Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Contains some dialogue from the book.
Neville Longbottom sat on an empty bed beside an empty portrait that hung right above him. He and along of the other members of Dumbledore's Army—and anyone else who opposed the Deatheaters in Hogwarts, were now hiding out in this small cramped room. It was only a matter of time before their tiny resistance group would be discovered. He had to think of a plan.
He stared at the painting above him of an empty meadow. There was usually a girl in there but she disappeared two nights ago and hasn't returned. Just as he blinked a figure in the painting's horizon appeared. Neville looked around him to see if anyone else saw that, but no one else was paying attention to him, let alone the painting.
The Gryffindor rubbed his eyes but the figure didn't go away. In fact, it looked like it was becoming even bigger.
"She's back," Luna Lovegood's melodic tone said from his left ear.
Neville jumped back in surprise, "Luna!"
"I wonder what she wants," the Ravenclaw continued
"Why would a painting want anything?"
The girl came into full view and she smiled at the two and bowed and the portrait swung open.
"I think she wants us to go,"
"What?" Neville choked as he peered into the long tunnel, "I don't think—"
But Luna was already hoisting herself up on the portrait hole. Neville made a move to stop her.
"Wait, Luna! I'll go. You stay here. And if I don't come back in fifteen minutes call for help,"
Luna looked at the Gryffindor with wonder at how much he's changed. Sure, he still seemed afraid by a lot of things but this time he was brave enough to face them.
"Alright. Good luck," Luna said as she hopped off the portrait entrance.
Neville nodded and took a deep breath as he stepped into the darkness.
xxx
When Neville stepped into the painting and followed the long and dark narrow hall he did not expect to find The Golden Trio waiting for him at the other end. To say that he was relieved and happy was an understatement. He was sure everyone else would agree with him that having Harry around made them feel a lot safer.
He also did not expect to find Draco Malfoy travelling with them and on the way back to Hogwarts he could not help himself from throwing the deatheater nervous glances.
"What?" Malfoy snapped at the Gryffindor who flinched at his tone
"Draco, what did I just say about being an arse?" Hermione scolded him
"I thought that only applied to Weasley?"
"Do you purposely try to misunderstand everything I tell you?"
"Depends on—"
Harry and Ron groaned.
"Quit it you two," The boy-who-lived said exasperatedly
"Yeah, can we please enjoy five minutes without the two of you arguing before you drive us completely mental," the Weasley added
Hermione huffed and Draco scowled. Neville blinked.
"I'm sorry, but what's going on?" Longbottom said thoroughly confused
"Well basically, the Ferret is with us now," Harry said
"Yeah and he and Hermione argue all the time,"
"I mean if we didn't know any better, I'd say it was because they're in love with each other and are too afraid to admit it," Harry half-teased, half-gave-Hermione-a-pointed-look
Hermione blushed furiously and she was thankful that it was really dark in the tunnel. Luckily Ron and burst out laughing, "Good one, Harry"
"Yeah, Harry, good one. Ridiculous," Hermione laughed nervously as she tried to ignore her best friend's gaze as she shot sideways glances at the Slytherin. He seemed oddly quiet and unaffected by Harry's comment.
Harry rolled his eyes in the dark. Ever since Draco turned back he had witnessed a lot of weird and disturbing behavior between those two. If it had been any other couple he would let go of all his man-pride and "aw" at how cute those two were being. But given that this was Draco Malfoy being cute with Hermione Granger his best friend/sister he didn't allow himself to feel anything but nausea.
During their last day at the Shell Cottage Harry could not help but notice the two. There would be occasions where he'd catch Draco staring at Hermione—and he knew that stare. It was the kind of look he'd catch himself giving Ginny sometimes—which is really embarrassing when Ron in turn catches him doing it.
Then there was the whole hand holding incident. Harry had watched them from the kitchen window with a cup of coffee as the Slytherin Prince and the Gryffindor Princess chased each other on the beach. Malfoy had dumped sand on Hermione's hair and she, in kind, turned Malfoy's hair red like a Weasley's. Both of them were now half-heartedly attempting to strangle each other accompanied by a cacophony of insults.
Harry closed the windows and watched them through the glass as if they were on mute. Without the sound, they actually looked like a normal couple just playing around on the beach. Hermione fell over and Draco grabbed her hand to help her up. Harry gulped the last of his coffee and settled himself on the dining table.
The Slytherin and Gryffindor didn't come back until five in the evening and they burst into the kitchen laughing and panting. Harry's eyes fell down to their intertwined hands. He raised his eyebrow at Hermione.
"What?" she asked
"You're holding hands"
The two culprits look down on their hands and jumped back in surprise as if they hadn't been aware that they hadn't let go of each other yet. Hermione's face flushed as she quickly excused herself so she can make their final preparations for when they leave that night. Draco didn't even bother saying anything and just left.
But the most disturbing thing Harry had witnessed was when he came to Hermione's room ten minutes before they had to leave to check if she was packed and ready to go. The Chosen One cursed himself to this hour for walking blindly in without checking to see what was inside. He had been watching the map closely to see patrol patterns for when they sneak in Hogwarts.
"Hey Hermione, are you—"
"Harry!" Hermione gasped in surprise
Harry looked up and blinked in confusion. He saw his best friend sitting in an uncomfortably close distance from the Slytherin on the bed. Then suddenly the boy-who-lived wasn't so confused anymore.
"Oh sorry. I'll just—"
"No," Draco said gruffly as he stood up and pushed past Harry, "Were done anyway"
Harry watched his best friend bury her head in her hands. He silently sat down beside her on the spot Draco just vacated.
"Wow, you actually like him"
"Of course I like him. Don't we all?"
"No, I mean. You really like him"
Hermione didn't answer and Harry didn't need one, "How long have you felt this way?"
"Around that time when you left us at Number 12 Grimmauld Place. It was only Draco and I then. I just started seeing him differently is all"
"That's why you were so worried when he was about to wake up. You were afraid he wasn't going to remember you,"
The witch nodded.
"You love him, don't you?"
"That's...that's not true!" The witch stuttered, "I could never love…I would never…"
The Chosen One watched his best friend stumble through her emotions. Hermione caught on because she sighed in defeat, "What gave me away?"
"You mean aside from the blatant flirting?"
"Harry,"
"It's the way you look at him. I don't think I've ever seen you look at anyone like that. Not even Ron"
"Ron…please don't tell, Ron"
"Hermione, you give him too little credit. He probably already knows. But sure, I'll let you tell him yourself"
The witch stayed silent for a while. And then, "It's ridiculous isn't it? Illogical. How I came to feel this way when I barely spent real time with him? And here I was about to confess my feelings to him"
"Just because he was four doesn't mean he wasn't real. Children tend to be more open and honest about their feelings and thoughts. In a way, he was more like Draco Malfoy when he was four than he is now."
"You know Harry, you're really are smart"
"I know I am. I just don't care as much as you do about my grades," Harry grinned
Hermione softly laughed and then became serious anyway, "I don't think it will ever work out anyway. I mean, I don't even think he feels the same way"
Harry stared at his best friend. Was she insane? Did she not see how Malfoy was acting towards her? He wanted to shake her violently until she saw sense.
"Hermione, you really are dense sometimes"
"Hey!"
"Look, the only thing I will say right now is that of all the years I have known you, I have never seen you second-guess yourself—and now is not the time to start. With the war going on, I don't think we can second-guess anything anymore. Once you feel strongly about something I always see you go for it with determination—and you always seem to be right about it. So whatever you feel like is the thing to do, I know for a fact that it's the right choice"
"I'm scared Harry. Ridiculous isn't it? That I'm afraid of confessing my feelings to Draco Malfoy but I'm not afraid of facing hundreds of Deatheaters tonight?"
"It's not ridiculous at all. We all feel afraid when it comes to the people we care about," Harry said as he squeezed Hermione's hand to comfort her. He wasn't exactly thrilled to have confirmed his growing suspicion that his best friend was indeed in love with his former enemy but they could very well all die tomorrow and if this is what makes her happy, he didn't want to take it away from her.
"We're here," Neville said breaking into Harry's thoughts. He pushed ahead of the group and opened the portrait. Light flooded the tunnel as Neville held the door open.
"Look who I found," Neville announced beyond the door.
The room erupted into cheers—and then to angry cries as they saw the Deatheater.
xxx
"Harry!"
"Harry!"
"Harry!"
"Malfoy. Why is he here?"
"Well that's—"
"Is he on our side now?"
"Yes, actually—"
"He's not going to kill us?"
"No, if you guys could just let me—"
"Go home, Deatheater!"
"Fuck off...Wow, I don't even know your name."
"I'm Seamus Finnegan? Gryffindor?"
"Yeah...I still don't know who you are—oh wait! you're the guy who had his eyebrows burned off!"
"You bloody wanker!"
"Draco, honestly"
"Harry!"
"Ginny…"
"Er…I'm here too. You know. Ron. Your brother."
"ENOUGH!" Hermione Granger shouted, "Were wasting time!"
"Er…right," Harry said snapping out of his gaze with Ginny, "We're looking for something"
"What is it?"
"I don't know"
"How does it look like?"
"I don't know…I know that's not a lot to go on"
"That's nothing to go on"
"All I know is that it has to be small, and valuable. Like a special trinket"
"What about Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem?"
"What's a diadem?"
"You know. A crown? Of course! Why didn't I think of it before? I only read about it at least fifty times in Hogwarts: A History—"
"Get to the point, Granger"
"What I was trying to say was, it might be impossible to find. No one has ever seen it since. It's considered to be nothing but an old story now."
"Well, right now that's our only lead. We have to at least try."
"There's only one problem"
"What is it?"
"Well aside from the obvious Deatheaters roaming around the castle. There's also the teeny tiny problem of the headmaster"
"Who's the new headmaster?"
xxx
Dolores Umbridge looked more like a toad than ever in her usual head to toe monotone outfit.
"Minerva, what to do you think you are doing?" her false tone of pleasantness invaded the great hall as the old witch blocked her path to Harry Potter, who was now standing with the Aurors and Dumbledore's Army behind him.
"If it's one thing I will not stand for, Dolores," Professor McGonagal said in a mocking tone that only she could pull off, "It's disloyalty"
The minister worker squeaked with indignation, taken aback by the obvious insult. However she barely had any time to wallow at being offended as the Transfiguration professor made quick work of her with simple swishes of her wand.
Needless to say, seeing Dolores Umbridge get sent flying out by Professor McGonagal was about the most satisfying thing Harry Potter has seen all week. Dethroning her from the Headmaster position was even more gratifying the second time.
"Mr. Potter, what is it that you need," Prof. McGonagal had asked when she had settled the great hall. She eyed Draco curiously.
"Time. As much as you can get," Harry said not in the mood to have to explain the presence of the Deatheater.
The old witch nodded in trust that their Chosen One had a plan. She gathered the rest of the Aurors, teachers and willing students and went on her way to set protective wards around the castle.
Harry then turned to his small group of four, "Remember the plan?"
The three nodded.
"Here, take the map. Come find me when you're done," Harry said and with that they parted ways. Harry went in search of the diadem and Hermione, Ron and Draco headed to the Chamber of Secrets.
xxx
Draco, Ron and Hermione sped towards the girl's bathroom at the third floor. They were almost home free when they were stopped by a group of Slytherins—most of them belonging to Draco's group of friend's. There was Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson, Zabini, and Nott. The Deatheater also recognized a couple of Slytherins who had already graduated—mainly belonging to the Quidditch team like, Marcus Flint. The trio whirled around just in time to see twelve wands pointing at them.
Draco eyed the group of twelve sizing up all of them. He contemplated on whether he was prepared to murder them if it came to that point. He didn't mind so much if he had to kill Flint and the rest of the ex-quidditch players. He never liked them anyway. Crabbe and Goyle—well, he didn't particularly like them but he didn't want to kill them either. Draco decided on just hexing them for good measure. Then there was…
"Draco?" Pansy gasped
"Guilty," Draco stepped forward and shrugged
"But…but you're dead!" Blaise gaped
Draco rolled his eyes.
Blaise and Pansy—and Theo who hasn't said anything but merely stood staring at his best friend. The Slytherin did not think he could raise his wand to those three. And he was hoping that they felt that same way too.
"ENOUGH!" Marcus Flint growled, "He's obviously with the blood traitor and the mudblood. He dies too"
"Ah, Marcus. Hideous as always," Draco smirked
The former captain snarled and made a move to flick his wand.
"Don't you dare," Pansy said slowly as she jabbed her wand on Marcus' throat. She maneuvered herself in a way that now she had her back on Draco—joining the other side.
"What—what are you doing?" Marcus hissed
"Yeah, what are you doing?" Draco asked confused
"Saving your arse, you idiot"
"What are you waiting for?" the ex-captain snarled at the rest of the ex-Slytherin team, "Get them!"
"You have lovely friends, Malfoy" Ron said sarcastically
Draco braced himself, readying himself for the attack. He could feel Ron and Hermione do the same behind him. He gripped his wand as he saw at least seven wands illuminate with hexes shooting towards them.
But the hexes never came. Draco blinked and saw Hermione and Ron looking as confused as he was. He saw Blaise and Theo now standing beside Pansy. It seems they have also chosen a side.
"Blaise! Theo!"
"Yeah, yeah. Save your thank you's for later when we get out of this bind alive," Blaise said without turning around. Theo kept up his protego while Pansy and Blaise kept up with the offense.
"Actually I was going to say you guys are idiots," Draco smirked at his childhood friends.
He was secretly really thankful but he would never admit that out loud. These were the three people who knew what it was like to grow up in a lonely house. They were all only children and found solace and brotherhood amongst each other.
When he got to Hogwarts his father told him to spend less time with them and more time with Crabbe and Goyle as their fathers were Deatheaters as well unlike his current choice of friends. Draco obeyed, but only so much as he included Crabbe and Goyle in his circle of friends instead of letting go of his old ones.
"So, you Slytherin lot have hearts after all, " Ron chimed in
The four Slytherins scowled in unison and Hermione could not help but laugh as she sent a hex towards the former Slytherin beater.
"Granger," Draco cut off the Gryffindor's laugh, "Take the Weasel with you and go to the Chamber"
"But—"
"I can handle it from here. Hurry. We don't have time to argue right now,"
"What about you?" The Gryffindor asked, concerned
"I'll follow afterwards"
Hermione nodded and started to back away. Ron followed suit.
"Hermione," Draco said grabbed her wrist that stopped her from moving away any further. His hand felt warm against her skin, "I..."
The witch's eyes widened with anticipation. He called me Hermione, "What is it?"
The Gryffindor's heart beat furiously against her ribcage and the two held each other's gaze for a long time. She searched his eyes for a sign, an emotion—anything! Finally the Slytherin spoke.
"Don't die," Draco finished lamely and let go of her wrist as he turned back and joined his friends with the fight.
"Uh, yeah. You too," The witch said trying not to sound disappointed.
He watched the witch stare up at him from the corner of his eye. She gave him one last look and ran after the Weasley who had gone ahead. Why didn't he say it?
xxx
"So, what's the deal with you and Granger?"
"Pansy, really? Now?" Draco said exasperatedly
They were now pushed back towards the end of the hall. The four were great duelers but so were the numbers of their opponents. For every Slytherin they took out, two more appeared.
"How the bloody hell did we get cornered anyway?" Theo snarled as another hex almost missed him.
The four hunched behind fallen pillars and walls.
"I don't know. But let's blame Draco," Blaise said as he sent a curse hitting another target, "If he didn't show up we wouldn't have to double cross the rest of these Slytherins"
Draco scowled.
"Could anything else possibly go wrong?" Pansy cursed the ceiling
The group heard a loud apparition sound followed by crazed laughter.
"Imagine my surprise when there was news that my dear nephew is alive and kicking. Hello Draco, I've been looking all over for you," his psychotic aunt greeted him
"I hate you," Draco hissed at Pansy, who gaped at him as if to say, "How is this my fault?"
Draco watched his crazed aunt's face from behind the pillar. He and his friends had not made a move to get out of their cover.
"Aunt Bella. I wondered when you were going to show up. Yes, I'm quite surprised that I'm alive as well"
"Well this time, I won't be so careless"
"What is she talking about?" Theo asked the Malfoy heir
"My aunt tried to kill me…well, the Dark Lord did but then she helped him"
"That is messed up," Blaise shook his head
"You're taking this awfully well for someone whose aunt just tried to kill him," Pansy eyed Draco carefully, "You know, considering how dramatic you are about…well…everything"
"I am not dramatic"
"Remember Buckbeak?" Blaise grinned and Theo sniggered.
Suddenly a spell exploded above them and they pressed themselves closer towards the floor.
"I will not be ignored by the likes of you blood traitor brats!" Bellatrix screeched
"Listen, I'll make an opening. I want the three of your to get away from here," Draco whispered as he watched his aunt advance slowly towards them as if she was stalking her prey.
"No way, man. Were not leaving you with this psycho." Blaise said, "No offence to your aunt"
"Look I know you never listen to me. Like at all. But this is really important. Do as I say,"
"But—" Theo started to say
"Okay, Draco. On your signal. We'll lead the rest of the Slytherins away from you and Bellatrix," Pansy said while giving the other two boys a stern look. The two nodded in defeat.
"Thank you"
"Just promise me that this isn't goodbye"
Draco nodded and took a deep breath before raising his wand on the ceiling, Reducto!
The ceiling above Bellatrix collapsed, nearly missing her. Just as well as Draco did not expect her to die in such a trivial manner. However, the fallen ceiling did create the perfect distraction as it left the witch disoriented, enveloped by a cloud of dust.
"NOW!" Draco shouted at his friends.
The three nodded one last time at Draco then took off, running past his aunt. In a rage, Bellatrix started firing hexes blindly through the dust cloud. The Slytherin listened carefully for any signs that his friends had been hit. He sighed with relief as he didn't hear a body hit the ground before the footsteps disappeared from the hallway.
Soon the dust would clear away. Then it would be just him and Bellatrix and he had no intention of dying again.
xxx
Draco was going to die. Well, he was going to die if he didn't figure out how to get away from Bellatrix—and fast.
She's completely mental! Draco thought as he frantically tried to claw Bellatrix's fingers that were wrapped around his throat, How is she this strong?
Sometime during their fight Draco managed to destroy Bellatrix's wand when he disarmed her. What he wasn't counting on was that the witch was perfectly capable of fighting without a wand. Who keeps a dagger in their shoes anyway!
He was about to cast another hex toward the unarmed Deatheater when the said dagger flashed out from her hand and pierced through his wand arm.
In his pain, he let go of his wand sending it clattering noisily and rolling a few feet away. He quickly pulled out the dagger and bit back a scream while Bellatrix smiled on. The two Deatheaters then made a move towards the fallen wand.
Draco had the head start and he scrambled towards his wand. But with the tremendous pain from his injured hand he moved a lot slower—slow enough for Bellatrix to catch up with him. The two fell on the ground as they both tried to overpower each other and reaching for the wand at the same time.
Draco stabbed Bellatrix on the shoulder as he inched his hands toward the wand. He was so close his fingertips could almost brush against the wooden handle. Bellatrix looked at her shoulder and…laughed? What is wrong with her! She pulled out the dagger from her shoulder and drove it into Draco's leg.
Draco howled in pain and soon Bellatrix was on top of him, strangling him with her fingers.
"You know, I never care much for muggles but I must say, this is more satisfying," She cackled, forgetting about the wand as she found something more amusing.
Draco gasped for breath as he looked forlornly at the wand not laying that far from him, his uninjured hand desperately trying to reach for it.
"You disappeared for a long time dear nephew. For a while the Dark Lord could not find you. He couldn't feel his mark on you. And then all of a sudden, viola, where should we find you but here at Hogwarts, fighting for the blood traitors and the mudbloods"
The Slytherin did not pay attention to his aunt as he desperately reached out for the wand. Just a little bit more.
"So how did you do it, Draco? Where were you?"
Draco's eyes felt heavy.
"I guess it doesn't matter. You'll be too dead to matter anyway" Bellatrix said tightening her grip
Draco's fingertips touched the tip of the wand. He made a small movement with his finger to nudge it closer but it ended up inching farther. This did not escape the notice of the witch and she laughed. Draco was starting to slip away.
Then suddenly a flash of green exploded behind her. Bellatrix fell over, landing on top of Draco. He was so deprived of oxygen that he didn't even feel the excruciating pain the witch's weight on his injured leg was giving him. He breathed in fast gulps of air as he let his vision clear up. He heard footsteps move closer towards him. The Slytherin peered through his aunt's disgusting black hair and came face to face with his savior.
"Father," Draco croaked
Lucius Malfoy did not answer him as he carelessly levitated the dead witch's body and threw her to the side. Draco waited patiently as his father healed his injuries before trying to move.
"You…you just killed her!" Draco said in shock as he sat up and rubbed his throat
"Hmm, yes" Lucius frowned, "I suppose I should've have tortured her first"
"That's not what I—what are you doing here?"
"Saving your life. Really Draco, must we tirelessly state the obvious? Now get up. We're leaving."
"Leaving?"
"I'd prefer not to repeat myself"
"I'm not going. I'm not running away. Not this time"
"Now is not the time to be brave, Draco"
"Yes it is, father. I can't leave. Not until I know that she's safe…" Draco trailed off, embarrassed of having said too much
"Yes. Her," Lucius said as he eyed his son, "Why her? Of all people"
The Slytherin held his father's gaze. Draco's reflected that of pain and love for the woman that he spoke of and Lucius' reflected recognition understanding. They didn't say anything to each other for a while but the two felt like they had said everything.
"You might die"
"I'm expecting that"
"You'll taint our bloodline"
"Disown me"
"Your mother would kill me"
"Yeah, she can be scary sometimes"
"Well if you're going to fall in love with a mudblood—"
"Muggle-born"
"Yes. That. At least you got the best one. What was she called? Brightest witch of her age?"
"Well, Malfoys do get the best."
Lucius Malfoy studied his son once more. He was finally standing up for himself and was brave enough to do so. Lucius supposed that it was better to have a mudblood loving son than no son at all. He sighed inwardly, "Well, if you must"
"Thank you, father"
Draco looked at the Malfoy senior one last time. He gave him a small nod and sped off towards the bathroom where Hermione had told him the entrance of the Chamber was. When he rounded the corner, he heard his father disapparate.
xxx
Draco looked down the long tunnel at the girl's bathroom. I'm supposed to jump in there? Those three are insane. How the bloody hell did they have adventures like this at age twelve? The Slytherin thought to himself before he hurled himself into the darkness.
He landed on a pile of bones and snakeskin and dusted himself off before heading to find the chamber. Somehow having his father's (reluctant) approval gave him new hope for the witch that he loved and the new spark to keep fighting on her side despite how excruciating and terrifying it was. He walked faster as he was anxious to see Hermione again.
When Potter had made a joke earlier about his underlying love for Hermione Draco couldn't help but agree. He was afraid to admit it. He didn't deserve that kind of feeling, he wasn't permitted to have those feelings—especially not to a witch such as Hermione Granger.
That day when he woke up as his seventeen-year-old self, he had told Hermione that he had been angry because of the circumstances of his death but the truth was, he was angry because of the gnawing feeling the Gryffindor left in him. He knew that he loved her the moment he woke up but instead he chose to believe otherwise. But the more he lied to himself the more he longed for her.
So he got more. He looked at her when he could. He'd let his fingers brush hers. He'd tease her every chance he got. But it wasn't enough and he still wanted more.
He wanted to be able to hold her. He wanted to be the first and last person she talked to everyday. He wanted to be the one to take care of her. He wanted her to laugh with him and to share his joys with him. He wanted what they had when he had been de-aged. He wanted her to need him as much as he needed her.
And he tried to tell her that night before they left as they sat in the dark on Hermione's bed. But he had been too afraid of the uncertainty of their future together and his father's approval. However he had taken too long and lost his chance when Harry had walked in the room and interrupted him.
Suddenly a terrible scream pervaded the air and Draco's dark mark burned. The Dark Lord was angry and…in pain? Draco broke into a run for fear that Hermione had been hurt. Please be okay, he silently pleaded. He could now see the doorway. This time, he would tell her. This time it would be okay. This time everything would be alright.
But it wasn't.
Draco stopped himself by the doorway and quickly hid himself behind it. His heart felt heavy as he desperately tried to gulp in air in as if he had been drowning. He now realized why he had been afraid to tell her. It wasn't fear of the unknown or his illusions of his father's disapproval that was stopping him from telling her how he felt.
It was the fact that deep down he knew that she didn't need him.
He straightened himself up and quietly walked away—walked away from Hermione Granger who was now sharing a kiss with Ron Weasley.
A/N: This is a Dramione fic, I swear hahaha.