Forbidden Feelings

Chapter 16

Here's another chapter, I looked at my stats for this story and wow a lot of people are reading this! So thank you so much! And a special thank you to JinxSaw for your lovely review, that really was a strange coincidence! And also to edwardsoneandonlylove for your review over email too! ;)

Anyway, I hope this chapters okay, and thank you to whoever reads it :)

Hermione

'Hermione.'

She jumped as she heard someone say her name softly behind her. Knowing immediately who it was, she spun around and stood up staring at him, at first wondering if the sleeping draught she'd taken the night before was playing tricks on her mind. As she realised what was happening wasn't some sort of hallucination at all, she ran at him, jumping into his arms, tears spilling down her cheeks.

'You, you idiot!' She shrieked through her tears, slapping his arm.

'I take it you aren't pleased to see me?' Draco smiled weakly.

'Why? Why did you leave?! Are you okay?! Where did you go?!' Hermione gushed.

'Bloody hell Hermione, let me sit down before interviewing me won't you?'

'No, Draco, I will not let you 'sit down'! Don't you dare start joking about this! Do you know how worried I've been? I haven't been eating, I had to get sleeping draught from Madam Pomfrey!' Hermione's eyes were bright with anger.

'I'm sorry.' Draco says gently.

'Come sit down.' She glared at him and lead him to the sofa.

He looked at her, and could see the toll his absence had taken on her. Her eyes were tired and slightly red, and she looked pale.

'Why did you go?' She finally whispered.

'I had to...I was so worried about you Hermione, I couldn't let anything happen to you. So I left, I went to find my father, to see what his plans were. I hated leaving you, believe me, I did. But anyway, I found my father, he was hiding out at my home with the other Death Eaters. They're planning something, something terrible. They want revenge for what happened to...to Voldemort.' Hermione's eyes widened, and Draco slowly put his hand on hers, searching her eyes for acceptance. She hesitated, then squeezed it back.

'Anyway..I told Father I was coming back here, to spy on Potter. It was the only way I could return here; back to you.' He stared at her, eyes wide with worry.

Hermione breathed out, feeling slightly nauseous as she took everything in that Draco had just told her. 'This...this plan. Do you know anything about it?'

'Only that they want Potter dead. And to destroy the school and all muggle borns.'

'Me..' Hermione mouthed, unable to get her words out.

'Yes. You. Hermione, I can't let anything happen to you-'

'But what about Harry? And the other students and wizards? We can't let this happen Draco, we can't!'

'Shh, I know, I know. We'll find a way to stop this, we will.'

'Can you not inform the Ministry about your father and the Death Eaters staying at your house? Surely they'd recapture them?'

Draco sighed. 'I can't. They'd disapparate somewhere else, it's too risky.'

Hermione closed her eyes in despair.

'Hermione...if you want me to leave, to go back to them, I can. If you feel like you're in even more danger with me here-'

'No!' Hermione almost shouted, her eyes were wide and full of fear. 'You can't leave! I need you here, please!'

'Okay, it's okay, I'm not going anywhere.' Draco soothed.

She swallowed hard. 'So what happens now?'

'We carry on as we are. I'll get as much information from Father as I can, and we'll take each day as it comes. But I need you to promise me you'll stay out of any trouble, I can't lose you Hermione.'

'Okay. I promise.' She stared into his eyes intentely, noticing how full of love and protection they were.

'Thank you.' He whispered.

'But what about Harry? Surely he needs to know about this?'

'No! He can't!' Draco stands up.

'Draco, he might be able to help-'

'No!' He held an arm up to silence her. 'You can't tell him, he'll go after them and Father will know that I helped him. Please, I'm begging you, do not say a word.' He looked into her eyes fiercely.

'Okay. I won't say anything.'

'Thank you.' Draco sank back down on the sofa, looking slightly amused as Crookshanks jumped onto Hermione's lap protectively.

'What?' She frowned when she saw he was smiling.

'That cat is like your own personal body guard.'

'He's just protective of his owner.' She looked at him coolly.

Draco sighed. 'I'm so sorry for going.'

'It's okay.' She replied softly.

'It won't happen again. I was just worried about you.'

'It's okay, Draco. You're here now, that's all that matters.'

He took her hand in his, gazing deeply into her chocolate brown eyes, and reached out, stroking her cheek. She closed her eyes at his touch, suddenly feeling a lot better.

'So, you're Hogwart's newest junkie, hey?' He teased.

'No I'm not.' She shoved him crossly.

'That's what they all say.' He grinned.

'I had one bottle of sleeping draught, that's all. I just couldn't sleep..'

'Yeah. I understand.'

'It's okay. Honestly.' She gave him a small reassuring smile.

'You wouldn't have needed it if I were here.'

'But you're here now. That's what's important.'

Hermione noticed his grip on her hand had tightened significantly, and she squeezed his hand again, trying her best to let him know that she forgave him.

Draco smiled at her in understanding, and she relaxed. They sat in comfortable, content silence for a few minutes.

'So do the professors know I've been away?' He asked.

'I told them you've been unwell for a couple of days, that your father's return has caused you distress.'

Draco breathed out in relief. 'Thank you.'

Hermione narrowed her eyes. 'That doesn't mean you get away with not doing the work, you have to catch up.'

'Oh I should have known you'd play the professor card.'

She smiled sweetly. 'Well you chose to run off, so it's your fault.'

Draco rolled his eyes.

'Don't worry, I collected all your work, and I can go through it all with you tonight!' Her eyes were bright with excitement.

'Really, there is no need-'

'Oh I insist!' Hermione ran up to his room, grabbing the pile of work from his desk and then returning to the sofa.

She sniggered as his eyes widened in horror at the generous amount of work the professors had left him.

'Uh uh!' She stopped him as he opened his mouth. 'No arguing allowed, or I'll go straight up to bed and leave it all to you!'

Draco shut his eyes. 'Remind me, why did I come back?'

'Because you love me?'

'Do I?' He looked at her playfully.

She sighed, looking at him contentedly.

'What..?' He asked suspiously.

'You. I'm so glad you're home.'

He stared into her eyes fixedly. 'So am I. I love you Hermione.'

'I love you too Draco.'

Still gazing into his eyes, Hermione brought her head forward as he gently kissed her. She rested her head on his shoulder, allowing him to hold her for a little while.

Draco

'Drakie! You're back!' Draco groaned as Pansy Parkinson rushed over to the Slytherin table at breakfast, squealing his name.

'Well done.' He said, rolling his eyes at Theodre Nott.

'Where have you been? I've been so worried about you!' Pansy sat herself down to his right, grabbing at his arm.

'I've been ill Pansy, okay?' He snapped, snatching his arm away.

She blinked. 'Why are you being this way?'

'Because maybe, just maybe, I want to be left alone, and I don't want you hanging on my arm constantly!'

'Fine!' Pansy stood up, angrily pushing a group of second years out of her way as she exited the hall.

'Well done Draco.' Theodre raised his eyebrows at him.

'She does my head in.' He replied irritably.

'She does everyone's head in. But now someone, most likely me, will have her buzzing in their ear all day, asking why 'Prince Draco' is pushing her away.'

'Sorry.' Draco muttered.

'You'll owe me for this.'

'Yeah yeah.'

'So are you going to tell me where you actually were? Bit of a coincidence your father escapes Azkaban and suddenly you disappear.'

'I was ill, were you not there a few minutes ago when I told Pansy the same thing?'

Theodre narrowed his eyes. 'You may have Pansy fooled, but you don't fool me. You're up to something.'

'I'm not, I was stressed, that's all. So drop it yeah?' Draco hissed.

'Whatever it is you're up to, please don't do anything stupid.' He said warningly.

'Drop it.' Draco repeated in a dangerous voice.

Theodre opened his mouth to answer, but stopped when his gaze fell upon something else behind him. 'The Mudblood's staring at you.'

Draco whipped his head round, and Hermione quickly looked down at her bowl of porridge. He sighed, turning round to stare down at his own bowl.

'What was that all about?' Theo's eyes were narrowed.

'We had another one of our 'disagreements' last night, and now she's being a pathetic Mudblood. No different then usual.' Draco shrugged, again hating himself for using that word.

'People like her don't have a place around here. They should all be wiped out.' Theo scowled in her direction.

'Yeah.'

With your father out of jail, I can see that happening.'

Draco looked up at him, noting the venomous gleam in his eye.

'Has your father made any contact? Informed you of his plans?' Theo continued.

Draco looked at him, smirking slightly. 'What happened to staying out of trouble, not doing anything stupid?'

'You, Draco, I meant you. But your father, well that's different.'

He cocked his head to one side. 'How so?'

'He's less likely to mess up.'

'Thanks for the vote of confidence, Theo.'

Nott sighed, placing his fork down. 'What I mean is, you're more likely to get caught, sharing a dorm with the Mudblood. And if you get caught, I doubt Lucius will be pleased.'

'Well there's nothing to be concerned about. I am not planning anything.'

'We'll see about that.' Theo smirked down at his bacon and eggs.

Draco rolled his eyes and pushed his plate away, finding his appetite had somewhat vanished. He stood up, bidding Theo farewell as he decided to make his way to Charms early.

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