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For all the lurvvvvee!
Here's the chapter you all are awaiting!
Flashback Alert ! :-)
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CHAPTER 35.
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The 4th year passed fairly quickly especially with the tournament.
After the surprise Draco had given Hermione on Christmas Eve, things between them had become even better.
Draco had finally accepted his feelings for Hermione and inspite of the insecurities that did arise in his mind because of it, he was altogether just too happy feeling the way he was feeling.
Love was one of those feelings that Draco Malfoy hadn't ever been accustomed to. At least not openly.
Sure, his mom loved him but that was only because she told him once in a few years. The Malfoy household was not a place to demonstrate love. But hate and unkindness were openly welcome there.
Thus when Draco had finally come to terms with being in love with his best friend, he found himself incapable of fighting the good feeling.
This reflected in his relationship with Hermione. Although she still thought they were only friends yet, that didn't stop him from being on cloud nine almost always.
Hermione on the other hand, had, of course started noticing a happier and more cheerful Draco and he had also started opening up more. She was naturally thrilled at this change and thus her happiness multiplied too.
They kept in touch all summer and couldn't wait to go back to school where they could meet each other every day albeit secretly.
Umbridge's presence in school had been a major nuisance. Not only for everyone else but more so for Draco and Hermione.
Draco was expected to suck up to her and had been instructed by his father to join the Inquisitorial Squad. He absolutely loathed the woman and also hated being a part of the squad.
But his father's word was always the last word. He had had no choice but to join.
This had made meeting Hermione even more difficult. In the past too they had had to be careful but with Umbridge's eyes everywhere and not to mention Filch's, things had gotten rather tedious.
Also, Draco being a member of the squad and a supposed slytherin prat couldn't ever be seen with Hermione Granger.
Now not only did they have to hide their friendship but Draco also had to hide from Umbridge his real intentions.
But luckily because of all this, Draco had inside information and he could warn Hermione about the whereabouts of the squad so that the Dumbledore's Army could be safe most of the times.
Hermione had also given him one of the coins that the DA used to contact each other, so that he knew their plans all the time and would make sure that the squad went nowhere close to them.
Draco had often thought how it would be if he actually told Hermione about his feelings for her. He was still reeling from the effects of his newly developed feelings and he longed for her to feel the same way about him.
Often he had come extremely close to telling her but something or the other had always happened and he had chickened out.
Turned out that Draco Malfoy was actually nervous about expressing his love for his best friend.
His main concern had been their friendship. He valued it more than anything else in the world. It had made him a different person and he had come to like the person he had become.
He treasured Hermione greatly and would never want anything to jeopardise their friendship.
Would revealing his feelings to her cause any harm to their friendship? Would Hermione start acting all weird and distant after he told her?
He knew she loved him immensely but she generally was a kind and compassionate soul. She had quite a few friends and she liked almost everyone.
Even Ron and Harry were equally close to her. What if she had feelings for the Weasel? What if she felt only platonic love for him?
He was sure that she could eventually love him more than friends did, but he didn't want any sympathy love from her. He wanted her to feel deeply for him just like he did for her.
He had hope that she could feel that way for him. He wasn't sure if she already did but he made a mental note to start observing her more to look for signs.
He concluded that he couldn't risk their friendship over this and having Hermione in his life was more important to him. He'd rather have her as a friend than not have her in his life at all.
And telling her that he loved her always had the risk of pushing her away and it was a risk he wasn't ready to take.
So he kept his feelings on hold for the time being. Besides, this year at Hogwarts was officially the worst year ever and with so much going on he really wasn't in the frame of mind to own up to her or start a relationship if she felt the same.
So they went on like before, their friendship strengthening inspite of all odds.
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Hermione had begun to see Draco in a new light too after Christmas Eve last year.
What he done for her was incredible? She had had the best time and she couldn't help but feel even more affectionate towards him.
They had been close but she felt connected to him in a way they weren't before now.
He was on her mind constantly, more than before and she found herself waiting for words to appear in her two way diary. And when they did, her face would light up with a smile for no reason whatsoever.
5th year was turning out to be really difficult especially with Umbridge and the OWL's but they managed to sneak and meet even then. Their meetings were less than they had been and Hermione found herself very upset about it.
She waited for moments they could be together and when they weren't, she often glanced around to catch a glimpse of him. Not seeing him around for long made her anxious and when she did see him, a wave of euphoria would wash over her.
She enjoyed stealing covert glances his way and when he would smirk and wink at her when no one was looking, it would send her insides in frenzy.
Her stomach rolled into tight knots whenever she caught him look at her in the same way she presumed she looked at him when he wasn't noticing.
This was definitely different. Nothing like this had happened in the past before. And they had been sneaky since a long time. How was now any different? Hermione passed it off as the thrill of doing something that was forbidden or prohibited.
Especially with Umbridge's umpteen rules, they were constantly breaking them and surely that would account for all the adrenaline rush she was experiencing lately.
But the blushing and stammering when he suddenly would come up from behind and wrap her in a hug was unaccountable. She noticed that they had started exchanging more touches and often sat very close together whenever they had the chance.
Innocent brushes hand around the shoulders, greeting and parting hugs that definitely lasted way longer than common hugs did, touching each others hair which was completely new, and hand holding! When had they started holding hands for no reason?
She didn't know how it had all started but it was too comforting and didn't feel awkward at all. In fact it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
She loved the feeling of his long slender fingers in her hand. Her smaller hand in his larger one seemed to fit perfectly and she felt safe whenever she held it.
She had to admit that she loved holding hands with him. And hugging him. And moving his hair from his face. And playing with his hair.
Sigh! She couldn't rate it in order. She loved it all.
She often thought about the change in dynamics and after a lot of thinking and over analysing she came to the conclusion that the excess affection and need for closeness was probably a reaction to the troubled times they lived in.
Harry had seen Voldemort. And even though no one seemed to believe him, Hermione had complete faith in him. She truly believed that Voldemort had returned. Draco too had said that Lucius was often occupied a lot more than he normally was and he was perpetually in a mood worse than what he usually was in.
Draco wasn't a fan of Harry Potter but knowing Hermione had led him to know about Harry in detail and he for once also didn't doubt Harry's word. He too was certain that Voldemort was back. And the Ministry butting its head into the school affairs was proof enough.
Everyone was on tenterhooks. No one knew what was going to happen next and this uncertainty was what Hermione thought was responsible for the change in hers and Draco's friendship.
There was a need to be closer and safe. And Hermione felt both with Draco around. Of course Harry and Ron were there too. But Hermione had felt so comfortable only with Draco.
Yes! That was it. That was the reason why she constantly sought him and longed to touch him, to hold him and be held.
But it still didn't explain the euphoric feelings and the blushing and the tingly feelings it all evoked.
But Hermione didn't have the time to dwell on that. Something or the other kept on happening and she was always occupied with it.
One incident totally changed her line of thought and she was forced to finally consider and admit to herself what she had been putting off for a long time.
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The DA was having one of its meetings in the Room of requirement. Usually Draco would always lead the squad away from wherever these meetings were held. But one day, Umbridge called in a squad meeting suddenly without any information and she herself made sure she accompanied them when they went out to look for the DA.
Draco got worried and hurriedly wrote on the coin to warn Hermione to get out and disperse as fast as they could. He then tried to stall Umbridge and being Lucius Malfoy's son and head of the squad, she followed him without questioning him.
He managed to buy the DA almost 10 minutes before Umbridge got frustrated with Draco and the other Slytherins and started yelling at them.
Just then, Crabbe saw one of the Creevey brothers sneaking out of a corridor.
"Professor!" He yelled out pointing towards the corridor where a terrified Colin Creevey was openly running now.
Umbridge turned sharply towards the boy and raised her wand. "Stupefy!" She yelled. Poor Colin was hit squarely by the curse and he staggered back ways, hitting his back and head on the stony corridor wall.
Draco looked shocked at the sight of her actually cursing a student. Filch was smirking and the other members of the squad looked equally pleased.
"Bring that imbecile here." Umbridge ordered. "He will have to answer all my questions."
Before anyone could even touch Colin, a sharp voice yelled "protego" and an invisible sheer screen was formed between Colin and Crabbe who had come to yank him away.
Everyone looked surprised as they saw an enraged Hermione Granger clutching her wand, the protection charm flowing dangerously through her wand tip. Her eyes were livid and her face was hardened with rage.
Draco gulped. He had never seen her so angry before. Not even when she had punched him in third year. And that was the angriest he had seen her.
"How dare you?" Hermione yelled at Umbridge. "How dare you use a hex on a student? He's so young. He can barely defend himself. What sort of professor curses students?" She yelled, her hair standing out due to the friction and anger.
"Oh oh oh. Well, what do have here?" Umbridge laughed forcibly through her teeth. "Is that Ms. Granger? Well, aside from questioning my motives, Ms. Granger, may I know what you are doing roaming around these corridors at this time?"
Hermione stiffened. "It's not curfew yet." She yet boldly. "Last time I checked it wasn't a crime to be walking around my own school."
"Tsk tsk. Ms. Granger, I suppose you ought to learn how to speak to your superiors. Pity that's not taught in a book. I hear you lap them up pretty well." She looked at her with a smirk.
Draco was finding himself getting angrier by the minute. He couldn't stand the way the foul pink toad was talking to his Hermione. He was dreading the punishment that she was going to dish out. Everyone knew that Dolores Umbridge loved to punish for even the smallest things.
Hermione noticed his look of rage and internal battle. She briefly looked at him and pleaded him to stay put.
"Perhaps if my superiors knew how to conduct themselves in front of their students, I wouldn't have had to resort to this." Hermione retorted hotly. "He's just a 12 year old for Merlin's sake."
"Enough!" Umbridge yelled, losing her patience. She was trembling with anger. "This isn't over yet Ms. Granger. I will find out what the lot of you is up to and you will be punished for this. Do not for a moment think I shall forget. I am too angry to think straight right now but be assured that I shall think of an appropriate detention that will suit the kinds of you." She barked before turning on her pink behind and marching out with Filch and his cat on her toes.
The rest of the slytherins smirked and cackled before leaving.
Draco was waiting before everyone had left; he turned to look at Hermione with worried eyes.
"Hermione ... "
"Sshh. Not here. Just go now. Please." She pleaded as she picked Colin up and tried to get him to talk.
Draco gave her another beseeching look but she looked up at him and smiled warmly and mouthed the words 'go on. I'll see you soon.'
Her smile pushed all doubts from his mind and he smiled back mouthing 'take care' before leaving her.
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Hermione looked at a still unconscious Colin in her lap, her eyes threatening to spill. "Colin? Please wake up." She whispered.
When he didn't, she silently started crying and muttered "enervate" under her breath. Colin groggily opened his left eye and looked up at the ceiling.
Hermione broke into a wet smile "Colin? How're you feeling?" She asked.
"Huh?" He said rubbing his head and trying to sit up.
Hermione helped him up. "Okay come on now, you seem all right, just a bit stunned. I'm sure it's fine but let's get you up to madam Pomfrey now. Can you walk?"
"I guess..." He mumbled.
He faltered a bit so Hermione cast a feather light charm on him and guided him towards the infirmary, all the while abusing Umbridge in her mind.
Meanwhile Draco had followed the rest of the squad into Umbridge's abominable pink office. His mind was furious with the way she had spoken to Hermione.
He couldn't believe Hermione had been stupid enough to come in her way and taunt her. But then again that was Hermione for you. She was reckless when it came to others and obviously seeing young Colin so defenceless against the toad, she couldn't help but jump for his safety.
Being a Slytherin, he would have found such behaviour extremely foolish but now that he knew her, he had grown to become quite fond of her courage and it was one of the things he loved about her. He didn't know if he himself could ever display such acts of courage but he was extremely proud of Hermione that she could.
But walking into the pink office, his pride was replaced by dread.
Umbridge was shaking with anger. As she settled into her chair with a loud thump, her cats were startled and they fled their portrait plates in a jiffy.
"That girl!" She fumed. "She shall be punished. I shall give her detention that hasn't been given to any student yet. Writing into the skin will seem better in comparison."
The others smirked while Draco gulped. He tried to keep his outward appearance as unaffected as he could. But from inside he was squirming.
"That filthy mudblood will pay for her insolence. In a way that they are supposed to be punished." She said smiling eerily as ideas formed into her head. "It's time that Hogwarts starts implementing the right kind of punishment to endorse discipline."
Draco's stomach had formed a tight knot now. He recognised the madness in her eyes. He had seen it often in his father's and his friend's eyes.
"Maybe we could make a class out of it. As your defence teacher, it's my duty to teach you. And next class will be a live demonstration of the unforgivables. Maybe some crucio will reveal what she has been up to and will teach her to keep her toe in line." Umbridge said with an excited glint in her eyes.
Draco struggled to stay upright and hide the look of horror from his face. His heart was thumping and he hoped no one would start noticing the beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
He really needed to get out of there. There was only so much he could pretend. Umbridge was going to use the Cruciatus on Hermione! Merlin! He had to do something. He had to warn her!
"Mr. Malfoy!" Umbridge yelled for the third time.
"Yeah.. Um.. Yes professor?" Draco said.
"You look distracted. Is there some problem?" She asked.
"No professor. Certainly not. Only imagining the look on Granger's face when she hears of her punishment." Draco managed to say.
Umbridge laughed her annoyingly nauseating laugh at Draco's reply. "Good good. Since you seem to gain such enjoyment by this I shall let you be the one to give her the news. Tell her that she must report here in my office on Wednesday at 8 pm for her detention." She said. "And all of you can be here as well. You have done good work today. You deserve a show of what will happen."
Draco nodded and put up a superior look on his face as he tried to smirk. "Very well professor."
"You may leave now." She said as she dismissed them.
Draco left as fast as he could. He was shaking. With anger and with fear. He really needed to be alone right now. He had to calm down. He wanted to meet Hermione and make sure she was fine but after hearing what Umbridge planned on doing with her, he needed some time to cool down.
There was no way he could speak to her without letting the news out. He had to avoid her for a bit and he had to get her out of this punishment. There was no way Draco would allow her to be a specimen for the cruciatus curse.
He ran up the stairs that led to the astronomy tower. He knew that the top of the tower would be deserted right now and he really needed to be alone to think things through.
Draco paced up and down till he was breathless. He wanted to punch something. Preferably Umbridge's pink face. He began to grow tired after half an hour of relentless pacing and found that the exercise had cooled him a bit.
He stared out at the expanse below, wondering how he could save Hermione from this.
One thing was certain. Draco Malfoy would in no way let Hermione endure what that evil excuse for a human had in mind. He would just not tell Hermione. Yes. Then she wouldn't go. But how long would that work for?
Somehow or the other she would make sure Hermione would pay. No. He needed to do something else. He had to keep this from Hermione. Because he knew her and he was sure she would rather face her punishment than run away from it.
Courage be damned! Draco wouldn't let her be so stupid. He had to come up with something. Luckily he was the one appointed to break the news of the punishment to her. So no one else would dare to talk to her. At least this way it could be kept a secret from her till he figured out what to do about it.
He had only tomorrow to think about it. The day after was Wednesday and he had to have some backup plan ready. The most difficult part of it all was that he was all alone in this. He couldn't tell Hermione and neither could he tell anyone else since it involved Hermione. And if he did tell anyone else that would mean their secret would be out. So all in all, he was completely alone.
He sat there for 15 more minutes, scouring his head for all sort of ideas but none were good enough. Finally, frustrated, he retreated to his dormitory and grabbed his broom and made his way back to the tower.
He took off from there and flew almost violently. Feeling the wind biting his face, he flew blindly for some time till he slowed down and flew some more. While he was on the broom at a very slow pace, he started thinking how Umbridge could be fooled.
If only he could go back in time and somehow prevent Colin and Hermione from being seen it would all work out. But Draco knew from Hermione that time turners were extremely difficult to procure and even if he did manage to find someone who could give it to him, it would be too late.
There was no way McGonagall would ever give him the one she had given Hermione. He could break into her quarters but that was almost impossible. Besides, no one knew where it could be kept. It could be with her or with Dumbledore for all one knew. And neither's offices could be broken into. There also wasn't enough time to go about speculating something like this.
No. That wouldn't work. He needed something concrete. Something that wouldn't seem fishy. He wondered if he should go to McGonagall and tell her what was being planned. Surely she wouldn't allow a student to be put under an unforgivable. But that would be extremely dangerous. Umbridge would realise someone from the squad had snitched since only they had the details of Hermione's punishment. She wouldn't hesitate to use any unforgivable on them either and he was sure she had mentioned veritaserum sometime. If it came to that, Draco wouldn't be able to resist its power and there was a lot that Draco had hidden and lied about. Also, Umbridge might use legilimency on them. No. This was extremely dangerous. Hermione might be saved temporarily but it would cause exposure of their friendship and Umbridge would instantly report it to his father and there was no saying what he would do with that piece of news.
He started panicking at his train of thought. Although going to McGonagall had seemed a good idea in the beginning, now weighing all the pros and cons had showed him more cons than anything and Hermione's life would be even more in danger than some torture curse.
He wiped his brow which was glistening with perspiration now. He seemed to come at a dead end. There was no way Umbridge could be fooled. Hermione would have to be there. There was no way out. She had to go through this. And he would be there. He would have to watch her writhe in agony as that mental woman inflicted pain on her.
He didn't think he could watch her while she was being would certainly break down.
Holy Salazar! Unless... He was so stupid! So blind! The answer had been in front him all the time but he had to go all roundabout before he could come up with it. Of course there was a way. It was tricky of course but still the least dangerous of all the plans he had thought of anyway.
And it would all work out. Everything was falling in place. He had all the resources even. He had to do it.
Excited that he had finally come up with a plan, he turned around and went back to the tower and dismounted off his broom. He returned to his dorm room and went to take a shower.
The hot water calmed him and he was glad that he had finally come up with something. Everything be damned if he would ever let the love of his life endure even one crucio!
He crawled into his bed and closed his eyes. Less than a second later he opened them abruptly. Merlin! The entire seriousness of his plan chose that moment to hit him hard. He swallowed fearfully, his plan hitting him with full force.
That Hermione Granger wouldn't be harmed on Wednesday that much was certain.
But that didn't mean Umbridge wouldn't be dishing out her punishment. Someone would be at the receiving end and that someone was Draco Malfoy.
Because he planned to drink Polyjuice Potion with Hermione's hair in it.
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Cliffhanger... i'm so terribly sorry..
originally i planned to add the rest of the flashback in here itself but my chapter count was going to something like 12000 words..
crazy i know! although i'm a fan of smaller quick chapters, i still thought one big chapter would be better in this case, but i got writing and the chapter just wouldn't get over!
so i'm splitting it up, i dont want to overwhelm you with a whopper of a chapter..
i'm almost done writing the second half of this flashback so getting the next chapter up shouldn't take long!
please don't hate me!
i'll put up 36 soon!
meanwhile, you can let me know how you liked or disliked this chapter!
i know it feels like i'm dragging it out but this flashback is important to establish their feelings and is a half crux of the entire story.
so please bear with me!
thanks for reading..
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