Let Me Help You
DracoxHermione
Rated NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling
Let Me Help You
Chapter 2
Draco stared down at his plate of food that night during dinner. He wasn't really hungry; he actually hadn't really had much of an appetite as of late. Ever since he had been forced to take the Dark Mark and try and help the Death Eaters infiltrate Hogwarts, he hadn't been able to concentrate on much else. Not to mention he was also given the task of killing Dumbledore. It wasn't that he wanted to, because he didn't, but the Dark Lord expected him to succeed where his father failed and he was threatening to kill his mother if he didn't.
He had thought he had been careful but apparently not. Of the one person who could have noticed he was a little off, it was Granger. He knew Potter was following him around and snooping (as usual), but he hadn't expected Granger to notice that something was bothering him. In fact, it unnerved him and he didn't like it.
Granger, despite being a Muggleborn and a Gryffindor, was exceptionally intelligent and Draco could admire that about her. Truthfully she wasn't really a bother to him. It was whenever she was with Boy Wonder and Weasel did she become a nuisance. Those two honestly were a bad influence on the poor girl. Draco also wanted to keep his distance from her, especially now. But she's noticed him and even approached him about what was bothering him. He had immediately brushed her off with an insult, but knowing Granger she wouldn't let up until she knew exactly what was going on with him. As his Uncle Severus has said numerous times, Granger was an insufferable know-it-all.
Feeling someone staring at him Draco looked up from his plate and looked across the Great Hall towards the Gryffindor table. There his grey eyes locked with the brown ones of the brunette witch that had just invaded his thoughts. The blond couldn't help but stiffen when he locked eyes with her, though. It wasn't because she was staring at him so intently. No, it was because of the emotion whirling in her eyes while staring at him. She seemed to be staring at him with something akin to affection in her eyes. The surprise he felt caused him to stare back at her in shock before he scowled at her.
This girl was beginning to get on Draco's nerves and it had only been one day. First she's being nosy and wanting to be in his business, now she's looking at him all lovesick. Pushing his plate away Draco abruptly stood from the table and headed towards the exit of the Great Hall, ignoring the call from Zabini.
As soon as Draco turned the corner and was away from the Great Hall he broke off into a run up the stairs toward the Astronomy Tower. The blond wizard didn't stop running until he reached the stairs of the tower, stopping to catch his breath and calm his racing heart. Once he did he climbed the stairs to the tower and let out a sigh when he felt the fresh air hit his face.
Walking over to the railing he leaned against it and looked out over the grounds. Oh, how he wished his life was simple and that he didn't have to pick up the pieces to his father's failure. All Draco wanted was to finish school and become a Potions Master, just like Severus. But instead he is being forced to do something that he doesn't want to do with the threat of the death of his mother. Draco was just so on edge and stressed that he didn't know what to do. Severus had told him he would help him but he didn't want to be seen as weak. He had to complete his mission, no matter what. But he didn't know if his heart could take it.
Tears of stress and frustration fell from grey eyes as Draco began to sob freely. He always came to the Astronomy Tower to be alone and shed the tears that no one ever saw before putting on the mask that everyone familiarized as 'the real Draco'. However in the midst of his tears he heard someone step up behind him.
Quickly turning around he was surprised to see none other than Granger standing behind him. She was looking at him with a concerned look on her face, causing Draco to quickly wipe his tears away.
"What are you doing here, Granger?" Draco asked, sniffling a little.
Granger didn't answer at first, but then she said, "I just wanted to see if you were alright, Malfoy."
Draco scoffed and retorted, "Well I'm fine, just peachy."
"Malfoy, I know you are upset about something."
"No, I'm not."
"Then why are you crying then?"
"I'm not crying! And go away, you filthy Mudblood!"
"Stop calling me that! And yes, you are! You should be relieved it was me that found you this way and not Harry or Ron; they would never let you live this down if they found you crying like this."
Draco knew she was right. Out of the three of them, Granger was the safest as far as finding him a sobbing mess. Looking away from the brunette he looked back out over the grounds again. It was silent for a moment, but Draco jumped in surprise when he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. Turning back to Granger he saw her looking at him with a soft expression on her face before she softly said, "Please tell me what is bothering you. Why are you crying?"
He wasn't going to answer at first, but when he thought about the reason he had been crying in the first place, more tears began to fall from his eyes once again. In a broken voice Draco said, "It is all starting to become too much for me to handle. I can't keep doing this on my own, but I have no choice."
"Can't do what? What is it that has you stressed out?" Granger asked.
Shaking his head Draco replied, "I can't tell you. No one is supposed to know about this, especially not you, Weasley, or Potter."
Granger looked up at Draco in confusion for a moment before saying, "Tell me, Malfoy. I promise not to tell Harry or Ron."
"No, I can't. If I told you, you would tell them anyway. Hell, you would probably take this piece of information to Dumbledore."
"I won't, you can trust me. I just want to help you, Draco."
Draco was stunned that Granger had called him by his first name. Had she ever done that before? He couldn't recall a time if she ever had, so this was new. And if he was honest with himself, he liked the way his name rolled off of her tongue. Shaking his head of these thoughts he said, "I'm sorry, but you can't help me; no one can. I have to do this on my own."
Draco tried to walk around the girl but he was stopped when she sidestepped him and placed her hands on his chest. Looking down into her brown eyes he was surprised to see the amount of affection residing in them that she seemed to be harboring just for him. Granger looked over his handsome face for a moment before saying, "You say that no one can help you with whatever is going on, but I don't believe that. I can help you if you'll let me. Let me help you with your problem, Draco."
It was easy to see how sincere Granger was being, but Draco just couldn't tell her. Shaking his head once more he gently pushed her away before saying, "I'm sorry, but I just can't, Hermione."
And as he left the Astronomy Tower and headed down the stairs, he heard Granger say, "He called me 'Hermione'."