DISCLAIMER: NOT MINE, NEVER BEEN MINE. NOT MAKING A SINGLE KNUT.
A good thing to be said about muggle-borns: they have the reflexes taught by the wizarding world, as well as those taught to muggles in situations. Not having time to scream or go for her wand, Hermione did the first thing that came to mind. She raised her knee upwards like a strike from a cobra, and at the same time, wandless magic shot through her and struck her attacker.
"FUCK!" the person yelled. "Lumos!"
Hermione stopped struggling long enough to look up into the face of Draco Malfoy.
"God dammit, Draco! What the hell is the matter with you?" she yelled.
"What the hell is wrong with ME? You almost took my balls off! Good thing I put my thigh in the way. Now my femur just feels broken," he shot back. "Muffliato!"
Hermione recognized the diversionary spell from when Harry & Ron would use it in class, or anywhere else they didn't want anyone to overhear them. She raised her eyebrows at him, waiting for him to continue.
"I'd like to ask you just what the HELL you're doing corresponding with him," Draco hissed, fire burning in his eyes.
Taken aback by his behavior, Hermione didn't know how to respond. Luckily, she had time to think about what to say, because it didn't seem like Draco was finished.
"You think it's funny? Is this some sick JOKE to you? What are you playing at? I thought we were on our way to becoming fairly ok friends, but you apparently have a different agenda," he told her.
Hermione gaped at him wordlessly for a few seconds before she was able to finally ask, "What in the HELL are you talking about?"
Rolling his eyes, Draco sneered at her. "I saw your letter." He smirked when she went pale.
"You know who it's from?" she asked.
"Of course I know. How could I NOT know? I've seen that damn bird too many times. Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
"Oh my god, Draco! Please! Tell me! He never signs them; they just keep coming and coming, and I don't know what to do," Hermione sobbed.
Regarding her with slightly widened eyes, Draco finally understood.
"Wait. You don't know? THESE are the letters you've been getting? Oh shit. Shit. We need to see Professor Dumbledore. Now," he said.
"Why? What's wrong? Who are they from?"
He looked at her grimly before responding, "My father."
XXX
Watching his godson hurry from the Great Hall, Professor Snape rose from his chair.
Why is Lucius writing to Ms. Granger? It makes no sense, but it can't be good, he thought to himself.
Walking up to the Headmaster's chair, Severus bent a little and asked Dumbledore for a word in his office, then swept out of the Hall.
As he paced the floor of the office, his mind was turning over and over. He had no idea what use the Granger girl could be to Lucius, and he wondered how long she had been getting letters. His thoughts were interrupted by Dumbledore sweeping into the room.
"Severus, what's happened? Why was Lucius' bird delivering a letter to Hermione?" Dumbledore started, his usual carefree voice now brisk with concern.
"I have no idea, Albus. I was just wondering the same," Professor Snape answered. "I don't exactly have the same connections as before, so if anything has happened, I haven't been informed."
"Well, I don't believe it's any error on Ms. Granger's part. Her face paled before she even opened it, which indicates she was not looking forward to the letter," Dumbledore said, now pacing behind his desk.
"No, but it also tells us that this was not the first one she's received. And whatever was said in the letter made her look sick enough to leave. Young Mr. Malfoy followed her out, no doubt to question her as well. I noticed he saw the bird also."
"Yes, I saw as well. I need to get Ms. Granger in here as soon as possible to question her," Dumbledore said, nodding his head absently.
"Yes, Headmaster," Severus answered, and left the office.
XXX
"Hermione, we need to go see Dumbledore," Draco urged, and dropped the muffliato spell. He grabbed her hand and tried leading her out.
Hermione just nodded, and stayed leaning against the wall. They were still wedged in the alcove, and Hermione was trying to wrap her mind around the news that Lucius Malfoy had been writing all the foul letters.
"It makes sense…" she said softly, almost to herself.
"What does?"
"That it's Lucius. I should've seen it," Hermione explained. "The handwriting is reminiscent to yours, he knew too many battle details, and he said I took away his life. He blames me for losing everything. But why? Out of everyone, why me?"
"I don't know, Hermione. I don't. I wish I did. But I don't know the workings of that man's mind," he told her. "That's why we need to go see Dumbledore." He started stepping out of the alcove, tugging on her hand, and she half followed.
"He wants me dead, Draco," Hermione whispered, tears forming in her eyes. She took another shaky step forward, out of the alcove. "I just don't know what to do anymore. It's all getting to be so much. I hate it." She started crying softly.
Draco pulled her into a tight hug and laid his cheek on her head, closing his eyes, and letting her cry on him.
"Hermione, listen to me. We'll make it through this, ok? I'll protect you. I'll always try and protect you. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise," he told her, lightly kissing the top of her hair.
"Well, this looks cozy," a voice said behind them, making them break apart. Harry stood leaning against a tapestry, arms crossed in front of him, no kindness detected on his face.
"Harry! What are you doing?" Hermione ask, surprised.
Pushing himself away from the wall, he sneered at her. "I got to breakfast and was told by Dean that you were upset. Apparently, you just got up and walked quickly out of the Hall. They said that Malfoy here followed after you, so you'd probably be ok, but I may want to check on you, just in case. Apparently, though, you're fine. I wasn't sure where your new room was, but thankfully, I had my map." He brandished the folded parchment in the air.
"It said you were here…in an abandoned corridor…in a dark alcove…with Draco Malfoy. I didn't hear anything walking up, but the map never lies. And I felt the muffliato. I get a weird tingle when spells are used around me," Harry continued. "So I rounded the corner, expecting to find you bawling your eyes out, or being sick or something drastic. But instead, you're just being…cozy." He narrowed his eyes at her.
"Harry-," Hermione started as Draco said, "Now just wait a minute, Potter-"
"No," Harry said simply, holding up his hand. "You don't look very upset to me, Hermione, so I guess Draco here beat me to the…uh…comforting. That's nice." He turned and started walking away.
"Oh stop being such a bitch, Harry!" Draco yelled at his retreating back. Harry froze, and slowly started to turn. "You don't scare me. If you pulled your head out of your ass, you'd see your friend needs your HELP."
"Don't tell ME what to do. And it looks like my friend has all the help she needs," Harry shot back, now walking towards them again.
"Oh, come ON, Harry! Stop being such a douche and look past your effing nose. Her eyes are RED. Her nose is RUNNING and she's SNIFFLING. She's SHAKING, for god's sake. Does that look like we just finished having a good shag?" Draco yelled, now getting into Harry's face.
"Stop it, you guys!" Hermione's plead fell on deaf ears.
"Well, maybe, if it was that BAD!" Harry yelled back. Having barely two inches different in their heights, they were able to somewhat look the other in the eye. "It doesn't matter anyway, because it seems that no matter what was going on, you have it covered and she doesn't need me. Apparently, she's realized that I can't protect ANYONE!"
"Harry! No!" Hermione tried yelling, but both red faced men weren't even aware she was there anymore.
"Oh for fuck's sake, Potter! She's not WEASLEY! Get over yourself and your problems for ONE MINUTE and see that you're not the ONLY ONE having issues!" Draco yelled.
All Hermione saw was Harry's wand already in his hand, and the next a white hot light blasted both men away from one another.
Hermione had ducked for cover upon seeing the wands, and when she peeked up, she saw both men lying frozen on the ground, turned face down. Professor Snape was looking down at both in amusement, and flicked his eyes up to meet hers when he saw her moving.
"Are you alright, Ms. Granger?" he asked, still slightly amused.
"Yes, sir. Thank you for that. How long were you watching?" she asked him.
"Around the time Mr. Malfoy hugged you. I got to see the full show, but I thought I should stop it before they hurt anyone else in the vicinity," he responded, not trying to hide the mirth still dancing in his eyes. He kicked both students over, and levitated them to the alcove.
"Ms. Granger, Professor Dumbledore would like to speak with you about this morning in the Great Hall. Let's leave these two here to cool off, as they say," he told her, and started walking down the corridor. "The spell should last for…oh…an hour or so."
Hermione looked at both pairs of moving eyes, then laughed and walked away from the statues of her friends.