Disclaimer: Again I don't own Harry Potter :)
Also a little note before I start this chapter, I hope you guys enjoy and please do Review. It let's me know if I'm doing something right or wrong even! Some nice constructive criticism would be great! Also characters may be a little OCC but oh well it's my fic and I like the way I've written it!
Hermione's heart lifted a bit and she reached her hand out to shakily touch Draco's arm. He flinched slightly at the contact, but it gave him the signal to let everything go. She heard it more clearly now, his sobs were definitely not silent anymore. Her eyes widened and she found herself moving around the table to sit next to him. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer to her. She didn't think at first about the fact that she was hugging her arch nemesis. All she saw was a broken person like her in front of her. "Don't worry Draco," She cooed," It's all over.
She held Draco until his small sobs had slowed and calmed down. She didn't know what else to do, other than hold him loosely against her chest. He didn't mind being up against her, because he didn't dare to look up at her, his pride was already destroyed for crying in front of her. After what seemed like forever, Hermione's voice woke Draco out of his somber state. "Draco... may I ask this? What do you mean what would have happened to me?" Draco sighed and let his hands fall from his face. Hermione gasped, Draco's normally immaculate eyes were red and puffy, and his cheeks were tinged with pink. "When they take Muggleborns hostage they become... Granger don't make me say this to you, you're too innocent for that." Hermione kind of smiled, and urged him on. "Come on Draco...I want to know." Draco gulped and looked off into space, not able to look at her as he said this. "They turn them into sex slaves for all the Death Eaters to share around. Then Fenrir gets to you right before you are given to Voldemort. Fenrir changes you into a werewolf, which is apparently one of the most painful endeavors a human can go through. Then you are taken to Lord Voldemort, where you are defiled so disgustingly that you wish for death, and after a couple of days he finally gives it to you...painfully might I add. His eyes hesitantly found their ways back to Hermione's where she sat, a look of shear horror plastered on her face. "Now do you understand Hermione? I couldn't just let that happen to you Granger...not you." Draco looked down, hiding his face that had immediately turned a dark red. "I...didn't think you cared that much Draco." "I may have seemed to dislike you and your know it all attitude Granger, but I don't think I could ever dislike someone enough to serve them that kind of fate. I could never idly stand by and let that happen to someone, especially someone so pure and innocent like you."
Hermione finally gave Draco a small nod, and then decided to change the subject just a bit. "Thank you for that Draco. Now onto further business, what exactly are you sorry for Draco. You never really told me." Draco looked at her with disbelief. "Are you kidding me right now Hermione? Uh..." He growled looking utterly discomforted, having to say his true feelings about the past couple of years. "For everything Hermione, for all the years I called you a Mudblood. That was my father's damn views and I should have never allowed myself to follow in his crude footsteps. I should have come to Dumbledore when this all happened. I was a fool to be on Voldemort's side alright! I'm sorry for being an asshole Slytherin! I'm just...I'm sorry." Hermione placed her hand on his and smiled. "Well...that's a start now isn't it Draco. Thank you. And thank you for protecting me against Voldemort. Draco gave Hermione a small smirk as Hermione stood up to leave. "You know Granger; I think that's the first conversation we've had together that you've ever called me Draco." She smirked back at him. "Yeah well don't get used to it Malfoy." This made Draco chuckle. "Alright listen Granger, if you tell anyone that you just watched me cry and comforted me, I'll get you." Hermione giggled at Draco's playful behavior. She smiled and leaned down, kissing Draco's forehead, which made his eyes wide. "I wouldn't dream of telling anyone." Draco looked up at her shocked and smiling wildly. "Night Granger." "Night Draco." She said as she left the Great Hall to get some much-needed rest.
The next day, Hermione actually was saddened by the fact that there was no class she doubled with Draco and the Slytherins. He had been the first person to actually have a conversation with her since classes had started. Everyone was either scared of her intelligence or mad at her for "breaking up" with one of the most famous wizards to currently live. Ginny had been spreading it around that it had been Hermione who had crushed Ron's heart by acting too good for everything and like a know it all to him. When in reality it had been Ron who had completely broke and shattered her heart. She should not have wanted so badly to speak to someone like Draco Malfoy, but she really needed and wanted someone. She also now wanted to find out more about why Draco cared so much to save her. Had she completely forgiven him because of this though? Hell no! He was still Draco Malfoy, and would probably go back to being an insufferable git the next time she saw him. She sighed and grabbed her books, heading out for the day.
The rest of the day went by very normally for her. She had Arithemancy, Muggle Studies, and Herbology, which all went by rather quickly. However, it seemed as though her homework was going to be quite demanding for the rest of the week. She ate a fast dinner and went up to the library to get a head start on all of it.
One thing homework did, thankfully, was allow her mind to stop thinking about everything. About Ron, and...Draco. She was able to focus her mind only on the work in front of her. She was fully consumed in her work that when she finally looked back up at the clock, it was already close to 10 P.M. She sighed and figured the library would be closing about now and she would probably have to return to reality. She began packing up her books when she heard soft footsteps coming from down the aisle. Hermione instinctively grabbed her wand; this was her go to reflex after the war. She stood up and hid against the bookshelf until she heard the person come up right next to her. She jumped out, wand poised and ready to aim at the person who instinctively flinched away from the wand.