Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time
If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
You, you belong with me, you belong with me
-You Belong With Me, Taylor Swift
A Rebel With A Tainted Heart: Chapter 8
Finally, it was Halloween break. This year, the teacher's had decided to extend all of the breaks so that students could spend more time with parents helping them or repairing their houses, things like that. Few students had actually chosen to stay at Hogwarts, many still didn't feel as safe there as they had before the War, and they probably never would. The only students remaining were Draco, Hermione, Blaise and Ginny. Hermione found it extremely weird how it was just those four, with a whole bunch of teachers.
As it was just those four, Dumbledore had let them know that if there were any things they need to sort or do outside of Hogwarts, that they would be free to do so. Hermione would be forever grateful to the elder wizard; he had done so much for them all.
A nice quiet Friday night in. That was what Hermione was looking forward to as she stretched out along one of the sofas in her and Malfoy's shared Common Room, Hogwarts: A History in her lap.
-Hm, wonder where the ferret is? He's like a creeping Jesus, you never know where he is till you turn round and he's there.
Hermione was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even notice the blond nor did she hear the portrait door being closed.
He relaxed down onto the sofa opposite her, tilting his head back, closing his eyes and rubbing a slender hand over his face. This caught Hermione's attention and she turned to face the Head Boy.
He lounged on the couch looking impossibly sexy and so bloody distracting. He still had his eyes closed, so she took the opportunity to study him properly, again. No guy should be allowed to be so handsome in Hermione's opinion. Draco's face was chiselled and angular, and she couldn't help but stare a little dreamily at his jaw. Hermione wouldn't mind kissing all along it, or all along his body for that matter.
His platinum blond hair was falling randomly and messily perfect around his forehead, as though he had been running his hands through it, like he did when he was frustrated or nervous. The long pale fingers that lazily twirled his expensive quill in his left hand when he was bored in class. The boy had talented fingers and those perfect hands that sculpted that perfect writing. He had beautiful writing.
-God, why does everything about him have to be so beautiful?!
"I know I'm irresistible and all Granger, but you don't need to keep staring at me. If you want me naked all you have to do is ask," He drawled in that melodical tone, eyes still closed and smirking.
"How in the hell? You have got to stop doing that - your eyes are shut," Hermione muttered, causing his smirk to stretch.
-Much like his ego!
-She didn't argue with me about her wanting me naked, hm, minxy witch!
"I can sense it. I'm like a, what do those Muggles say? Ninja?" Draco asked her, much to her surprise.
"You know what a ninja is? And you sure as hell are not a ninja Malfoy," She rolled her eyes at him, he was so typical. Whatever he had opened his mouth to say in reply was lost in the incessant tapping at the room's window. One of the brown school owls was glaring angrily at the pair, forcing Hermione to get up and cross the room to the window to retrieve the letter.
"Who's it addressed to?" Malfoy called across to her.
"Me, it looks like my mum's writing," She replied simply and he nodded slightly in response, shifting his position on the sofa. There was silence in the room for a few minutes before Hermione let out a small strangled sob. Draco sat bolt upright and looked at her warily. Silent tears were streaming down her face and she was biting her lip. He knew this wasn't going to be good as he walked over to her and gently took her hand.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" He asked softly, careful to use her first name.
"M-my na-nanny, she, she has COPD," She spoke just as softly, her voice wavering with the tears she was shedding.
"Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, ah," He sighed quietly.
"There's no cure for it and because of her age, the Muggle Doctors are on unsure grounds with treatment right now, apparently it's quite bad," The brunette was biting her bottom lip violently now and Draco was sure she would pop a blood vessel.
"Do you know much about it? Could you explain it?" She asked him sadly.
-Wow, she's devastated; she openly admitted she didn't know something. The bookworm!
"A little, basically your airways branch out inside your lungs like an upside-down tree. At the end of each branch are small, balloon-like air sacs. In healthy people, both the airways and air sacs are springy and elastic. When you breathe in, each air sac fills with air like a small balloon. The balloon deflates when you exhale. In COPD, your airways and air sacs lose their shape and become floppy, like a stretched-out rubber band. It makes it difficult to breathe and there is treatment but no known cure," He explained in a soft tone, watching as her eyes slowly filled with unshed tears.
"I think I'm going to go to McGonagall and ask her if I can go home to tomorrow to see them all," Hermione sighed, fiddling with a curl.
"Uh Malfoy?" She looked up at him hesitantly.
"Yeah?"
"Would you, uh, would you come with me tomorrow, please? I mean, it's okay if you don't want to because you don't know these people and they're just Muggles so I understand you know? I get it, you probably wouldn't want to spend time with me either-" Hermione began rambling but he cut her off.
"Of course I'll come with you Granger," He opened his arms to her and she accepted his hug gratefully. Draco Malfoy hardly ever hugged. She clung tightly to him and he rubbed his hand in slow calming circles on her back as he felt her take a few deep breaths.
"Thank you Draco, it means a lot. Shall we go to McGonagall now?" Hermione drew in another breath, forcing herself to be calm and focus, trying to wipe her tears away. Draco's gentle hands replaced hers as he thumbed her tears away. He had no idea that one simple gesture meant so much to her.
"Yes, come on," He smiled a little, offering her his hand as they climbed out of the portrait.
~O-O~
"We are very sorry to hear that Miss Granger and of course, we will allow you and Mr Malfoy here to apparate to your grandmother's farm. I'm sure there will be something you will be able to do," Professor McGonagall smiled at her best students sitting before her and her husband.
"I hope so," Hermione replied weakly.
"We will see you in the Hall tomorrow before you leave, sleep well," Professor Dumbledore spoke calmly and it helped settle Hermione's jitteriness.
"Okay, thank you and goodnight Professor's. Come on Granger," The young Malfoy spoke softly to the brunette, offering his hand to her once more, which she clasped onto for dear life. This did not go unnoticed by the two elder Professors, who shared a knowing smile with each other as they watched the young witch and wizard leave.
Malfoy muttered the password to the curious looking founders and pushed the portrait door open before allowing Hermione to climb in first. They both climbed the stairs but Hermione stopped in the landing, looking slightly lost.
"Hey, I know you think it's best for you but trust me, I know from experience, being alone isn't best. You can come sleep in my room tonight if you want, feel privileged, no one has ever been in my bed a whole night but me," He offered to her, waggling his eyebrows at the end, enjoying seeing her pale cheeks tinge a light pink.
"Um, please Malfoy, if that's okay," She smiled slightly, eyes cast downwards.
"No funny business though!" She demanded.
-There's the Granger we all know and—woah ha, nearly said something there!
"Sure, come in when you're ready," He winked before disappearing through the door. He may still be a prat, but he had certainly managed to cheer her up and look after her.
She quickly slipped into her pyjamas - green shorts and a strap top.
-Draco will definitely approve. Wait what? What am I thinking?
She grabbed her pillow and wand before knocking on his door.
"Come in," He called out lazily.
"You could have just barged in like, I wouldn't have minded," He shrugged casually. Hermione was struggling to form coherent sentences as her gaze lingered on the topless boy lying on his bed in front of her.
"Some of us have manners!" She joked, sticking her tongue out at him, causing him to smirk. Hermione was simply pleased she had replied with something that was relevant to the conversation and she hadn't looked like as much of a tool. But boy, his chest was impressive, even more so up close.
"Hm, who knew the goody Gryffindor has sexy Slytherin pyjamas?" He grinned appreciatively and she rolled her eyes, again. It was something that became a regular occurrence for her when she was around Draco.
"Whatever you creep, I happen to like this colour," She smirked a worthy smirk, sinking down on the bed beside him. He could really distract her well, and that chest was part of it. God, she really hoped she wasn't drooling.
"I'm not a creep, I'm highly attractive and you're just calling me that so you don't have to admit the truth," Draco grinned, pulling the covers over them, as they lay facing each other. Hermione let a wave of shock roll across her face, but she quickly masked it.
"Yeah, you're right. I'm only going to say this once, because otherwise your ego will be even more ridiculously large and we actually want wittle Dwaco to fit thru da Hogwarts doors," She teased in a mock baby voice, patting his head as he looked indignant.
"I think that you, Draco Malfoy are the sexiest guy in Hogwarts, there I said what I was thinking, okay, goodnight haha," She laughed nervously, rolling over so her back was to him.
"Ha, na ah! I knew it!" She could practically hear his grin widening. Well, before his perfect hands shot out around her waist, turning her around and pulling her flush against him.
"You, think I'm hot and you don't like it, it goes against everything you stand for so you fight it," She felt his minty breath against her collarbone and she held back a moan as his teeth grazed the skin there lightly.
"And you, Draco Malfoy, you have to admit, you like me, in your own, weird, little way," She whispered breathily, running her hands along the contours of his stomach and her tongue along his collarbone. He struggled to control himself.
"Mm, goodnight Draco," She giggled lightly, turning away from him once more and settling down to sleep.
"Fucking teasing witch," He grumbled to himself as he rolled over onto his stomach. At least he distracted her from the events previous in the day. He was a Malfoy, he was made for distraction. Smirking, he went to sleep.
~O-O~
The next morning, Hermione woke up with pale streams of sunlight splaying against her and the silk sheets of the bed.
-Silk? Oh yeah, Malfoy's bed, she thought to herself as the memories of the night before came flooding back to her. Draco had been nothing but good to her the whole year so far and he pleasantly surprised her the night before, especially when he hugged her. Everyone knew that Draco Malfoy did not do affection.
She turned slightly to the sleeping blond beside her. Their legs were entangled and she was practically lying on him. Oops. Studying him as he suddenly stretched out, she resisted an eye roll. Even sleepy he still managed to look immaculate and breath taking.
"Sleep well Granger?" He asked her in his gorgeous morning voice.
"Yeah thanks Malfoy, did you? I'm practically lying on you, sorry, I'll move," She apologised, scooting back a bit.
"Yeah I did and I didn't say I didn't like where you were," He smirked before those oh so perfect hands shot out to wrap around her waist and pull her close once more. Hermione's breath hitched in her throat as she looked into those amazing silvery grey eyes. She couldn't help but be drawn in by them and the cocky prat knew it. But she didn't know that he was feeling pretty similar with her.
Her chocolate curls lay lazily in front of one shoulder and her huge dark eyes drew him in as she surveyed him through her long dark lashes. And her body, well you can guess what that did to him. Both were very lucky he had such good self control.
They quickly separated soon after to dress - Hermione in a long black maxi dress and denim jacket and Draco in his skinny jeans and polo.
-Mm, he looks so hot all the time! Ha, if only I could see Ron and Harry's faces if they knew what I was thinking!
Departing the Common Room, they made their way to the Great Hall, which contained the professors. They were sitting in their usual circle of chairs and sofas.
"Ah Miss Granger and Mr Malfoy, ready to leave?" Professor Dumbledore asked, eyes twinkling mischievously at the pair.
"Yeah, if that's okay Professor. You'll need to side-along Malfoy," She said, holding her arm out to the blond.
"Sure, ready when you are Granger," He smirked before placing his arm on hers. They disapparated in a graceful swirl.
"I believe after this day, you will owe me five galleons Minerva," Dumbledore chuckled to his wife, who crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.
"You don't know that Albus! I can't believe you made me agree to that ridiculous bet of yours, on the children's lives no less!" She muttered.
"I'm Albus Dumbledore, I can do anything," He grinned at the disapproving look on his lovely wife's face. He hoped his two students would turn out like him and Minerva. After all, Hermione and Draco deserved some happiness in their lives.
~O-O~
Both Draco and Hermione managed to land on their feet in one piece, at the right place. Hermione smiled as the familiar red brick farmhouse came into view. She had so many good memories here, most of them with her granny - her first steps, her first bike ride, her first tree climb, her first apple pie. Now that was a great memory!
Letting out a sigh and clutching Malfoy's hand, Hermione briskly walked to the farmhouse door and knocked, waiting.
"Does your granny know about you?" Draco asked curiously.
"Only her and my parents know about me, magic and the affairs of the Wizarding World," She answered him, her voice wavering slightly. He wrapped a strong arm around her, pulling her close as the door opened to reveal a worried looking Lana Granger.
"Hermione! And Mr Malfoy? What a pleasant surprise son, are you alright?" Mrs Granger beamed at the pair.
"I'm fine thank you Mrs Granger, how are you holding up?" He asked her, a look of concern on his face. He liked the woman; she treated him like an actual son already, even though he had only met her for the first time today.
"I'm scared, she's my mum and she's still young, but they don't know if they can help her," She said honestly, a tear rolling down her face. Just then, her husband Alfie came out.
"Hermione and Mr Malfoy! Glad to see you, come on in. Sh come on Lan, she'll be fine," Alfie whispered, hugging his wife close.
-I wish Granger and I could be close like that some day and- oh my god. I need help.
Draco snapped out of his thoughts as they were led through the house, up the stairs and into a bedroom. He heard Hermione let out an almost inaudible gasp as she saw her granny. She looked a lot like Hermione and more like she was in her early forties rather than her sixties. Elena Dagworth lay in bed, her face twisting into a grimace as she coughed deeply. Her breathing was slightly laboured and her once vibrant face was now a shade or two paler. Although, it lit up once she caught sight of her favourite granddaughter.
"Hermione!" Elena smiled, beckoning her closer. Hermione sat on the edge of the bed, whilst Draco stood in the doorway near Mr and Mrs Granger.
"Hello nanny, are you alright? How are you feeling, are you in any pain?-"
"Hermione, Hermione sh love, I'm alright, how are you?" Her granny cut her babbling off, smiling a little.
"I'm ok too, I've missed you since I've been at Hogwarts," She smiled back at her granny.
"Is this the boy you got put with in that marriage law?" Elena asked her, gesturing towards Draco who was in deep conversation with Mr and Mrs Granger.
"Yeah nanny, that's Draco Malfoy," Hermione replied, smiling at her.
"Wow girl, you got given a good one. Malfoy eh? They're the oldest richest, pure-blooded family in the world. And definitely the most beautiful as well, I mean, look at him," Her granny smirked a little at her granddaughters shocked face.
"I know, he is gorgeous but we aren't together together, we're just friends. We hated each other throughout our earlier school years and he doesn't see me that way," Hermione said quietly, sighing.
"I don't know baby, I mean, he came here today didn't he? And he's surrounded by Muggles, so there must be something there," Elena raised an eyebrow as Hermione blushed slightly. She'd get it out of the young girl at some point. Mr and Mrs Granger along with Draco came to stand behind Hermione.
"Mr Malfoy then yes?" Elena asked the tall blond wizard.
"Draco Malfoy, the pleasure is mine," He smiled, kissing the back of her hand in true pureblood custom.
"Elena Dagworth, the pleasure is mine too," She giggled and Hermione did a double take. Yes, her granny giggled. Jesus, it appeared Draco Malfoy's charm affected everyone.
"As in the Hector Dagworth-Granger, the potions expert?" Malfoy raised a perfect blond eyebrow whilst the other Grangers looked confused.
"Indeed, there is some magic in our family, hence why Hermione is a witch," She nodded slightly.
"Hm, that's interesting," He looked impressed.
"I believe in sixth year Professor Slughorn asked you if you were related to him," He added, looking at Hermione who nodded, standing up beside him.
"Oh yeah, that's pretty cool!" She grinned.
"I was saying to Mr and Mrs Granger, Mrs Dagworth I may be able to help you," He smiled kindly.
"Call me Elena and really?" She asked him, and Hermione looked surprised yet a bit relieved too.
"I believe so, I was trained in the medical field for the War and I'm a Healer. Would you mind me examining you?" He explained.
"A true Healer? That's incredibly rare! You could do it any day boy!" Elena grinned and Lana was mortified at her mother.
"Mum stop that! You're an embarrassment, you can't say that!" Mrs Granger hissed looking to gauge Draco's reaction. He merely barked a laugh.
"I'm flattered, really Elena haha," He grinned, waggling his eyebrows. They watched as he rolled up his sleeves before gently lifted her wrist and checked her pulse. He brushed a long pale hand across her face and cheeks before resting it on her sternum and checking her breathing.
"Well?" Lana asked him, her clammy hands clasped together tightly.
"Her pulse is steady and there's no sign of fever. Her breathing is a little laboured, but it hasn't reached an extremely severe stage yet. This is where it gets strange," He began.
"How so?" Lana was worried.
"This isn't a regular health problem. This, this was caused by magic, dark magic," His face was stony and Hermione felt anger and fear build up inside her - the Death Eaters had found her family.
"How can you tell?" Alfie asked. Draco responded by pulling up his left sleeve. None of the persons present looked surprised or scared, to which he was very relieved.
"The spell came off it? And holy CRAP this thing is burning!" Hermione gasped and pulled her hand back as she traced her fingers over his warm Dark Mark lightly.
"Believe me, I know. It feels like my whole arm is on fire and there's hundreds of nails piercing it as well. It reacts when you're around Dark Magic," He chuckled and they all winced.
"How can you stand it?" Elena asked him.
"I've had a lot worse. I've had this mark since I was sixteen, you get used to it, especially when you're around someone like my aunt," He shrugged nonchalantly.
"Sixteen? Oh my god, you poor boy," Elena gasped, sounding a lot like Hermione when she did that. Draco tugged his sleeve down.
"Anyway, my Malfoy heirloom is this ring," Malfoy held up his hand to show them.
"It has a Dark Magic Detector and see here, it's spinning every time I go near you. But don't worry, I believe I can help. As long as you wouldn't mind me using magic," He said and Lana let out a sigh of relief, her husband hugged her waist close to him.
"We have no objection," Alfie stated firmly and Hermione nodded.
"Elena, what about you? Do you mind?" Draco asked her.
"Not at all, if it means I'll get better," She spoke softly, pleading amber eyes boring into his silver ones.
"Once you're healed that's it, you won't have COPD or any traces of Dark Magic within your body, your breathing will be normal and you won't have any of the symptoms. I can just take it all away, take away all the pain," He replied, just as quietly.
"Do it," Hermione whispered to him, eyes full of unshed tears, speaking after a long bout of silence. He hugged her close to him and whispered in her ear.
"She will be fine Granger, relax." Hermione closed her eyes at his gentle touch and relaxed into his inviting body for a few seconds before he released her and placed his hands on her grandmother's collar bone.
He muttered a few words in an unknown language and they all watched, transfixed as a purplish blue light flowed from his perfect hands onto her skin. After a few minutes, it was obvious he was tiring and he looked a bit more gaunt but suddenly, he lifted his hands off her and Elena took a deep breath, smiling as a golden glow surrounded her.
Malfoy sat down on the floor quickly, legs crossed under him and breathing hard. Hermione took two steps forward and knelt down in front of him, placing soft hands on either side of his face, forcing him to look at her.
"Are you alright Draco?" She asked quietly, searching those grey eyes for tell tale signs but they were devoid of any pain.
"I am fine Hermione, help me up would you?" He asked gently after a few minutes, watching as Mr and Mrs Granger hugged Elena tightly.
"Of course, do you need anything?" He could practically hear the worry radiating off her.
-Wow, she's worried for me. She's so cute, gods; I've turned into a sap. But her hands are so soft; I bet she could do wonders with them...
"I'm fine really," He smirked lightly at her, helping himself up.
"If you're sure," She replied, sounding unconvinced as she bit her lip. That was the telltale sign that she was nervous or worried.
"One day you're going to bite a hole right through those gorgeous lips," The blond said softly, before going to check Hermione's granny. Hermione stood in shock at what he had said to her, he wouldn't dare say that to a Mudblood, would he?
-Oh shush yourself Hermione, stop over analysing everything! God, for once in your life, just relax, Hermione scolded herself.
She smiled to herself as she watched her mum and dad pull her granny up out of bed and hug her. Soon, she found herself pulled into the bear hug too, while Draco stood awkwardly in the corner. He really wasn't one for hugs and affection.
He and Hermione walked downstairs just in front of Elena, Mr and Mrs Granger, she wanted to go outside for the first time in a while. They went into the kitchen and Hermione made to go out of the back door when Draco flung an arm around her and pulled her back.
"Woah Granger!" He said, pulling her back as the others watched horrified when a burst of light hit the doorframe an inch from where Hermione's head had been a minute previous.
"Wow, thanks, how did you-? Who-? What?" She questioned confused. He rolled his eyes and held up his left arm and ring to which she nodded sheepishly.
"Right, yeah, who was that?"
"You mean who is that?" Draco corrected.
"He's still there?"
"Yep, standing in the middle of the farmland," He replied and Hermione raised her eyebrows.
"Is he wearing Death Eater robes?" Hermione asked, shocked.
"I think so. What an idiot, but then again," Draco shrugged.
"Will either of you tell us what's going on?" Lana hissed at the pair.
"Oh right sorry, apparently Malfoy here has just saved my life from a spell that rebounded off the door frame there which was shot from the wand of the creepy looking guy standing in the middle of the farmland. Probably a Death Eater," Hermione replied calmly.
"Apparently? Granger I totally saved your life and you know it," Malfoy smirked as she rolled her eyes.
"What are we going to do? Oh god we're all going to die. He'll kill us all, probably with an axe. What if he has an axe? Oh Jesus, I'm going to die right here!" It was safe to say that Mrs Granger was freaking out.
"Mum, relax, remember, witch," Hermione pointed to herself, "Wizard," She pointed to Draco, who gave a mock salute back to her.
"We've fought them before," She shrugged and they all were amazed at the pair's calmness.
"I think that's Crabbe Senior," Draco mused, peering carefully round the door.
"Mum, Dad, Gran, you stay in the doorway, I'll put a shield spell on it," Hermione ordered and they figured she best do as they were told.
"There's no Muggles around right?" Draco asked.
"Um no," Elena replied as Hermione cast the shield spell for them.
"Good I can do this," Draco strolled right out of the doorway and Hermione slapped a hand over her face.
-That man should have been part Gryffindor with that bravery slash absolute ridiculousness!
"Stay here," Hermione whispered before she went out after the blond. Mr and Mrs Granger along with Mrs Dagworth stood in the doorway, protected and watching their daughters every move. None of them missed how Draco stood protectively in front of her.
"Hello Mudblood, Cru-" Crabbe Sr. began.
"Petrificus Totalus," Malfoy aimed with careful position, freezing the man and causing him to fall over. He went over to him, lifted an oddly shaped pebble nearby.
He placed the pebble on the older man's chest and gestured toward Hermione who moved forward.
"Obliviate," She whispered softly, watching as the silver ethereal substance of the man's memory flowed into her wand.
"Portus, Kingsley Shacklebolt's office," Malfoy pointed at the pebble and soon it, and the man disappeared. Hermione released the Shield Spell and instantly both she and Malfoy began uttering Protection Enchantments around the House
"Homenum Revelio," Hermione called, aiming her wand at the house. All was as it seemed. And now, her family was staring at her like she'd grown an extra head.
"Wow Hermione," Her granny grinned and Hermione echoed it.
"Mum, hello, I told you about the War, you know I can do all that," She waved a hand at her mum's face as she stared in shock back at her.
"Yeah, they don't call her the Brightest Witch of Her Age for nothing," Draco chimed in.
"Did Draco Malfoy just compliment me?"
"Relax Granger, I'm sure you misheard me," He winked, smirking back at her.
Author's Note:- Hello, another wee update! Sorry it's been so long, I've been so busy with coursework etc that I've hardly had any spare time. But today I found some, so voila! I hope you like this, I really enjoyed writing this story, I love writing and I hope you enjoy it too! Please feel free to review or pm me if you have any questions or criticisms, or hopefully even if you just like the update. Enjoy :D x