Disclaimer: I very reluctantly owe everything to the beautiful talented J.K Rowling.

D for Dog, Depression and Devious

Hermoine sat in Muggle Studies, staring out the window watching the first years learning to fly. She thanked Merlin it was only first year that you took broom-flying lessons. Hermoine was terrified of heights and of the fast speed that brooms can move at. It was the third of December and snow had fallen the day before leaving the ground slippery and wet. The first years were having trouble landing their brooms today due to it. Blaise Zabini laughed heartedly bringing Hermoine back to reality. He was looking out the window as well. A group of first years had just caused a pile up on the landing area.

"Mr Zabini please concentrate on the class work or I shall move you away from the window," said Professor Hinsel. He flicked his wand quickly turning the windows into mirrors. Blaise sulked into his chair, now refusing to do the work. Hermoine turned back to the mirror, sighing at what she saw. Her now normal straight hair had got back its frizz, her face was pale lacking it's normal pink cheeks, she had large dark bags under her eyes, her clothes were creased and her chocolate brown eyes looked dull. Yet she lacked to see all her physical flaws, none of those mattered. Hermoine saw a used, depressed, angry, dirty young woman. Who had lost all motivation and will to live, even to save those she loved.

Hermoine turned away from the mirror, flicked her wand and muttered a revealing spell. The mirror disappeared and the open schoolyard appeared again. She turned back to her work page. It was blank. Empty of notes or work, which would have been taken during the class. Hermoine looked away not really caring and slunk into the chair like Zabini.

Draco leant on the stone, cold wall outside his Defence the Dark Arts class. A green and silver scarf wrapped tightly around his neck. Not only for the cold but also to cover the large hickeys. A familiar scent wafted through the air, he leant his head back and breathed deeply. Honey. The delicious scent that could always get his heart racing.

"Draco?"

Draco eyes opened slowly and tilted his head forward. Blaise Zabini stood in front of him. Draco brow crinkled with confusion. He could smell Hermoine, where was she? He scanned the groups huddled outside their DADA class. She stood across from him, Potter and Weasel stood in front of her. Chatting away to her, she nodded a couple of times before her eyes wavered off.

"Drake?" asked Pansy.

"Yer?"

"You with us mate?" Blaise enquired.

"I'm just thinking," He replied bluntly.

"Hmm…" Pansy said looking worried, she turned to around and stared at Hermoine. " Could that girl get any uglier? What happened to her recently, she had a little potential beginning this year but she has gone to the dogs."

"Who?" asked Blaise.

"Hermoine Granger" Pansy said loudly. Hermoine's eyes turned unexpectedly to Pansy. "Don't you agree Draco?" Her eyes moved over him. Draco stared at Pansy, unaware of Hermoine's gaze.

"Yer sure Pansy. Complete dog." He said not really paying attention.

Hermoine stormed past Harry and Ron. She walked right up to Draco and slapped him hard across his face. He stood shocked, mouth wide open.

"What the fuck Granger?" he mumbled rubbing his face.

"Nice work! 'Moine," yelled Harry and Ron.

"Shut it." Draco growled.

"Make us," Retorted Ron. Stepping forward, Hermoine raised both her arms warding them off.

"Malfoy, Malfoy," Hermoine said quietly stepping closer to him shaking her head. "You really are pathetic you know that? What should I make you today? Hmmm…" She said whipping out her wand and circling him. Draco stood there half amused by this petite young witch.

"Maybe a cockroach? No, I don't think so. We could go for the classic ferret but then again its already been done. Then again..." She paused and put her hand to her chin. Her eyes widen slightly.

" I know. A dog. Oh how perfect, why didn't I think of it earlier? Then you can know what it is like to be me…apparently." She cackled. Hermoine stopped right in front of Draco, grabbed his collar and pulled him into her face. "You will never know what it is like to be me. You will never know the horror I have lived through." She pushed him back and Draco blinked.

'What has happened to Hermoine? Why is she acting so weirdly? Is she seriously about this dog thing?' Draco thought.

"Hermoine?" Ron asked shyly. Hermoine swivelled quickly to face him.

"Yes Ronald." She said sweetly. Yet not smiling. She hadn't smiled since the accident. Three weeks ago. Ron opened his mouth to speak but Madame La'Brooy interrupted.

"Class inside now. We have much to learn and very little time to do it."

Draco walked straight past everyone and immediately into his seat, followed closely by Pansy and Blaise. Hermoine grabbed her books and sat grudgingly in front of Draco. They both pulled out the days class work and began as if they didn't finish it, it would explode.

Monique surveyed the class. Most sat working or chatting quietly, yet two sat working vigorously. Both sending strong signals of anger but Draco had confusion and worry mixed with it. Hermoine had sadness and pain laced within hers. She had being sensing them for quite awhile now. For about three weeks, everything had changed. She had stopped their detention immediately after their behaviour towards each other had grown friendly. Something has happened, something bad. For their attitudes to each other to change so dramatically, they had walked out smiling and laughing. After the first detention, she felt it not necessary for them to continue. They had to come class happy and smiling, not really paying attention to each other but their thoughts were. What had changed? What…

The bell chimed loudly in her ears.

"Class dismissed."

Hermoine walked slowly back from the library, she had retreated there after her DADA class. She had skipped dinner, like most days. Telling Harry and Ron that she would go to the kitchens later and find Dobby. She never did.

She whispered the password to Gabrielle, the lady in the portrait, entered quietly trying to avoid Draco. Her efforts pointless, he was laying on the couch clad in only boxers. He was half turned, showing both his back and his abs. Hermoine studied him in the firelight. He had 5 scars down his back, how had she not noticed them before? Hermoine reached out to touch them, feeling the smooth skin beneath her skin, warm and inviting. She pulled her hand away, taking in a sharp breath, as if frightened.

"What?" Draco said alarmed, jumping up immediately and looking around. Hermoine stepped back at his sudden movement.

"It's just…" She looked at Draco, then at the floor. She couldn't tell him. "It was nothing, a shadow moving." Draco looked confused. Hermoine studied him further, noticing 3 large hickeys on his neck.

"Please tell me Hermoine. What scared you?" Her eyes moved from his neck to his face. His eyes, full of concern, were tempting her to tell him.

"It's just the scars on your back, I haven't seem them before and you were warm so unlike…" She stopped unable to tell him.

"So unlike who?" Draco asked reaching out to Hermoine, trying to make eye contact.

Your father. The words teased out her mouth, she couldn't, and it would ruin everything. She didn't know if he was to be trusted. Hermoine looked into his eyes, placing a small hand on the arm holding her shoulder. He removed it.

"Your dad whipped you didn't he? How come I haven't seen them before?"

"It was in the summer." Hermoine held her breath. "I knew he was having an affair, one of many and I confronted him about it. He whipped him harder than ever before, the marks you see were the deepest. You have never seen them because I use a concealment spell. Due to the cold weather I haven't seen any reason, expect at night and then there is only you and your never around to see so what does it matter." Hermoine stared feeling guilty, knowing she was the reason for his scars.

"I'm so sorry." She said sadly, touching his arm quickly, warmth shooting through her, something she didn't want. He looked up and stared her hard in the face.

"Nothing you could have prevented." He said walking away. How wrong you are Malfoy.

"Where you get those hickeys?" Draco turned back.

"Why are you interested?" He cheekily grinned. A smile crept at Hermoine's lips at the cuteness of his grin. "Was that a beginning of a smile? Did I just see the depressed Hermoine Granger smile?"

"I am not depressed!" Hermoine said heatedly, her cheeks reddening. Draco scoffed loudly.

"And I am a Saint…" Hermoine rolled her eyes, Draco stepped forward, grabbing both her shoulders and shaking her slightly. "Your depressed Hermoine Granger, face it. Have you seen yourself lately? What happened to the sexy fiery Hermoine I knew only a couple of months ago?…I miss her." He finished sadly. Draco kissed her cheek lightly, Hermoine pulled away flinching slightly. "Come back to me." He whispered in her ear before letting go of her and walking up the stairs towards their rooms.

"You don't understand Draco Malfoy. You'll never understand." She yelled at his back. She quickly took the stairs two at a time.

Draco waited for outside her door, obviously this wasn't finished. She rounded the corner and stopped startled by his appearance.

"What won't I understand?" asked bluntly.

"You'll never understand what I went through. I thought I could forget. Forget they have died, forget the terrible things that had happened. I can't. They come back in dreams. I can't sleep or eat. I thought I could handle it. I am the brightest witch of our age. It was my job, I should be able to handle it. I can't, it's too much now. This is me. That sexy fiery thing that you knew has disappeared. That was the controlled Hermoine, the one that forgot but I can't anymore. I just can't anymore." Hermoine sunk down the wall, sobbing loudly. Draco stood shock by Hermoine's statement. He sat down beside her, wrapping his arm around her as a comfort. She leant her head on his shoulder. Draco breathed deeply enjoying her scent and closeness.

"Stay away from me Draco. You're the last person I need at the moment." Hermoine said standing up. Draco stood too.

"Goodnight, Hermoine" Draco took the stairs again up to his room

" 'Night." Hermoine said closing the door softly.

Somewhere off in another part of the castle…

3/12

Dear Diary,

The potion I have been slipping into Hermoine's drinks seems to be having an affect on her. Good. It recalls past memories. I have been upping the dosages so she is affects her more often. I know she hasn't been sleeping well. My plan is coming together. I have her were I want her. Alone, depressed and Draco doesn't not care one bit about her. He is mine now. Oh how I am pleased about that. He won't take her now. She is broken.

I know Draco plans to leave for the Christmas. How wrong he is! He isn't leaving anytime soon. I need to complete my plan. Only two weeks to ago and then my plans take its last stages.

Oh revenge is sweet. They will never know it's me either. I love being devious.

An evil cackle filled the room. It echoed off the walls. Delighting the young woman sitting in a large armchair in the barely lit empty common room.

A/N: Yes I know your probably thinking Oh My God I so knew it was Lucias Malfoy. I didn't actually mean to reveal it yet but I just wrote it and my sister pointed out my mistake. I hope you liked this chapter I enjoyed writing it. Review, you know it is wroth it.