In and out. In and out. In and out. Hermione wondered when she had begun to find breathing difficult, her hands grasped tightly onto her two boys, and she stared straight into the dark, colourless eyes that were ignoring her completely, and fixed directly onto the raven haired boy beside her.
Images of Ron, moving across the dance floor and watching her with eyes that were dark with lust as they performed together, flew across her eyes. How his hair was so incredibly soft to touch, and it had become a habit to simply card her fingers through it. How he always made sure that he was holding her bag ready for her, because she found the mornings such a rush. How he was someone who she knew, would simply love her, even with her flaws and faults, forever. How she would have to break his heart, and how an agonised part of her thought maybe she was already breaking it, when she would pull away from their kisses the minute Draco called her name.
She thought of Harry, and his stubborn loyalty to her when everyone around her hated her for managing to win The Best Actress award that Hogwarts gave out every year when she was only thirteen. Of his fumbling awkwardness with Ginny, and the way his cheeks would flush a little pink whenever she smiled his way. How he had stood by her, when her parents had moved to Australia at the beginning of the year and left her behind. How he had held her when she had cried into his arms because she didn't want Ron to see.
And then she thought of her other friends, of Blaise's determined flirting but hidden protectiveness, of Luna's completely barmy but totally sincere happiness, of Neville's determination and strong courage that he would let no one hold him back from where he wanted to be, of Ginny's passionate dancing and refusal to ever give up on the dark haired boy she loved, of Parvati and Lavender's incessant gossip, but sudden empathy if she ever needed it. She thought of her friends.
Her mind finally flashed with thoughts of Draco, of how wonderful the last two weeks had been. Of stolen kisses and surprisingly calm words, of how his hands shaped her into her position on the stage and how his hair would brush across her ear when he kissed down her neck. She thought of that look that would fall across his face when she explained about the beauty of the sound of the rain, or how she wanted to see the world, because she simply fell in love with anything she didn't quite understand. A lot like how she felt about him. How he knew she had that pressure point, at the back of her neck, just into her hairline when if pressed would make her tremble. How he had seen the slight stretch marks across her stomach where her hips had finally grown in and kissed every single one. How he had laughed when she had gotten so angry at him she had thrown her shoe at him, and his smirk when he caught her jealous gaze that she would cast at Astoria.
And then she thought of how she might die here, her hands still clasped with Harry and Ron's, and never be able to experience any of that again.
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Harry glanced over at Ron, he was staring determinedly ahead of him, his eyes narrowed and hard, no sign of any kind of fear, except the slight tinge to the top of his ears. Harry almost smiled at him then, at the little slimmer of complete bravery that his friend seemed to keep locked inside him, hidden until Harry truly needed him to be strong. His eyes travelled to Hermione, whose honey orbs were blank and empty, her mind far away and he could almost hear the wires and cogs in her brain wiring, spinning into life.
"I must say Potter, that this was truly one of the stupidest things you've ever done,"
Harry's eyes swivelled back to the front and he ignored that fire like sensation that burned through his veins and throbbed at his temple whenever he seemed to encounter anything like this happening.
"We were taking a walk Riddle, there is nothing stupid about that,"
"You three. The Golden Trio. Always ending up in places that you shouldn't be, always sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong," Riddle's face hardened and his eyes seemed to flash a deep red as he walked slowly towards Harry, pure hatred written into every wrinkle and pore in his face as he stared deep into Harry's eyes. "Always managing to slip away at the most crucial moments,"
Harry briefly remembered back to fourth year, when the TriActor Award's had been held at Hogwarts, being trapped outside with his fellow actor Cedric slowly dying in his arms as he had run desperately through twist and turn of the garden that had been created specifically for that event, trying to do anything to get away from Riddle and the motley crew he had accumulated.
"Such a shame that Dolohov stabbed the wrong boy," Tom said, his voice breaking into Harry's thoughts. He tried not to be alarmed at the fact that Tom had know exactly what he was thinking. "He's an alcoholic you see, vision's always a bit blurry for him. And it was terribly dark that night," Riddle sighed mournfully, managing to make even that gesture sound mocking. He turned and walked round the clearing in the Forbidden Forest, where the Trio liked to meet up, on days that Harry could get away from filming.
"Cedric died that night. It is nothing to be laughing at," Hermione said, her tone filled with such anger and such dislike that Harry squeezed her hand reassuringly. He also inwardly groaned, Hermione's courage and defiance, whilst brave, was also incredibly stupid.
"Do you know how easily I could kill you Mudblood?" Riddle hissed, swopping forward, his face directly above Hermione's, just as both Ron and Harry began to move protectively towards them, strong arms pinned around his neck dragging him away from his friend. Ron began shouting, struggling furiously as he was pulled away from his girlfriend. Harry watched in horror as though Hermione's body was shaking with fear, her hands clenched into fists, she still lifted her chin and Harry would of smiled when he saw her cock an eyebrow at the handsome, terrifying man in front of her.
"I am not a Mudblood,"
Before Harry could have blinked, Riddle had whipped out and sliced along Hermione's cheek, the small blade clenched tightly in his hand. Ron's shouting got so loud that even Harry had to admit that it was better when he was knocked out, not for Ron's wellbeing, but Hermione needed to be thinking clearly if she was to get out of this alive.
She stroked along her cheek, the red fluid smearing onto her finger which she then held out to Riddle. "My blood is red,"
"How did you get in, hmm?" Riddle asked almost hysterically as he circled the curly haired girl, his eyes taking on a dangerous hint that made Harry want to throw up. Hermione was in danger. Hermione could be killed. Hermione could die. And it would be his fault.
"Strip your knickers off for old Dumbo? Convince Hat that your family had a long history of acting? I know your sort. You lied, tricked your way into Hogwarts. They didn't want you, you had to apply. How are you keeping your place here? How? What sort of blackmail are you using?" Tom's voice had taken on a seductive tone as he trailed the knife down Hermione cheek, smirking slightly as she shuddered and stumbled a little at the metal's touch.
"I didn't lie, I got here on my acting ability-"
"BE QUIET. You think you can lie to Lord Voldemort? You think I won't know? You stupid, ugly, insolent little Mudblood/ Liar's are dirty people Mudblood. They're filthy, and that same filth runs through their veins. You lied to get into Hogwarts, you lied to get into my HOME."
He screamed into her face and Hermione closed her eyes against his voice, shuddering violently as she stood alone against him. Harry took shallow gasping breaths, trying to fight desperately against the forearm that was pinned against his neck to try and help his friend.
"Just because your mother had to lie her way in doesn't-"
By Hermione's words were cut off as Tom lunged for her, his hand tightening around her throat.
"She was not my mother. She was the Devil, the creator of 'your' kind. She probably taught you how to do it didn't she? You think you're good. You think you're on the side of the Light, the side fighting for peace, but let me tell you this- you are on the side of Satan, the side of the liars. And I will make sure you burn."
Harry bit and clawed against his oppressors arms and hands, watching as tears fell down Hermione's face and her cheeks flushed a deep breath. She was going to die if he didn't let her breathe soon.
"And do you know what else little Mudblood," Riddle leaned in close, grabbing the bag of Hermione's head and pulling it close to his face. "I know your secret."
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Draco rolled his eyes as the dark haired girl strutted round the empty classroom. Her sleek black hair was gelled back from her face, and the white blouse tucked into her dark pencil shirt matched with her skin tone. But she didn't have curly hair, or light brown orbs, or olive skin, or that really annoying habit of arguing with him over everything single goddamn thing. The thought made Draco smile. So, despite the allure Pansy seemed to possess, she did nothing for him.
"So, it should be like she's fighting for him back. She wants him to renotice her?" Pansy asked, her eyes wide as she bit her lip, looking for her effort, the part of a schoolgirl who was very genuinely confused. But Draco wasn't biting.
"Yeah, pretty much. He's become infatuated with Leah, and she's falling apart with the realisation that he might love someone else,"
"Which is why the dance is a solo piece?"
"Yeah,"
"Oh, I see." Pansy smiled almost shyly and I tried hard not to frown at the look on her face. "You wanna help me with my movement?"
I cleared my throat. "Um, no I can't actually, I have to find Granger and Ron, they need to run a scene with me,"
Pansy scoffed as she walked over to one of the table, hooking her bag up onto her shoulder. "Good luck with that. Potter's back, I saw the three of them creeping into the Forest about half an hour ago. So you could help me? You have time," Pansy smiled coyly but I just stared at her.
"What did you say?" I whispered urgently.
"You have time?" Pansy repeated a little confused. I shook my head.
"You said they went to the Forest?"
"Yeah, they always hang out there. It's like some dorky little-"
I sprinted out of the Hall before Pansy had a chance to finish, I ran down corridors forcing students out of my way as I raced towards the Headmaster's office.
Because I knew exactly what was in the Forest right this moment, or rather who. I knew what Hermione had just walked into.
A trap.
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"Mr Malfoy?"
"I know. I should of knocked, should of arranged an meeting, I know. But this is urgent. They're in trouble." My breath was coming out in pants and I leaned against the door, my hand splayed on the wall.
"Who is they?"
I twisted my head and watched as Severus Snape slowly stood from his eat, his black coat willowing around his leg.
"Potter, Weasley and Hermione," I shuddered slightly at her name, praying that I hadn't had such an outwardly obvious reaction to her name. "They're in the Forest, I heard whispers, rumours, I ignored them, about Vold-Tom Riddle, he could be in the Forest,"
I had barely finished the sentence when Dumbledore had swept past me, ordering students to fetch McGonagall as he half ran, half walked down the halls.
I watched as Snape followed him, his black eyes watching my carefully as he briskly walked through the door. I jogged to catch up with him, and the two of us followed in Dumbledore's footsteps, walking through the wet grass towards the Forest.
"It's a good job, you head these 'rumours'," Snape said quietly, his eyes focused directly in front. "Once this is all sorted, I believe a word in my office would do you some good,"
I ignored him, my heart constricting painfully as panic and fear ran through me, obliterating any rational thought.
Hermione, Hermione, Hermione. All I could think, over and over and over again.
"There," I heard Albus cry. I raced forward until I find my feet stuck to the ground and my eyes trained on the image in front of me. In almost slow motion, I watched as Weasley swayed, tripping slightly and collapsing on the floor and as Harry, still with Hermione in his arms, fell as well, his body motionless as they both hit the ground.
"HERMIONE," I roared, moving quicker than I ever thought possible. I dragged her from Harry's grasp as teachers swarmed around the group, and clutched her to me, my hands tangling in her hair, my thumb just managing to sweep across her cheek bone, ignoring the cut that drew straight across the flesh. Incapable of doing anything, I crooned to her, repeating meaningless words as what felt a lot like tears formed in my eyes.
"It's okay, I have you now, I've got you, you're safe. I'll protect you."
XXXXXXXXX
Two days earlier….
"Urgh Draco/"
"You started this conversation,"
"Yes and now I am begging you to let me finish it."
"No."
"You haven't told me anything about your family, so why should I tell you anything about mine?"
"Because the likelihood of your parents being psychopaths is very slim."
"Both of them?"
"Not so much my mother, my father definitely."
Hermione sighed, a slight smile on her lips as she shut the door to her Head Girl bedroom and turned back to look at him.
"They wanted to travel," she said simply. "That is literally all there is to it, they wanted to travel and seeing as I'm basically at boarding school, they could use the time I was away to see the world,"
"You miss them? "
She nodded, "Very much,"
Her eyes took on a nostalgic look that Draco didn't like the look of, so he wound his arms around her stomach and pulled her gently back against him. He began to murmur against her neck, her curls tickling his face as he sang.
'When your world trembles and quakes, and your footing, suddenly shifts and shakes,
Take my hand, we'll hide in the corner, hide in the corner, take my hand, we'll hide till it's over'
She twisted in his embrace and smiled at him, humming along to the tune of the song as the two of them began to sway, they continued that way, Hermione humming the music as Draco slowly shifted them around her living room. He grinned as he dipped her and she stretched her head back, letting her curls fly towards the ground.
She laughed, a beautiful harmonic sound, as he pulled her back up and their lips meeting in a kiss was almost planned before he had even thought about it. There was no way it wouldn't happen. Her sucked gently at her bottom lip, smirking slightly as she sighed and he whispered against her lips, his mouth stopping every now and then to kiss her.
'There is nothing left to lose, so hold onto me,'
He sat in the wet grass, with Hermione's head in his lip, the shouts of teachers went unheard as he instead began to hum, hoping to comfort her with what little he could provide.
So sorry about the long wait, A levels and school and drama and all that shizzle. Hope you like, next chapter's gonna be probably a romance fest so I tried to fit in as much angst/drama as I could beforehand. It is still un-beta'd, any mistakes are shamefully my own. Please leave a review, have a beautiful day.