What Binds Us Chapter 9, a harry potter fanfic

Title: What Binds Us [Chapter 9/??]
Author: Rorania
Rating: R
Warnings: Language, sexual references
Word Count: 2,708
Summary: Starts after HBP. Draco's under protection of the Order, much to the Golden Trio's dismay.

Chapter 九

九きゅう九きゅう九きゅう九きゅう九

ー

That afternoon, Draco managed to get away from Hermione, who was, what else, studying in the library, to head out to the pitch. Potter had spoken two words to him while passing in the hall, "Quidditch Pitch." Blaise went with him, a second of sorts.

They were quiet on the walk there. Blaise could sense Draco's inner turmoil. If things didn't go well, who knew what would happen between him and Hermione, and whether he'd even stay at Hogwarts, considering they could be caught and then it was immediate expulsion for Draco.

They reached the center of the Pitch. Harry and Ron were already there.

"Potter, Weasley." Blaise greeted them both.

They nodded.

"Alright, I will moderate this. Since Draco has a precarious standing here, we'll duel to disarm only. No dark magic. Stakes…" Balise drifted off, glancing between Harry and Draco, who were challenging each other with their gazes.

"If I win, you leave Hermione alone." Harry spoke first.

"And when I win, you start getting used to the idea of me and Hermione," Draco returned.

Harry snorted.

Ron frowned. "Is that all?"

Draco continued to hold Harry's gaze as he added, "Your constant distrust of me makes Hermione uncomfortable. I don't like it when Hermione's uncomfortable. I'd like to settle this once and for all."

Ron looked at Harry, more confused than ever, but Harry refused to back down from Draco's stare.

"Alright, face off, then take ten paces and turn. Trying to break your opponents limbs will result in my taking points. Play nicely." Blaise added, with a smirk.

Harry and Draco faced-off, wands out, as Ron and Blaise stepped back. Turning, the both walked ten steps before turning, wands in position.

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Hermione sat at her usual table in the library, when Ginny walked in. Seeing Hermione she came over.

"Hey, have you seen Blaise? The portait on your door says he's not there and he won't answer his *WandNet."- (Wizarding wireless network)

Hermione shook her head.

Ginny glanced around. "No Malfoy?"

"No, he said he had something to do." Hermione answered.

"Where's Harry and Ron?"

"I don't know, I haven't seen them."

Ginny frowned. All four boys were suddenly missing at once? Shaking her head, she said goodbye to Hermione and headed out to look some more for Blaise.

Hermione strode into her common room, eager to get ready for her date with Draco. She stopped short when she noticed his blond head poking up from the back of the couch. She walked over to get in his line of sight, and gasped when he looked up at her. His lip was bloody. Dropping her book bag, she quickly sat down next to him, reaching a hand out to his mouth.

"What happened?"

Draco jerked his head away from her hand. "It's fine."

"It's not fine when you're bleeding. Let me look at it." Hermione urged.

Draco stilled, looking resigned, and scanned her face while she reached out tracing the corner of his mouth.

"How'd this happen?" she asked again.

Draco dropped his gaze from hers a moment before glancing at her sideways. "Potter looks worse."

Hermione's mouth opened in disbelief. "You didn't."

Draco looked away.

"How could you? After our deal…"

"Look, he doesn't trust me, you don't even trust me, and he was only making it more difficult for me to get you to trust me, because I'm not going away, I'm not letting him have you, and I knew that if left up to you, you'd eventually choose him over me."

Hermione sat gaping at him. She frowned. "Harry does not see me that way…"

Draco stood, frustrated. "It doesn't matter, you're friends. You'd choose his friendship over anything with me, and that's a fact."

Hermione, angry, nodded. "Alright. So what now? You beat up my best friend, so…what? You expect me to go on all kitten and puppies now?"

Draco frowned. "I didn't beat him up. We duelled. He initiated it, I accepted, Blaise moderated."

"And?"

"And I won."

She sat back. "Congratulations." She deadpanned.

Draco paused in his pacing to note her mood. He watched her stand, and move away from him.

"Where are you going?"

The door to her room slammed in response.

Draco sighed.

Damned if he does, damned if he didn't.

"What is wrong with you?"

Harry glanced down at his assailant. A very pissed Hermione stared up at him, tapping her foot. He glanced around the hallway, seeing students staring. He grabbed her arm leading her behind a tapestry.

She frowned as she saw a large, angry scrape across his cheek and neck. Giving him another accusing glare she waited for him to explain.

"What?"

Hermione huffed. "Damnit, Harry. Did you or did you not challenge Draco to a duel?"

Harry glanced away. "It was sort of mutual."

Hermione's eyebrows lifted. "Sort of? What the hell does that mean?"

Harry frowned at her. She'd never cursed at him before. She'd never cursed, ever, actually.

"I thought you'd be happy."

"Happy?" Hermione, spat in disbelief. "Happy? You thought attacking someone, over me, would make me happy?! You thought once again playing hero and putting yourself in needless danger would make me happy?"

"No," Harry, spat back, getting angry himself, "I thought you'd be happy, since I won't bug you about your bigoted boyfriend anymore."

Hermione frowned.

"He's not my boyfriend, and the fact that he's interested in me means he's no longer bigoted, and why the hell did you have to duel Draco before you could get off my back about him?!"

Harry frowned. "I—"

"NO!" Hermione shoved him back. Harry hit the wall, his eyes wide. "I don't wanna hear it! You're all stupid, stupid boys! I'm Head Girl! I can hold my own against Death Eaters! I do not need you fighting my battles for me!" She punctuated each statement by poking him in the chest and now stood toe-to-toe with him. Last time he was faced with an angry woman, he'd wanted to kiss her socks off. Now wasn't any different, and he held back the urge just like before.

Hermione started to turn away in disgust, whether it was at herself or at Harry, she wasn't sure anymore. That's when Harry grabbed her arm and turned her back to face him. She looked at him puzzled. He was considering her intently, in a vaguely familiar way. Before Hermione could pinpoint it, Harry spoke.

"Hermione…you're wonderful. You are one of the most amazing…witch/Muggleborns I've ever had the honour of knowing. I simply wanted…want more for you." Harry finished weakly. "I'm sorry I can't trust Draco…if only for your sake. I just…" Harry let that thought falter as he couldn't very well say he didn't know why he couldn't trust Draco, since he was sure he just figured out why. But telling his best friend he had more than platonic feelings for her was not on his agenda for the day. Or ever. Instead, he said, "Do you really see anything long term or permanent with him?"

Hermione huffed. "Well, if you're so certain we won't, why didn't you just let it play out?" She held up her hands before he could argue. "Look, I said I'd give him a chance as long as he tried to get along with you and Ron, and he couldn't do that so, it's over." Hermione gave him a look that was anything but satisfied. "You win." With that, she stalked off.

Hermione ignored Harry and Draco the next week. She wasn't too happy with Ron either, but forgave him when he apologized for himself and Harry.

Draco tried several times to get Hermione to talk to him, but to no avail. If they were in public, Ginny was somehow always there to tell him off and she locked herself in her room the rest of the time.

Harry was also at a loss on what to do. He didn't like that Hermione was mad at him but he wasn't sure if he wanted to talk to her. Having these feelings for her after all those years of friendship was wiggin' him out. How should he act around her? And if he really wanted to do something about his feelings, she'd never go for it. Ginny was her good friend, and she had this thing with Malfoy. Harry shuddered. The thought of her and Draco still didn't sit right with him, crush or not. But Hermione had some sort of relationship with Draco now, no matter that she said they were over, and Hermione was not the type to run off with another guy like that. Unless she was trying to make someone jealous, Harry amended, thinking of last year at Slughorn's private party. But he really didn't want to be a pawn to make Draco jealous. Even the thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Harry sighed. He supposed he should apologize so they could get on with horcrux business, then keep his distance till these odd feelings died down.

Draco was taking a more aggressive approach, as it were. Hermione woke up every morning to fresh flowers littered about her room, and a new apology note from Draco. He'd be waiting outside her room to walk her to the Great Hall and waiting up late for her to come out of her room, in vain. She knew he was there, and avoided their common room like the plague. She'd have stayed in Gryffindor tower, except for Harry.

She still couldn't believe his high-handedness. She knew Draco couldn't back down when issued such a deliberate and personal challenge, and Harry knew it. She knew she should forgive Draco, she was simply mad and didn't feel like pushing such a strong emotion away for what she saw as the idiocy of teenage boys.

So Hermione was none too happy when she saw Harry round the bookshelf coming upon her study spot in the back of the library. He slowed when he noticed her. He stood across the table from her and placed a hand on the chair there, his eyes asking for permission to address her. She simply looked away and continued with her notes.

Harry sighed as he pulled the chair out and sat.

"I'm sorry, Hermione."

She didn't look up.

"It was a really stupid thing to do. I guess I wasn't thinking clearly."

Hermione looked up at that. When he didn't continue, she said, "That's it? 'You weren't thinking clearly?' "

Harry nodded, unsure.

Hermione snorted derisively and went back to her work.

Harry frowned worriedly. "Hermione, I—" He stopped realizing he didn't know what else to say. She'd never been this difficult with him before. And if he stuck to even a semblance of the truth, she might realize…

But she was his friend. If he didn't want to act on his feelings, maybe she'd forgive him if she knew. Harry started to sweat. He had flashbacks to when he tried to ignore Ginny's appeal worried about what Ron would think. Now he had to ignore Hermione's appeal worried about what she would think.

"I—I was jealous." Harry stuttered out finally.

Hermione looked up surprised, but suspicious. She didn't trust him too well at the moment and the thought that this was a ploy crossed her mind. But then she realized that this was Harry, who she'd always trusted, and decided to hear him out.

"I thought—I thought Draco was trying to take you away, I mean, we don't know for sure whether he'll continue to be good or go back to Voldemort with his father and what if he manages to convince you to go with him," Harry reasoned. Maybe he didn't have to tell her everything.

Hermione was frowning. "That's absurd. First of all, his father would never accept me and Voldemort wants me dead."

"Hermione, he had Madame Rosmerta under Imperius all last year; if he's truly evil's minion, why would he hesitate to use everything in his power to get you to go with him? I'm just worried about you with him."

"So does my opinion matter then?" Hermione challenged.

"Of course. I just think you're…too close to look at this objectively."

Hermione lifted a brow. "Oh really? I'm too close? Harry, you just said you're jealous of Draco because he might take your best friend away. How can you be more objective than me?"

"Well, thankfully, I don't have hormonal urges towards Malfoy like you." Harry snorted sarcastically.

"Oh, so I'm just acting on my baser instincts with him? I don't have a mind of my own that tells me whether he's inherently evil and I should stay away?" Hermione asked just as sarcastic.

"Hermione, you cannot tell me you don't have doubts about Draco."

Hermione frowned. "Of course I have doubts. I also have doubts as to whether I want you as a friend anymore."

Harry sat back as if slapped. He thought they were simply fighting, like she did with Ron, not that she never wanted to see him again.

Hermione sighed. "Look, I will continue to help you search for horcruxes, because let's face it, you and Ron are ballocks at research. But otherwise," Hermione stood gathering up her books. "Let's just keep out of each other's way." She stared down at him stoically a moment before stalking out.

Harry stared blankly down at the desk before him. Suddenly, he felt empty.

"Hermione." Draco called through the door. "I know you can hear me or my voice wouldn't echo." It was an easy way to check for silencing charms. "Please, I know you're mad. I promise, no coercion or deal, I'll be nice to whomever you want, just talk to me."

Silence.

Then a knock sounded on the portrait. Draco sighed and went to answer it. Another persistent knock sounded before he could reach it.

Pulling it open, he looked at the youngest Weasley siblings in annoyance.

"Have you seen, Harry? Where's Hermione?" Ginny asked, her eyes wide in panic.

Draco frowned. "No. She's in her room."

Ginny rushed past him to Hermione's door. Draco was left looking at Ron in question. Ron looked just as panicked as his sister.

"What's going on?"

Ron gulped. "We can't find Harry anywhere. He's not on the map."

Draco frowned at this. As Ron entered, he said, "What map?"

Then the door to Hermione' room opened at Ginny's insistence. Hermione looked wide-eyed at Ginny, glancing briefly at Ron and Draco.

"We can't find Harry. You haven't seen him have you?" Ginny asked trembling on the verge of tears.

Hermione shook her head.

"He's probably out on the Quidditch Pitch or something. He could be anywhere." Draco said, not understanding their distress.

Hermione looked at Ron. "You checked the map?"

Ron nodded.

Draco frowned again. "What map? What's the big deal?" he asked again.

Ginny folded her arms, hugging herself. "Harry's gone, you twit. Who knows where he's gone, and whether it was by choice or not."

"Oh, God…" Hermione held her temples. "What have I done…" she muttered.

After a moment, she looked up her face determined. "I know where he's gone."

Ron frowned slightly. "You don't think…"

"Yes, I do Ron."

"But, it's suicide on his own. He knows that." Ron exclaimed.

Hermione nodded. "That's what I'm afraid of." She turned to Ginny, "Alright, you alert McGonagall. Ron and I'll go after him."

Ginny grabbed Hermione's arm as she made to turn away. "Wait! You can't possibly go alone!"

Hermione answered Ginny patiently. "We were planning on it already, the three of us. If it'll make you feel better, have McGonagall floo Tonks and Remus. We have our locators on."

Ginny nodded weakly and turned to go. Hermione went back into her room and came out a moment later with two knapsacks and her cloak. She passed a knapsack to Ron, before wrapping her cloak around her and slipping her pack on. When she headed for the door, Ron right behind her, Draco stepped deliberately in her path. She looked at him defiantly. He returned the stare.

"I'm coming with."

"No, you're not." Hermione tried to step around him but he cut her off again.

"Get out of the way, Malfoy." Ron cut in.

"You're not leaving here," Draco said, glancing between the two, "without me."

"You have no clearance to leave the grounds," said Hermione.

Draco flicked his brows up at her, before lifting his arm out to his side. Accio cloak, he thought. Ron shot his gaze to Draco's door as his cloak came zooming out of it, but Hermione kept her gaze on Draco's. She watched Draco pull on his robe before he cocked his head to the door.

"Let's go."

Draco turned to head out the portrait, while Hermione and Ron glanced at each other, before following.