A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Wow, you guys are awesome! *bows* I'd like to thank the Academy… Just kidding. But seriously. I'm going to try to make this the longest chapter so far…cross your fingers.

And Beautiful-Dreamer434-Don't worry, we'll get there.

Disclaimer: Tom Felton is only mine in the confines of my mind. I found a loophole! Neh-neh-nehnehneh!

Chapter 4: Fight.

Hermione entered the Great Hall for dinner as inconspicuously as she could, keeping her head down and her wrist hidden. All she needed now was for someone to recognize the bracelet, like Draco had done. At least the Gryffindor table was as far away from the Slytherins as possible. She plopped down in her normal seat between Harry and Ron and reached for any food she could touch. Harry kept his eyes on his food and Ron got up and sat at the end of the table. Hermione looked up, mid-chew, and frowned at Harry.

"What's wrong with Ron?" she asked. Harry raised an eyebrow, as if she should already know the answer, but decided to grace her with an answer anyway.

"You stared at Malfoy for about 5 minutes, and he stared at you, and you both ran out," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder comfortingly. "He just got the wrong impression like he usually does. He's just protective of you 'Mione," he smiled reassuringly.

"Wait…he got the wrong impression but you didn't?" Hermione asked incredulously. The boys hated Malfoy, for God's sake. It was almost a miracle that they both didn't jump him when he came into the Hall. Which, Hermione noted with a quick glance, he had yet to do. Harry laughed humorlessly.

"I'm not your boyfriend," he said simply.

Hermione had to resist the urge to roll her eyes. She was about to retort about Ron's temper when she felt a feeling of worry creeping unto her. The small smile she was wearing on her face slid off like water when Draco entered the Great Hall, swaggering like he usually did. But it was all a façade. When she looked closer, she could feel his confusion and worry radiating off him like heat. He was perplexed about what she had said to him before, she could sense it. She shook the bracelet a little, and he turned and caught her eye with a quick snap of his neck.

Do you want to talk about it? she asked.

He narrowed his eyes. Not really. Why do you care?

Because I can't even eat with the feelings you're having! It's terrible! I'm just trying to help you!

Well, thanks Granger, but I don't need your help. And he sat at his table and broke eye contact, cutting off all communication. But Hermione could still feel the worry that was gnawing at him. She shifted uncomfortably.

"'Mione," Harry said. "Are you ok?"

Hermione shook her head a little to clear it. She was hoping she could focus on something else and the feeling would just go away, but it wouldn't. She tried to lock eyes with Malfoy again, but he seemed to be studiously avoiding her gaze. The more she tried to catch his attention, the more he stared at his empty plate. At one point, he started talking to his girlfriend, Pansy Parkinson, in an effort to keep her from getting his attention. But when she leaned over to kiss him, Hermione sent a feeling of disgust toward him that was so strong he had to pull away and gag.

She snorted in a very un-ladylike fashion.

She spent a few more minutes trying to unsuccessfully get his attention. Finally, she got fed up and slammed the wrist with the bracelet down on the corner of the table. Malfoy winced incredibly, and locked eyes with her once more.

WHAT?!

Please, just talk to me. You need to talk about it, and I can't even have a normal conversation without feeling like someone knows all my secrets.

Well, you seem to know mine, don't you?

I just want to help.

I don't want your help, Mudblood! Leave me alone!

Well, in case you hadn't noticed, I CAN'T!

You're just going to have to try harder, aren't you then?

You aren't even eating! Just come back to the common room. I'll tell you what I saw.

Fine. He bade everyone farewell, and ignored everyone's confused faces and walked toward Gryffindor's table.

"Hermione," Harry asked cautiously. "Why is Malfoy coming over here?"

Hermione fixed her gaze on her plate. She had gone too far, and she knew it. "I dunno, Harry," she said guiltily.

Malfoy stopped in front of her and stared. She refused to look him in the eye, and therefore felt nothing but the waves of anger he was giving off. She stood and walked away, ignoring Harry's calls.

"Hermione, wait!"

Great, just what she needed. Draco chuckled at the feeling of dread he felt from her as Ron chased her down.

"Hermione, what's going on with you?" he asked, sounding worried.

Hermione ran her hand through her hair exasperated. Draco had to stifle a laugh again. She flicked him off behind her back. "Nothing's wrong with me, Ronald," she said calmly.

Ron's face fell a little, but he wasn't about to let it go. "Then why are you leaving dinner early with…." He looked at Draco with distaste. "That?"

"We have to work on something, ok?" Hermione said, in a weak effort to placate him without giving too much away. He wasn't buying it.

"Like what?" he asked, crossing his arms.

Hermione cast about for an answer. She caught eyes with Draco.

Help me!

Why on earth….?

Never mind.

"We're supposed to plan a ball," she lied. "Kind of like the Yule Ball. But we still have to get it approved by Dumbledore. So…." She faltered, and almost lost her lie. "that's what we're working on."

Ron nodded, although they could both tell he didn't believe them. He grabbed Hermione's arm much like her father had and Draco felt her wince mentally. But he wasn't being abusive, he was being protective.

"You know I love you, right?" he asked. Hermione nodded. "Don't let him mess with you, ok?"

He kissed her quickly, and Malfoy mimed gagging, which made Hermione slightly nauseous. When he had made it back to the Great Hall, Hermione ran ahead of Malfoy, trying to hide her flaming cheeks.

"Why don't you just tell Weasel that you're wearing a Malfoy heirloom, can never take it off, and are therefore going to be burdened with my thoughts forever more?" he asked sarcastically.

Hermione shook her head. "Because Ron would hex you into kingdom come, and I wouldn't be able to stop him. He's already a jealous person…" she trailed off, hoping Malfoy wouldn't catch the allusion to his dashing good looks.

But alas…"So Weasel is threatened by me?" Draco asked, feigning nonchalance. "How appropriate." He glanced at Hermione. "He needn't worry his little Weasel head, I won't steal you from him. I have Pansy."

Now it was Hermione's turn to laugh. "You're seriously happy with her?" she asked incredulously.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Draco asked, offended.

"Oh, I dunno, because she looks like a pug, acts like a snake, and taking into account the feelings you were giving off when she kissed you, kisses like a snapping turtle?"

Malfoy bristled. "You were too busy making me hurl to actually notice anything I was feeling," he snapped. Hermione grinned inwardly. She knew she had hit a nerve, but decided to leave it for later.

"I know what you were feeling, Malfoy," she said patiently. "That's why I wanted you to leave so we could talk about it."

Malfoy looked affronted. "I don't need to talk about my problems. I'm not a girl," he said, and Hermione could swear his already chest-rumbling voice dropped even lower to demonstrate how manly he was.

Hermione almost swooned, then caught herself. This was Draco Malfoy. MALFOY! So what if his voice was devastatingly sexy? He was still a son of a Death Eater.

But, her thoughts started gnawing at her, he decided not to take the Mark.

Who cares?

I do! He would have killed me otherwise!

Hermione resisted the urge to slap herself and focused again on Draco. "I saw your father hurt you, Malfoy," she said softly.

"Which time, Granger?" he asked, then stopped.

Hermione was shocked. "So he does that all the time?"

Malfoy refused to meet her eyes. He had slipped up, and she caught it.

"Come on Malfoy, tell me."

"Yes Granger," was his reply.

Hermione was outraged. "Why don't you leave? Go somewhere? Fight back!" she started waving her arms around wildly.

"Granger, where would you propose I go?" Draco shouted. "All of my family are Death Eaters! If I run to them, I get killed. If I run to your precious Order, I get killed AGAIN! Either way, I'm dying."

"Why can't you fight back?" Hermione asked, letting Draco's frustration mingle with hers and raised her voice.

"I can't fight my own father! He'll kill my mother!" Draco yelled back. "I love my mother, Granger. She never did anything to hurt anyone, unless she had to in order to stay alive." Draco threw himself into a chair, breathing heavily. Hermione felt him squelch the frustration in order to control himself.

She felt her own anger wane. "I'm sorry I shouted at you, Malfoy," Hermione said quietly. "It's just…" she paused. "No one should have to have a bad childhood."

Malfoy looked at her curiously. "You would know all about that wouldn't you, huh Granger?"

Hermione glanced up, startled.

"That's right," Malfoy said, almost mockingly. "I know about your father."

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