Draco lay in bed starring at the roof of his four poster bed. As much as he hated the very thought of it, he needed to smooth things over with his father. Lucius had hit him in the face for refusing to return to his old ways. He dreaded to think what would happen the next time. His father was becoming more unstable. He would need to plead with his mother for help. She was after all becoming more used to the idea of his relationship with Hermione.
"Hey Draco, are you still awake?" Blaise had spoken from the four poster bed beside him.
"Yeah."
"Figured out what you are going to do yet?"
"I am going to try and get back onto my father's good side, but I am not going to give her up." Draco sighed.
"Why are you going to do that?"
"He is starting to lose touch with reality again. This time he hit me, what if it is Hermione next time? He has already caused enough damage." Draco shuddered. The thought of Hermione being harmed because of his father was too much to bear. He heard Blaise sit up. "It is the only way to calm him down."
"But... How are you going to get him to fall for it? He will know you are lying when Hermione refuses to keep your relationship a secret."
"I have no idea. Got any ideas?"
"Not one."
Hermione walked through the Library door. She took a seat at a vacant table and pulled out her homework. She found herself starring at the parchment 5 minutes later, her quill dripping a patch of ink onto the page. Annoyed with herself she syphoned the ink off of the parchment with her wand. Why had Draco been so distant? Everything had been going wonderful between them, and now she was lucky to get a "Hello" out of him. Let alone anything else. His father was starting to pull him back in she thought to herself. Pushing the thought out of her mind she turned her mind to her homework.
"Hey Hermione." To her surprise it had been Blaise that had spoken. He took the seat opposite her and pulled out a textbook from his backpack. "Where's Draco?"
"Your guess is as good as mine," she said not meeting his gaze.
"Hmm." Blaise was giving her a concerned look across the table.
"There is no point in looking at me like that Blaise. I am not the one causing the distance." She looked back down at her parchment quickly, her eyes beginning to burn. "I don't want to talk about it."
"You know he is going to try and reconnect with his father right?" Blaise said, ignoring her.
"He hasn't told me but I assumed as much." Hermione pretended to read a chapter in her textbook so she wouldn't have to look at Blaise. He hadn't even attempted to open his book yet, but continued looking at her.
"You know he is doing it to try and protect you right?" Hermione looked up into his serious face. "That day at Hogsmeade, when his father had come to the Three Broomsticks ..." He cleared his throat. "Draco told his father that he was giving up the old ways and he regretted being a death eater. That the only reason he did it was so that You-Know-Who wouldn't kill his parents. He was proud to be a "blood traitor" and that he would not be giving you up for anything."
Hermione opened her mouth, closed it again and sat silently. She could tell that Blaise was concerned for Draco, he was a good friend.
"Then Mr. Malfoy told him that if he didn't come to his senses he would disown him and never talk to him again. Draco refused and that is why he hit him. Mrs. Malfoy is the only reason why there is still a possibility of communication. Last I knew, he still hadn't figured out how he was going to get back in his good graces but I am guessing that is why he is being distance with you. He doesn't want you caught up in it and hurt."
"He is hurting me. By keeping me from it and distancing himself from me without an explanation." Hermione voice wavered. She didn't know if she wanted to be upset, concerned or angry. Maybe all of the above. "I appreciate you telling me Blaise. I'm going to my dormitory. Probably for the weekend. I will talk to you later."
She packed up her belongings and walked absent minded to her dormitory. The more she thought about her situation with Draco the more upset she became. He was going to risk himself by playing nice with his father, just in case he attempted to hurt her. There was no way that Draco would be welcomed back while she was still a part of his life.
"Where's Hermione?" Draco demanded. "I haven't seen her since Friday at lunch."
"She was in the Gryffindor common room last I saw" Ginny said putting mash potato on her plate.
"Why hasn't she come out in two days?"
"I would imagine that that is a question for her."
"And how am I supposed to ask her if she doesn't leave Gryffindor Tower?" Draco asked coldly. "You are her best friend, I know that she would of talked to you."
He was growing increasingly impatient. He could feel Hermione slipping away from him. He knew that he had been distant but she was avoiding him on purpose. Hiding in the tower where she knew he was forbidden to go.
"Look Draco, I can tell her you want to see her but that is all I can do."
Draco had to restrain himself not to scream. "Fine." He stormed out of the Great Hall.
"Hermione, Draco Malfoy is waiting for you outside the portrait hole" Neville said nervously. "Do you want me to tell him to leave?"
"No. It's fine. Thank you Neville." Hermione couldn't help but notice Neville's relief. She packed her belongings into her bag and placing it on the chair.
The portrait swung open as she climbed through. Draco stood directly in front of it with a stern look on his face. He offered his hand to help her into the hallway. She took hold of his hand but lowered her eyes to the ground. They stood in silence for what felt like an eternity.
"Why are you avoiding me?" When Draco spoke he sounded hurt. "I didn't want this to happen."
Hermione raised her eyes. He didn't only sound hurt, he looked it as well. She hated herself.
"Hermione?"
"I could feel you drifting away. And then Blaise..."
"He told me that he told you. Look, I am going to do whatever I have to do to keep you safe from my father. If he hurt you..."
"Draco that is not only your decision to make. What happens when he finds out that you aren't actually his little pureblood prince again? Or that we are actually still together? What if he does more than smack you around next time? Your father is dangerous. His whole life's legacy has slipped from his fingers. What makes you think that you can even convince him that you are "back to normal?" You aren't that Draco anymore. And I refuse to be a secret. I will not be kept hidden away like a piece of filth. If that is what you expect me to do then you may as well just date Pansy." She was slowly becoming more hysterical as she spoke.
Draco stepped forward and grabbed her on either side of her face. He kissed her deeply. To his great surprise she didn't push him away. He had missed her. The two days had felt like a life time. He pulled away just enough to talk to her.
"I would rather die than not be with you." They stared into each others' eyes. "As for my father, I still haven't worked that out yet. I know of a way to get back into his good graces and to calm him down, but I refuse to break it off with you, so that won't be happening. I am going to write to my mother tomorrow and seek her advice."
"I fear that it has gone too far to be fixed. Your father..."
Draco bent down and kissed her again. "I know. We will figure out something. I promise I won't let him harm you, or myself. I know my father, public image means too much to him. He will want to mend our relationship for public sake if nothing else. He has after all "turned a new leaf" according to what he has told the Daily Prophet. He can't be seen going against that for too long. It will raise too many questions. I can guarantee that there are still quite a few ... artefacts ... that he doesn't want the Ministry knowing he has."
Hermione had wrapped her arms around him. Her head resting on his chest. He had missed this. He wrapped his own arms around her and squeezed her gently, kissing her forehead.
"I can't bear the thought of you getting hurt again" she whispered into his chest.
"And I won't."
