What Binds Us Chapter 4, a harry potter fanfic

Title: What Binds Us [Chapter ４/??]
Author: Rorania
Rating: R
Warnings: Language, sexual references
Word Count: 4,739
Summary: Starts after HBP. Draco's under protection of the Order, much to the Golden Trio's dismay.
This chap: Draco implements his supposedly very sneaky plan. A D.A.D.A session goes awry for Hermione.

Chapter　四

四四四四

That night Draco sat on the couch in his common room, drinking. He'd managed to wrangle some of Ogden's Firewhiskey from a house elf. So far he'd made it halfway through. Everything was good.

Sometime that night, Granger came in. She only noticed him, however, at the sound of a large belch. Noticing the bottle, she came over, incredulous.

"Are you drinking?!"

Draco looked up at her in surprise, before nodding. "Yep."

"Draco that's totally inappropriate, in a school of all places, especially in the Head common room."

"Well, I would've taken it out to the Forbidden Forest, but it seems only you, Potty and Weasel are allowed out at night."

Dropping her bag, Hermione rounded the couch to stand square in front of him. "Don't be smart, Malfoy, I could have McGonagall throw you out for this."

Draco rolled his head up to look at her seeing her arms folded, glaring down at him in disapproval.

"And is this really how you plan on gaining my favour?"

Draco shrugged. "According to you, it's not possible, so why even try."

Hermione leaned down and grabbed for the firewhiskey. Draco pulled it out of her reach just in time. She reached for it again, and he held it further out of reach.

"Give me the bottle, Draco." She demanded.

"No." He replied.

"Draco. Give it—" she reached across him as he shoved her leg out from under her. She tumbled into his lap, and immediately scrambled to get out of it. Draco allowed himself a derisive laugh.

"I wouldn't wiggle so much if I were you, Granger. I'm not exactly in control of my senses…"

Hermione froze at his implications. She met his gaze. He quirked an eyebrow and a half-grin at her before shoving her unceremoniously onto the floor and coming to his feet.

Taking a long swig, Draco ignored Hermione's efforts to get off the floor as he moved to the window.

Finally getting to her feet, Hermione huffed in anger and indignation as she pulled out her wand.

"Accio firewhiskey."

The bottle shot out of his hand and into hers.

"Give that back!" Draco said harshly.

In answer, Hermione tapped the bottle with her wand while mumbling, evanesco. The bottle vanished.

Draco started towards her. "Give. That. BACK!"

"NO!" she shouted back. "You're lucky I didn't go to McGonagall with it."

"Well, why didn't you?!" he threw up his hands at her. "I'm a lousy good-for-nothing son who killed his mother through cowardice, right? I make your life a living hell every day, and a Slytherin to boot! Why not tell McGonagall to kick me out! It's certainly not because you lack Slytherin tendencies. I mean," he threw his arms out. "That's it for me! A cold, lonely, pathetic existence in the house of my parents, whom I ruined, graduating from a school that wanted nothing to do with me! Hell, I'll even let you pack my bags!" Slashing his arms downward, Draco continued, "You were right. I'm a coward and nothing will make my mother come back, and it's all my fault." He collapsed into the armchair, his face in his hands.

Hermione unsure of what to do and feeling very guilty, moved hesitantly towards him.

"Draco. I didn't mean—"

"No." Draco stood up as she came near, cutting her off. "Don't patronize me now, when you were so kind to give it to me honestly before. I don't want your pity, muggle-born."

Hermione started in surprise and backed up a step. He sounded cold, which was very different from the tone of his impassioned outrage only moments ago.

"Expel me, I don't care. I need some air." Draco took off out the portrait door. Hermione let him go.

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The next day, Hermione woke up feeling terrible. She hadn't realized Draco would take her words to heart, or even that Draco had a heart, or she'd never have said them. He just made her so angry and to have acted how he did and then just expect help like that…she couldn't let him have it easy. Her pride wouldn't stand for it. Pride made you do foolish things sometimes. She just hoped Draco hadn't done anything stupid last night.

In the common room, she met Blaise.

"Did Draco come back to your room last night?" she asked him.

"Uh, yeah. Why?"

Hermione shook her. "Just making sure. He said he had an errand he forgot about."

Blaise smirked. "Ah, and would that be the one you two were shouting at each other about last night?"

Hermione went red. "Oh, you heard that."

Blaise laughed. "Nothing specific."

"Oh, well, is he up yet?"

"Oh yeah. He headed out early this morning, before I even woke up really."

Hermione frowned. "He did?"

On her way down to breakfast, Hermione puzzled over Draco. He'd been drinking quite a bit last night. He must've taken a pepper-up potion to get rid of the hang-over. It didn't really matter. She needed to apologize to him.

He avoided her smoothly all that morning but at lunch she spotted him heading for the Great Hall. Running to catch up, she fell into step beside him.

"Draco, can I talk to you?"

Draco looked over at her with a hooded gaze.

"What do you want, Granger?" he asked coolly, staring straight ahead.

"Please," she put a hand on his arm to halt him. He did, but only stared down at her hand on his arm. She removed it quickly.

"I wanted to apologize—"

"Hey, Hermione!"

She looked behind her to see Harry and Ron walking towards her. While she was distracted, Draco quickly continued walking. She started to call out to him, but the boys joined her then.

Ron looked angrily after Draco as he stopped beside her and Harry.

"Is he bothering you again? I swear, I'm not gonna put up with his crap this year—"

"Ron, he's fine. I just needed to ask him something."

Harry stepped up to her. "You mean—"

Hermione looked up at him recognizing what he was asking. "What—no, Harry. I haven't decided yet."

Harry nodded and sighed.

Ron was frowning and looking between the two. "What's going on?"

Hermione looked at him wide-eyed. "N-nothing, Ron. Look, I have to check something out at the library. You two go get food or you won't be able to study this afternoon."

She took off briskly as the two boys' shoulders slumped.

"How can she be so gun-ho for studying when we—"

"She means for the horcruxes, Ron."

"Oh…"

The next weekend, they got a break in clues and headed out that Friday night. Hermione passed Draco in the common room but he refused to look her way, so she sighed and left.

She returned Tuesday night, and though McGonagall was glad it hadn't taken longer, Draco was pissed. Entering the common room after a quick stop at the Headmistress's office, she was made aware of just how pissed.

"Where have you BEEN?!"

Hermione looked up in surprise, to see a very angry malfoy heading towards.

"Wha—"

"You've been gone, for FOUR DAYS! Where have you BEEN?!"

"Stop yelling at me!" Hermione shouted back.

"I've had to help Blaise with the Head duties, while you're off gallivanting with Pothead and Weasel! You tell ME I'm not responsible?!"

Hermione glared. "I'm hardly gallivanting and even if I were, it's none of your business, Malfoy."

Draco waved her comment off. "Oh, don't 'Malfoy' me, I know you only use it to set me in my place."

"Well, you're being a git," she countered. "I'm tired, and worn out from making sure my friends and I aren't once again almost killed! And I just want to go to sleep and forget any of it ever happened. Now, excuse me…"

Draco stepped in front of her, his hands out to stall her.

"Oh no. Not until you tell me where you went."

Hermione stared at him in disbelief. "Alright, fine. It was right around the corner from, 'None of your fucking business, Malfoy' now MOVE!"

She shoved him with all her might, forgetting she still had her Enforcing Spell, as she liked to call it, active and Draco went flying all the way across the room.

Draco heard her door slam as he groaned, trying to sit upright. Merde, she must have gone to some sort of physical training camp. That's the second time she used god-like strength on him. It had to be a spell, or a potion. Once, if ever, Draco got in her good graces, he'd have to weasel that out of her. When she kicked him between the legs at the Black house, he was certain she didn't have this type of strength then. He'd doubt he'd be able to carry on the family name even then, he thought remembering Hermione's threat if he called her 'Mudblood' again.

Wincing at the thought, Draco slowly stood. Maybe if he was a gentleman about apologizing, he could undo the damage he caused. He just hadn't been prepared for her and the dolts to take off again. It angered him that she wouldn't be around for him to ignore. How was he supposed to make her feel guilty if she wasn't there. Plus, she took up the remaining days of their deal. Plus, it drove him mad that he didn't know where she was going. And he had no idea why it bothered him so. He knew it had to do something with the Dark Lord. But that Potty would be so willing to take his gullible friends along with him was disgusting to him. Golden Trio, indeed. Idiots Who Willing Put Each Other In Danger is more like it. They're so perfect, compared to him. He was trying to save his mother from danger; they willing go off on these ridiculous adventures to Merlin-knows-where.

"Stupid Gryffindors…" he muttered as he went to order a bouquet of roses. He wrote the note and sent it off with his eagle owl. It would be in Granger's room by morning.

The damned things he does for friends…

While, Draco had his hypocritical conversation with himself, Hermione had simply thrown her bag and jacket on the floor, along with her shoes, and fell into bed. She knocked out almost immediately.

In the morning, she was awoken by the light streaming in from her uncovered windows. Immediately, she saw the roses. Frowning, she pushed herself up and considered the bouquet. Noticing a card she plucked it out and unfolded it.

Please accept my sincerest apologies for my behaviour last night. I have no excuse. Enjoy the roses.

D.M.

Hermione looked back up at the flowers. She was surprised their scent hadn't awoken her, they were so fresh and in full bloom. Recalling last night, Hermione groaned. She recalled throwing Malfoy across the room, and was too tired afterward to bother making amends.

On top of that, was her guilt from before she left, which caused her to smack her forehead in vexation. Like she could feel any worse.

Getting up, Hermione went about her morning routine as quickly as possible, getting ready for classes. After every time she used the Enforcing Spell or potion, she always felt drained when it wore off. Upon exiting her room, she ran into Blaise, also leaving.

"Welcome back." He said as they fell into step together.

"Ah, yes. Thank you. How was your weekend?"

"Oh, several of the prefects wanted to wring my neck for incompetence after finding you were gone, but great other than that."

Hermione shook her head. "I highly doubt that. You're just as capable."

Blaise rolled his eyes upward. "Yes, well. Draco was not too happy."

"I know." Hermione looked down.

"Well, I'll see you at the Head meeting." Blaise said before heading to his seat in the Great Hall.

Hermione nodded and continued onto to her usual seat.

In her first class, she saw that Draco was already seated when she got there. He turned abruptly and met her gaze as she sat. He didn't look angry or happy with her; it was the oddest look. Draco turned away as soon as class started.

It was D.A.D.A. with Longhorn.

"Ah, good to see a full class today," he started out, noticing Hermione, Harry and Ron in their usual seats. "We'll have an even amount today to continue our wand execution today. So books and quills away. If everyone will stand we can move these pesky desks to the sides."

Everyone stood and watched as the professor sent the desks to line up against the wall.

"Alright. We will practice Patronuses today, as I've managed to secure a creature not unlike that of a dementor. Actually I've secured several. They are from the south pole and reside only there, so it's doubtful you will come upon them, but they feed on happiness like Dementors but are deceivingly fuzzy and cute, so I figured you'd all appreciate these rather a live dementor amongst you."

The class became aware of three chests lined up at the front of the classroom.

"Now make three lines behind each of these chests. You are all the best this school has to offer so I trust I don't need to remind you to concentrate on happy thoughts," Professor Longhorn's gaze twinkled at them. He watched as they all lined up, Slytherins in one line, Gryffindors taking up the remaining two lines. "Now, wands out. Considering your progress today, tomorrow we'll make this fun," he said wiggling his eyebrows. "A small maze will be set up outside, and small groups of students will go at a time to see who can reach the middle first. Don't worry, there will be nothing to touch, no hidden portal in the middle," he added, seeing his group of students look at each other in a panic. "The maze will simply disappear for you to find your way out. However, there will be these three little guys milling around and you must be quick to fire off your Patronus. It is easy to do so when you are waiting for it to jump at you, it's the unknown that's tricky. Now, begin," he waved his wand and the chests flew open.

The attention of the class flew forward as their wands came up. They were shocked when what appeared to be a baby seal came out, apparently just waking, as it blinked its beady little eyes. Professor Longhorn was right; they were cute with their white fuzz. That was until they noticed their audience and continued to focus eerily on them.

Hermione was in front for one of the Gryffindor lines, Harry and Ron right behind her. She suddenly felt very cold. Shaking it off, she lifted her wand and shouted in her thoughts Expecto Patronum! While thinking of destroying Voldemort and how happy she and friends will be when that day has passed.

A silvery white otter burst forth, which she was expecting. She could see through her concentration that Draco and the boy next to him had scared their dementor seals back into their chests, but something different happened with hers. It seemed hers was not frightened by her patronus. Her will was suddenly draining. It was getting harder to concentrate and hold her wand aloft. It seemed the dementor seal was turning her patronus against her. She watched astonished, along with the rest of the class, as the seal thing walked straight through her patronus, dissolving it, before letting out a piercing shriek. The entire class covered their ears, as Hermione gasped and fell to the floor.

Ron caught her as Harry covered one of his ears, stepping up to shout Expecto Patronum in his head, a large white stag shooting out of his wand, sending the fuzzy dementor seal scurrying back to its chest. As soon as all were ensconced, Professor Longhorn waved his wand to shut the chests, locking them, before rushing over to Hermione and Ron.

"She's unconscious," said Ron.

"Oh, dear. This is all my fault. I should have asked what your patroni were. No matter what thought you use, if your patronus carries the same form as what your fighting, it will be ineffective. I simply didn't think… Blaise? Will you take Miss Granger to the hospital wing, please?"

Blaise simply stepped forward and lifted Hermione in his arms, under a distrustful eye of Ron. As he left, Professor Longhorn turned to Ron.

"I don't suppose yours is a seal or otter form too, is it?"

Ron shook his head.

"Ah, well good. We'll continue then."

"Sir?"

"Yes, Mr. Potter?"

"What do wizards like Hermione do, then, since their patronus is ineffectual?"

Everyone was looking anxious at this question. They didn't want to be in Hermione's situation.

Professor Longhorn sighed, however. "Well, I'm afraid it's simply a handicap to be avoided. Sort of like Superman's kryptonite, it's his weakness and he simply must avoid it."

The Pureblooded wizards frowned at this confused.

Ron ignored the Superman reference and said, "So, Hermione can't do anything against them?"

"I'm afraid not. Only if her Patronus takes a different form."

"Your Patronus can change form?" asked a curious Slytherin boy.

Professor Longhorn nodded. "Only in rare cases, and the wizard or witch in question usually go through some sort of traumatic or life-changing experience."

"There's no specific way to try and change one's Patronus form?" asked Harry.

Longhorn shook his head. "None to my knowledge, but bright young wizards like yourselves have been making breakthroughs everyday lately. Now, if there are no more questions, we shall continue."

After class, with no more incidents, Harry and Ron headed to the hospital wing. They met Blaise on the way. Harry stepped in front of him to halt his progress.

"Is she awake?"

Blaise shook his head.

"Is she okay?" Ron exclaimed.

"Madame Pomfrey's just given her something and said she should be awake soon."

The boys hurried on, not noticing Draco join Blaise behind him, asking the same questions of him.

In the hospital ward, Madame Pomfrey noticed them immediately.

"She's fine, just extremely worn. Did she take a power potion recently?"

Ron frowned as Harry nodded.

"Well, the fatigue from coming off of that combined with the energy sucked out by the sigillum, sent her into an almost coma like state. She simply needs to rest the rest of the morning and then maybe she can return to class. Until then, I suggest collecting her work, or having someone take notes for her." Madame Pomfrey rolled her eyes. "You know how she gets when she misses class and it counteracts any good rest does her, worrying so."

Harry and Ron nodded. They left a few minutes after that. Unfortunately, they didn't have the next few classes with Hermione. Only Draco did, that they knew of.

"But it's Malfoy, Harry. He's not exactly the favours sort." Ron argued.

Harry sighed. "I know, but you know how Hermione gets. Even Pomfrey knows."

"He'll want something in return."

"I think I know what he wants."

Ron frowned.

"Go on."

Harry simply sighed as he caught up with Malfoy outside his next class.

"Malfoy."

Draco turned and lifted a brow at Harry.

"I may have asked for your little group's help, but that does not mean you can address me in public," Draco said haughtilly.

"Save it. Look, Hermione's out for the morning. It would help her recovery if someone will get her work and take notes for her. Do you think you could do that?"

A grin was added to Draco's raised brow. "What? Potter asking a favour of me? How surreal and…satisfying."

Harry made a disgusted face. "Look, will you do it or not? I have to get to class."

Draco sighed in an exaggerated form. "I just don't know."

Harry rolled his eyes. "What do you want?"

Draco met his gaze evenly. "You know what I want."

"I can't secure that while she's unconscious."

Draco simply lifted his brow.

"Fine. I'll talk to her later."

"Deal."

Both turned away to head to their classes. Ron was frowning at Harry.

"What was that about?"

Harry sighed. "I'll tell you later."

Hermione woke at lunch. She shifted her eyes to take in the two boys staring down at her.

"Hey, sleepyhead. How do you feel?" Harry asked.

Hermione looked around in thought. "Better. Refreshed actually. How long have I been out?"

"Just a couple hours. Pomfrey says you took some power potion that drained you—"

"And combined with the incident today, you simply knocked out." Harry finished. "She says you can go to afternoon classes if you feel up to it."

Hermione nodded. "Do you have—"

"Ask Malfoy." Harry interrupted.

Hermione frowned. "Why?"

"Harry got him to take notes and collect your homework for you since we don't have the same classes as you," Ron answered, rolling his eyes.

Hermione's eyebrows shot up. "How?" she asked looking at Harry.

Harry wouldn't meet her gaze. "I'll talk to you later about it."

Hermione frowned at this. So did Ron.

"Why can't you talk about it now?" Ron asked.

Harry looked at him. "I just need to talk to Hermione without interruption first. It's sort of a…touchy matter."

Ron raised his eyebrows at this but said nothing more.

Hermione moved her legs to the side of the bed as Ron moved back. He held his hands out in case she was unsteady on her feet, which she was a bit as she stood, but was determined to get over it. She was Head Girl, she could not be lazing about in the hospital wing all day

What could Harry possibly have to say to her and not Ron? This kept her brow furrowed, though worrying was the last thing she needed right now. She needed to get away from Ron quickly so she could find out what Harry did. He looked none too happy…resigned even, about it.

They walked her down to the Great Hall for a quick lunch before classes. The students also in DADA with her were finished eating for the most part, so they bombarded her with questions and what happened and how she felt and if she should be up so soon after. She ended up eating very little, and had a headache, so she excused herself to go get her books for her afternoon classes.

A presence joined her in the halls. She looked over to see Draco.

"What?" she sighed.

"You alright?"

"What do you care?"

"I just don't want you chickening out on the ball because you exerted yourself too much beforehand."

"Your concern overwhelms me, Malfoy." She glanced at his sideways. "So what do you really want?"

He quirked an eyebrow at her. "I thought you'd need some help carrying all those heavy tomes you insist upon."

Hermione scoffed. "Right. A Malfoy, thinking of someone outside their family. That's rich."

He halted. She turned to glance back at him. He was stone faced.

"I think you've insulted my family enough, Granger," he said coldly. Then he turned and stalked away.

Hermione sighed and trudged on. Could this day get any worse?

They were about to have their Head/prefect meeting. Blaise entered and Hermione turned and frowned.

"Where's Draco?"

Blaise shrugged. "Wouldn't talk to me."

Hermione scowled. He said he would help but puts his little mood tantrum before it.

"I'll be right back," she muttered stalking out.

Reaching her common room she had calmed a bit. Realizing she had upset him several times after he made his bizarre attempts to reach out to her, she doubted yelling at him would get her anywhere. She muttered calming words to herself as she headed to Blaise and Draco's dorm. She knocked and after no answer for a minute, she opened the door, peeking her head in.

Draco sat at a desk.

"What do you want?"

"You're missing the ball meeting."

"So?"

"So," she stepped into the room fully. "You signed up to help, you need to fulfill your commitments." Hermione stood staring down at him, hands on hips.

Draco dropped his quill onto his parchment, before slowly rising to face her.

Stupid boys and their tallness.

"Well, according to you, Malfoys are scum of the earth. What is responsibility to us," he hissed.

Hermione stepped back. "Draco. I didn't say that."

"We break our word all the time, why should now be any different?" he continued as he stalked her.

"Draco, stop." Hermione frowned.

"Why, Granger? Am I scaring you? Well, guess what, that's what Malfoys do. They terrorize and destroy Muggleborns like you." He had backed her to the wall, and now stood before her with a malevolent stare.

This was the Malfoy she had been used to. But now that he made his reappearance, she was unsure of how to act.

Draco saw her uncertainty and smirked.

"I've tried to show you I'm not like that, yet you cling to the past. You believe I shouldn't judge you because of who you were born as, yet you judge me for my family. Tell me, are all Gryffindors as practiced in hypocrisy as you?"

Hermione narrowed her gaze.

"We are simply not as trusting and naïve as you think. And proving you are not like your family means you make efforts and then follow through with them. I've seen the effort but none of the follow-through, so don't take that high-handed manner with me."

She was fairly sparking with magic, she was so angry. Draco hadn't seen anything like it, especially coming from a muggle-born. It did something to him. He glared at her up and down, wanting to know what it was. It was an odd feeling, one he'd never experienced.

Hermione was looking at him as if he'd gone mad.

"What?" she demanded.

Draco reached out and grabbed her wrist. A jolt of heat went through him. It felt like…wanting. Hermione was flustered and scared and tried to yank her wrist away. She was successful the first time as he abruptly let go. The feeling didn't go away. What was happening to him? He stared at her as if she were at fault, backing up a step.

Hermione was now slightly concerned. He looked as if someone knocked the wind out of him.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Get out."

Hermione's brows furrowed.

"Get out!" he yelled again, his hand swinging towards the door.

Hermione yelped as the door knob exploded. Covering her mouth with her hands, she stared at the carnage of the door handle, and started shaking. She looked at Draco, who was staring at the door in surprise. He finally realized she was still there and glared.

"Get. Out," he bit out.

Hermione was still in shock, and wobbled as fast as she could out the ruined door.

Draco collapsed onto his bed, still staring at his door. He'd never done wandless magic. When he was a baby, his parents had given him his first wand, he'd never had a chance to do wandless magic. And still hadn't. He simply forgot he wore his wand on his hand and in his anger, and used it without thinking.

Draco ignored the way he had felt an incredibly powerful attraction to Granger, and that that's what angered him. That that's why he wanted her to leave so badly. Why he panicked.

It was okay pursuing Granger to thwart Potter, it was not okay to pursue her out of personal interest.

Hermione returned to the meeting, shaking. Blaise had to start, since he couldn't get a response out of her.

All Hermione could keep thinking was the strange jolt that went through her at Malfoy's touch and then the shock of him using wandless magic. Only moments of high emotional stress could cause that powerful a reaction, but that was with Harry and her. She didn't know if it was the same for full-blooded wizards.

He shattered a hole in the door. Did it have something to do with the jolt? She wondered if he felt it too. Maybe it was some sort of transference or multiplication of their magic. She was itching to go to the library and research it, but Blaise was looking at her expectantly.

She shook her head of those thoughts and looked at her notes.

"Right…"