowly raised an eyebrow. "Is there something you need help with?" she asked, trying to sound casual but she was pretty sure it came out like a frightened squeal.

"Snape wants to see us tonight" Draco said, obviously bored of the conversation already.

"Snape?" Hermione's stomach plummeted to the floor and she felt her muscles tighten in fear "Why? Why the both of us?".

"Oh well he explained his every idea and thought when we chatted over a cauldron and agreed to meet for lunch" Draco drawled out sarcastically. He looked down to Hermione seriously now "How the hell should I know? That's all he said. Be at his office at 8" he gave her a thoughtful look before leaving Hermione standing alone where she was frozen in place.

Automatically, Hermione began walking again and finally entered the main hall, going straight for the Gryffindor table, where Neville and Ginny were already sat. "Snape wants to see me and Dr-Malfoy tonight" she hissed at her shocked friends, trying to calm herself down.

"Malfoy didn't say what it was about?" Neville raised an eyebrow up in obvious suspicion.

"He said he didn't know" Hermione nervously played with a bit of bread lying on the table and frowned, "I honestly don't know why the both of us either. He couldn't have found out about Blaise because well, Blaise would be dead by now so what else does that leave?".

"Maybe Snape's just being an arrogant bastard like always and wants to make life more hell for you" Ginny whispered to them both "He did kill Professor Dumbledore, there's no doubt that he's evil".

"Something about what he said to me in the potion's basement the night Carrow attacked us is bothering me" Hermione frowned, "He said when this was all over, everything would make sense… That's a little bit optimistic for someone who's supposedly evil isn't it? It seemed like…".

"He was trying to give you hope" Ginny finished for her, frowning aswell. "I remember that, I was there… Now that you think about it, when you swore at him he almost looked a little…".

"Guilty?" Hermione asked, "I thought the exact same thing… Do you think Snape's actually on our side? And Professor McGonagall said something similar when I spoke to her in her office… She said he was on our side, maybe-".

"Do you two hear yourselves?" Neville interrupted, slightly annoyed, "He killed Dumbledore. Killed him. As in dead. As in took another human being's life away. He's evil and he's definitely not on our side".

"What if Dumbledore's not dead?" Ginny's eyes shone with brightness "What if it's a plan? To make it seem like Dumbledore isn't a threat anymore… With Snape working as a double agent, they have the element of surprise".

"You're crazy" Neville shook his head with disbelief "We all saw it, Ginny. Dumbledore died right in front of us for crying out loud! And we all know who fucking killed him!".

Ginny sighed and looked down, her shiny hope slowly disappearing.

Neville rubbed his head tiredly and let out a deep breath "I'm sorry for being so blunt but you can't give yourself false hope. We need to move on and I know it's hard, trust me I know how hard it is to let go of hope, but we have to focus on the here and now. Snape is evil, he's working for evil and we have to find a way to stop them, we have to focus on helping Harry".

"You're right" Hermione leaned back, "Snape is evil. But because I have to see him tonight, I can't pick up the package from Blaise" she whispered, looking around to see if anyone was listening.

"He got something to enchant?" Ginny whispered back.

Hermione nodded, "Wearable crystals".

"Like a necklace?" Neville raised an eyebrow, "Great".

"We'll all have to wear it under our clothes anyway to hide it so it doesn't matter" Hermione rolled her eyes, "Anyway, I either get it tomorrow night but I don't like the thought of someone accidentally finding it sitting in the clock tower".

"We'll go" Ginny replied and looked to Neville, who nodded in agreement.

"Are you sure? You want Harry's invisibility cloak?" Hermione's added quietly.

"How would we get it? Too much hassle. I can enchant my bed covers" Ginny whispered back, "It won't be as good but it'll do for tonight".

"Only if you're sure" Hermione looked across the hallway, to where Draco had just entered with Pansy and they went to sit down next to Blaise and Theodore Nott.

Neville nodded with hard eyes and Hermione knew they'd get it safely.

"Oh, Luna spoke to Cho", Ginny leaned in, whispering, "Cho doesn't want any involvement with D.A, she said it's too dangerous for her family's safety but she'll keep our secret".

"Can't say I blame her" Hermione muttered under her breath "I'm so happy my parents are living a care-free worry-free magic-free life without me. At least they're safe".

"Are you kidding?" Neville muttered darkly, glancing over to the Slytherin table "Nobody's safe in this world anymore, whether it's a Muggle Born or a Muggle. The person sitting right beside you could be evil, and you wouldn't even know it".

Hermione shivered and looked around slowly as a cold air slithered down her spine. Her eyes prickled to the ones already watching her. Those light blue eyes, filled with mystery and torture… Those magical eyes that shared an untold secret. The eyes she was scared of looking into.

oOo

Hermione shoved her timetable into her pocket and bit her lip. She didn't have any allocated classes which meant free time… Which meant if she went back to the Head's Dorm she might run into Draco… She hadn't been meaning to avoid him, it just… worked out that way. He was obviously hiding something and she was obviously hiding something. Something in Hermione's gut ached to let Draco in on the secret, he had done so many countless things to prove he wasn't actually evil at all.

He stopped Alecto from discussing Hermione's pitiful existence that first day in class, he was following Professor McGonagall's order to look after her (even though he claimed his intentions were evil, Hermione didn't believe that), he went looking for help when Alecto was on the war path, he cleaned her wounds caused by Alecto, he offered to heal her, and he even walked with her and Blaise to Madam Pomfrey… All those things just didn't scream evil to her, no matter what Neville liked to say. And there was his eyes… Those tortured painstakingly beautiful eyes didn't have a drop of evil in them, and some part of Hermione, even just a little part, was sure of that.

Before she even knew what she was doing, her legs began walking straight for the Head's Dorm. If Draco was there, so be it but Hermione had a free afternoon and she wasn't going to be kept away from the only place she could really go. She did contemplate going to the library but she was already half way towards the Head's Dorm. "Beedle the Bard" Hermione muttered to the portrait and it swung open. Hermione stepped inside as the portrait door shut behind her and she looked at the empty dorm in front of her. Unless he was asleep in his own room, the silence gave away everything and Hermione was sure she was alone.

She dumped her jacket onto the couch and walked into the kitchen area to pour herself some juice and maybe grab a snack. It was mundane things like this that made Hermione wonder where Ron and Harry were now. What were they doing? What they getting along? Had they found any Horcruxes? Hermione knew, deep down, that they had left her because they were worried for her safety but also at this thought, anger began to boil in her blood. She was the smartest out of all of them! She could have helped them and those two stupid cavemen decided that just because she was a girl, she couldn't come? And in doing so, did those two buffoons realise that in fact, she was now hurtling towards a fate worse than death?

Trapped in a place, with only Death Eaters to rule, Hermione thought that this was one of the worst possible situations that could happen. Well, that and meeting Voldemort. Hermione walked back into the common room and slouched down on the couch, still deep in thought. It troubled her that she didn't know what Snape wanted, or even more, if Draco knew and wasn't telling her. Maybe she was finally getting pulled up for swearing at him in the Slytherin basement, maybe Snape and Draco were going to try and torture her for information of Harry or Ron. Maybe Alecto would be waiting there for her… Hermione shuddered at this thought and almost considered the possibility of not going… But then, that would cause more problems. A noise from behind her suddenly startled her and she jumped out, grabbing her wand. Another noise drew her towards Draco's room and… Hermione frowned, eyes narrowed… Was that sobbing? Was someone crying in there?

Hermione slowly reached out and grasped Draco's door handle. With one deep breath she opened the door and let it swing open. In front of her, sobbing on the floor with one of Draco's school jumpers, was Pansy Parkinson. Hermione's eyes widened in shock and for a second she was surprised by Draco's room… It was not as cold or minimal as she'd thought it would be. But then screaming girl on the floor caught her attention again and Hermione let out a slight cough.

Pansy's head snapped round and she froze, her eyes like slits. "What the hell do you think you're doing in Draco's room?" Pansy barked, sitting up on her knees, wiping her tears.

"Trying to work out where this ungodly noise was coming from" Hermione snapped back, "What the hell do you think you're doing here? Draco's not even here!".

"I know that!" Pansy growled, standing up, still clinging onto Draco's jumper, "I was waiting for him… He's been acting weird lately…" Pansy narrowed her eyes on Hermione "You haven't noticed anything, have you?". It sounded more like a threat but Hermione didn't back down and straightened up.

"I really don't see much of Draco to be perfectly honest" Hermione gave her a blunt smirk, "I wouldn't worry though, you're one of Draco's favourite whores" she winked at Pansy and walked back in the common room, well aware Pansy was storming in after her.

"That's bullshit!" Pansy screeched, "Draco loves me! He… He wouldn't have anybody here other than me!".

"Then why were you sobbing on his floor, clutching one of his jumpers?" Hermione raised a judgmental eyebrow.

"Because…" Pansy went silent and for a split second, Hermione almost felt sorry for her, "He's been acting weird, but seeing as he sleeps right next door to a Mudblood I can understand perfectly why that would annoy him!" even though it wasn't the first time Pansy had insulted her, Hermione still felt that raw sharp pain in her gut, fresh as ever and before she knew what she was doing, she lunged for the short black haired girl in front of her, hoping to draw blood.

However, without realizing, a pair of arms had caught her between them and wrapped themselves around her. Hermione struggled, looking round and realizing it was Draco. She sighed and saw Pansy smoothing down her skirt and composing herself again.

"Thank you, sweetie" Pansy smiled sickly, "I almost thought that disgusting Mudblood was actually going to touch my perfect skin!".

As soon as Pansy said this, Hermione felt Draco's arms tighten around her and even though anger was boiling in her veins, she knew she couldn't struggle out of his arms to attack Pansy, no matter how much she wanted to. Hermione didn't even want to think about it but the way they were pressed up against each other was perfect, the way his arms came round and held her securely, his warm body touching hers… Hermione was scared to admit… She was enjoying this… And was Draco? Hermione could feel his heart beat racing… Did that mean..?

"Pansy, get out" Draco growled and Hermione could feel the vibration of rage from his chest. What the hell did he have to be angry about?

"What?" Pansy's face fell and she looked down at Hermione, who was glaring at her, "But Drakey-".

"Get. Out" Draco repeated slowly and Pansy burst into tears again. She turned and stormed out of the portrait door, letting it slam behind her.

Hermione and Draco had frozen, neither one wanting to move away. "You could have let me hit her" Hermione finally spoke, trying to let annoyance seep into her voice.

"It wouldn't have helped anyone" Draco's voice was husky and repressed and it sent a thrill down Hermione's spine. Without warning, Draco let her go and Hermione stood there, feeling alone and vulnerable. Why did his embrace have to feel so damn good?

Hermione watched Draco pick up his tear-strained jumper and then turn to his room, seeing the door was wide open. Hermione let out a sigh as Draco turned around, "Did you go into my room?" his tone was accusing and fierce.

"No" Hermione frowned, "Pansy was in there, crying, I heard her, I thought it was…" she let that one trail off, "I just opened your door and saw her".

"Do me a favour and don't ever open my door again" Draco snapped, storming inside and slamming the door shut behind him. Hermione jumped, a little startled and wrapped her arms around herself. She couldn't explain it… He was annoying and ignorant and mysterious but… there was something there Hermione couldn't help but feel a pull towards… A sickly feeling rose in her stomach and Hermione bit her lip. Was she starting to like Draco?

Hermione couldn't explain why tears were starting to rise in her eyes but she pushed them down, let out a deep breath and went into her bedroom, shutting her door behind her. She slid down it, finally letting a few stray tears fall down her cheeks. She wanted to sob and cry and scream about how unfair this was but she couldn't. She couldn't do anything in this place of prison.

Somehow she curled herself into a ball on the floor and finally felt sorry for herself. She felt sorry for her predicament and most of all, she felt sorry for him.

oOo

Draco walked out of his room, walking into the kitchen to pour himself some juice. He glanced quickly to the common room as he passed it and noted that Hermione wasn't there. He looked at her closed door and sighed. Was she in there? They had to be at Snape's in 10 minutes! Draco shook his head and walked over to Hermione's door. He knocked on it a couple of times.

"Granger!" Draco cried, "Granger! Come on, we need to go! Granger!".

"Right here, Malfoy" Hermione's voice came from behind him and he saw her figure in the portrait doorway.

Draco straightened up. "Good" he grabbed his jumper from the couch and walked towards the door. He and Hermione stepped out and closed the portrait over and began to walk awkwardly down the corridor.

"We'll need to change the password" Hermione mused.

"Yes" Draco muttered back.

As they turned another corner, Hermione had a sinking feeling this was going to be a long night.