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Disclaimer: yadda yadda I don't own Harry Potter.
"errgh…" Draco cradled his aching head, pushing his heavy body off the cold ground. Leaves clung to his jacket breaking into smaller pieces as he clumsily tried to brush them off. What hit me? A bus?
A ringing in his ears pierced his thoughts, scrambling his mind into incoherent mush. He prodded his memories trying to recall what exactly happened before he blacked out, but nothing came.
'Mione stared anxiously out the window sipping a cinnamon dolce latte and twirling the fire red tips of her hair between her fingers. 'He should be back by now shouldn't he? I mean he said he'd be right back. What if…" and with the thought of those two words dozens of horrible images pushed their way before her mind's eye, none of them being remotely good for Draco's well being. Her twirling sped up and her other hand spun her latte cup around and around. Worry wove its way deeply into every vein. She shut her eyes, her hands still working furiously, as if their movement would shoo away the nightmares.
The cup which had bravely with stood her abuse thus far finally gave in to dizziness, toppling over and spilling the contents across the table before crashing to the floor and with a heart wrenching crack splintering across the floor.
The other peace-seeking residents of Honeydukes turned, startled at the sudden interruption in their revelry. Hermione simply got down on her knees and started picking up the pieces, purposely leaving her wand in her pocket. Anything to distract her from those… thoughts was worth doing slowly.
"Damn" she muttered as a splinter pierced her finger tip, drawing blood to it's surface It's rust smell drifting in the air. She popped the finger in her mouth and stood with the pieces she'd collected making a beeline for the rubbish bin. As she turned toward her table once again her eyes caught on a person outside the window. Finger falling from her mouth, she sprinted out the door catching up the person outside in a huge hug, nearly knocking him over in the process.
"Oh my god Draco! I was so worried!" All her muscles seemed to loosen at the sight of him. Knowing he was ok, that he was here hugging her. The relief dowsed her nerves and freed her heart to soar and twirl in his embrace.
"…yeah…" he replied hesitantly, "I'm…ok"
Suddenly cold reality hit her hard, something was off. Draco was hugging her more as if he had to rather than wanted to, and he seemed frustrated, almost angry, at something.
"Draco what's wrong? Were you attacked!" 'Mione felt her stomach knot.
"Nothing, nothing is wrong I'm just… thinking that's all." He pulled away, cold air rushing to fill the space he had created between them. She shivered, he just stood apart from her not looking her in the eye at all.
"Look I have a headache I'm gonna go in." He spoke quietly, staring off at the carriages.
"alright hold on just a second and I'll come with you ok?" Without waiting for a response she ran inside and grabbed her things. Sprinting back out into fall's crisp cool air she was met with… nothing. He'd left.
Her shoulders dropped and her eyebrows creased above her eyes. What is going on? Was the troubling question that haunted her lonely trek back to the carriages.
Her question much to her dismay was not answered upon her return to the castle either. Draco was not in the library, the great hall or any other place she stumbled across on her way back to their common room. So it was no great surprise to her when she did not find him within the rooms hidden behind the black cat portrait.
"Mione what's wrong?" Ginny asked as she emerged from their now shared ocean floor bedroom, the deep blue hues peeking out from behind the rich mahogany door.
"Nothing Ginny," 'Mione sighed, "Draco is just being…strange is all"
"Strange? How so?" Ginny plopped down on the soft sofa Hermione had just collapsed on.
"Well I don't know he was just distant and he seemed… angry" 'Mione mused, the thought still frustrated her. Why the sudden change? Wait hadn't he said he was going to talk to… Ginny?
"Gin did he say anything to you? I mean when he talked to you today," Mione turned to face the redhead who had occupied herself with brushing her wet hair, apparently she had just got out of the shower.
"Tal- 'Mione I haven't talked to him today, I've been here inside the castle since breakfast. Is that what he told you? That he was going to talk to me?" Ginny eyes widened.
"Yeah well actually Millicent came up to us and said you wanted to speak with him." Hermione felt her throat tighten and worry bubble in her stomach. I do not like the turn this is taking.
"Hermione Granger! When would I EVER use Millicent Bullstrode as a messenger? She's not even in our house!" Ginny stood throwing her arms up in the air in disbelief.
"You're right but then who was it he went to see…" 'Mione muttered clenching her hands on her knees, knuckles white.
"You know Blaise has been acting a little off lately too… Oh my god 'Mione what if they are cheating on us!" Ginny sank back onto the sofa a look of utter defeat on her face.
Hermione felt the horrible possibility sink in, trying to cement itself into her thoughts but it just didn't seem to fit. Something else was wrong. Something big.
"Ginny I think we should keep an eye on them for awhile." Ginny nodded in agreement before disappearing worriedly back into their room.
'Mione swiftly made her way through the corridors, heading for the dungeons. She had to get to the bottom of this, now. The Slytherin portrait was soon in sight and with the growing closeness of it she felt her heartbeat pick up, pumping buzzing energy into her system every nerve on high alert. And she could not chase that feeling of ominous despair out of her mind, it saturated her very surroundings, played at the edge of her vision threateningly, waiting to overcome her, to swallow her in darkness.
The thumping sound of her knocks on the portrait seemed to resound throughout her chest, a last warning to turn back. A warning that she didn't have time to heed as the portrait swung open to reveal a rather peeved Pansy Parkinson standing in the entrance and on a couch behind her, Draco.
"What do you want Granger," Pansy spat venomously.
"To talk to Draco Parkinson," 'Mione shot back, noticing Draco's back straighten as she spoke.
"Sorry Granger but he's not here," Pansy smirked, stepping a bit closer as if to intimidate her.
"I can see him idiot," Hermione straightened up hands on hips and a sly smile of her own slipping into place.
"Well he doesn't want to see you," Draco drawled, walking up to the portrait, Mione's smile faltered a bit and Pansy glowed triumphantly.
"Now mud-blood if you'd kindly vacate this Gryffindor free space," Pansy gloated, certain of her win.
As if. If there was one thing 'Mione's laid back personality couldn't take… well this was it.
As Pansy prepared to turn and follow Draco back into the Slytherin common room, 'Mione hooked her foot around Pansy's ankle and pulled, hard. Pansy went sprawling and landed face down on the floor, with a squeal. Draco stopped but kept his back to her, never even glancing at Pansy to see if she was alright.
"That is it!..." 'Mione yelled stepping over the flattened Pansy and taking hold of Draco's arm she quite literally dragged him out of the common room searching for an empty corridor, which very frustratingly , the massive school seemed to lack at the moment.
Finally finding a hallway that had been abandoned she spun around to face a very bored looking Draco.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" She demanded, violent rage boiling just beneath the surface waiting impatiently to overflow.
"I assure you Granger that I have no idea what you're talking about," Draco answered coldly.
"Like hell you don't! What happened everything was going so well between us and now since honeydu-" Hermione's rant was cut short however when Draco pinned her to the wall, hard.
"Listen Granger I don't know what's got into you but I'd say you are delusional, because there never was and never will be an 'us'" Draco spat, with a disgusted look that didn't quite reach his eyes, which were horrifyingly empty, like a dead man's.
He let go then and without a second look stormed off back towards the Slytherin common room.
'Mione just slid down the wall until she was sitting on the cold stone floors. Slowly tears blurred her vision and the darkness collapsed upon her.
An hour later she stumbled wearily back into the common room, hoping to clean herself up before she had to make rounds. Ginny who had been sitting on the sofa looking at Witch Weekly was immediately at her side.
"Hermione! What's wrong? Was it Draco? Oh that bloody fool I'll kick his arse!" Ginny yelled as Hermione made her way quietly to the bathroom ignoring Ginny's fussing.
Flicking on the light she took in her own appearance grimly, she looked almost as horrible as she felt. That's it why am I letting him do this to me! I am not that damn weak. With new resolve she began to fix herself up, all the while reminding herself that she was stronger than this. When she walked out of her common room ten minutes later, she felt like she could take on the world. Well at least Hogwarts. Maybe.
She had meant to tell Ginny that she was fine before she left but the fiery little redhead was already gone and hopefully keeping her promise to kick Malfoy's arse.
Except for catching a few kids trying to play a prank on Filch rounds were exceptionally dull and gave her mind far too much freedom. She kept thinking up reasons, excuses for Malfoy to act the way he was. Like it or not she couldn't help loving the Malfoy she'd gotten used to in the last few months
Her muted interest was stirred however when she heard a person inside an empty classroom.
"I've almost got them all father the only ones left are Granger and Weaslette, and her I will take care of tomorrow." A guys voice whispered.
Heart hammering Hermione flattened herself against the wall, quite as her breathing would allow.
Ok guys here ya go! New chappie out real soon right after I finish finals
Ange