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 3
Two weeks had passed since Hermione had found the Malfoy heir crying and during those two weeks she had pondered nonstop about what was bad enough to make him break down the way he did. Was it a family matter, like a death in the family? That was a possibility, but it had to be someone close to Draco, like his mother. Was it pressure from his father? Lucius was rather overbearing, even from Azkaban. Could it possibly be…You-Know-Who?
Now that she thought about it, it wouldn't be too farfetched for Draco's problems, whatever they may be, to be something related to the evil wizard. And if that was the case, then that could mean he was being forced to do something bad. And then that would mean that Draco's snooping around made Harry right about being suspicious. But still, Hermione wanted to help the blond in any way she could.
Currently it was free period and Ron was off somewhere with Lavender Brown, leaving Harry and Hermione to their own devices. Harry however had been called up to Dumbledore's office, so Hermione was by herself. She decided to catch up on some reading down by the Great Lake, so she grabbed her book Ancient Runes for the Advanced and left Gryffindor Tower. However as soon as she stepped out of the portrait of the Fat Lady, she saw a shock of blond hair and a Slytherin House tie. What was Draco doing on the seventh floor?
Deciding to follow him Hermione quietly walked after the boy, wondering where he was going. Pretty soon Draco stopped in front of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy and looked at the wall where the entrance to the Room of Requirement would be. It wasn't long before the door appeared in the wall and Draco went to enter. Hermione wondered what could possibly be in the room that her crush could want or need. Whatever it was, she was going to find out. As soon as the blond entered, she rushed behind him into the door just before it disappeared.
Hermione looked around the Room of Requirement, surprised to find it so cluttered. Absentmindedly she thought that maybe the professors thought to use it as a storage room for the many ancient things that they didn't want to throw out of Hogwarts. She walked slowly, quietly through the room, avoiding accidentally hitting any objects while keeping a lookout for Draco.
A cough towards her right drew her attention and she headed in that direction, hiding behind a stack of chairs when she finally saw the blond wizard. He was standing in front of some sort of large black cabinet, staring at it before opening the door. He reached into his robes a pulled out an apple and staring at it, seeming to be contemplating something.
The brunette leaned forward to get a better look at the cabinet, not realizing her shoulder pushed against one of the chairs in the stack. Said chair toppled over, along with others until Hermione was no longer hidden and in plain view of Draco. She looked up into shocked grey eyes before nervously saying, "Um, h-hi there, Draco."
Draco's shocked expression turned into one of anger before he shouted, "What are you doing here? And why are you spying on me?"
"Draco, it's not like that. I just wanted to know what you were doing."
"So you can go run and tell the old man or Potter, no doubt!"
"No! Draco, whatever it is that you're doing, I promise not to tell anyone. I just want to know what is going on."
"Why? So you can help me? I already told you, no one can help me."
Hermione huffed and walked over to her crush, closing the cabinet door before looking him square in his face and asking, "Then what were you about to do with that apple and this cabinet?"
Draco quickly put the apple behind his back before answering, "Nothing."
Brown eyes rolled in annoyance as Hermione said, "Liar, you were about to do something. And you might as well tell me the truth, Draco Malfoy. It is free period and no one knows we are in the Room of Requirement. I don't know what your friends are doing, but mine are off doing their own thing, so there is no one to interrupt or see us talking to each other. Now tell me what it is that you're doing and what is the matter."
Draco looked a bit put out for a moment before sighing in defeat. He picked up one of the chairs that Hermione had knocked down and sat it upright, slumping down in it while rolling the apple in his hand. Hermione decided to do the same and sat down in one of the many chairs across from her crush, a mix of excitement and worry building in her for finally being able to hear what the young Malfoy has been holding in.
Taking a deep breath Draco said, "This is a Vanishing Cabinet. It allows entrance from one place to another simply by stepping into it. Where ever the pair to it is is where you will appear."
"Fascinating. Does it still work?" Hermione asked as she gazed at the big object.
"No, I'm supposed to be mending it so it will," Draco answered.
Hermione heard a slight tremor in his deep voice, one that would go unnoticed by others. She looked at him in question and noticed that his hands were shaking, most likely in anxiety. She then realized that Draco was mending it for a purpose that was making him nervous. Reaching over and gently taking his hand in her smaller one, she softly asked, "Why are you mending this Vanishing Cabinet, Draco?"
Draco looked down at their joined hands before looking up into sincere brown eyes. For some reason Draco felt that it was okay to tell Hermione the truth and he somehow believed her words that she wouldn't tell anyone. But just to make sure he made her promise not to mention anything that happened beyond the room they were currently sitting in at that moment. When the witch agreed, the wizard answered, "Because I'm supposed to help some Death Eaters infiltrate Hogwarts and wreak havoc while I…while I kill Dumbledore."
A gasp slipped past Hermione's lips before she asked, "Why?"
The blond hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath and sliding his sleeve up his arm. He then held it out, presenting his forearm to Hermione. Hermione let out another gasp at what she saw. There, marring Draco's skin, was the Dark Mark.
Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is rather short. I will try to lengthen the next one. Also, thanks to all that are following this new Draco and Hermione story of mine. I hope you all continue to follow and enjoy it as it goes on. Love, SehunsBae37.