Forbidden Feelings

Chapter 18

Here's another chapter! Again this took me forever, but I hope it's okay, do let me know! Thank you :)

Hermione

Hermione could hear voices talking in hushed whispers nearby as she slowly regained consciousness.

'I'm telling you, it was him!'

'We have no proof Ron, we can't just go around accusing people with no evidence!'

She slowly opened her eyes, feeling slightly disorientated as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings, and was taken aback as she noticed Harry, Ron and Ginny sat in chairs next to her.

'Hermione! You're awake!' Harry exclaimed.

'What's going on?' She frowned.

'You were hit by a spell whilst patrolling, a student found you on the sixth floor corridor covered in blood.'

As Hermione shifted to sit up, she felt sharp pains surge across her torso, and winced in pain.

'Hey, careful, you have to take things easy.' Ginny said gently, propping up her pillows for her.

'I don't remember anything.' She whispered.

'You don't? So you don't remember who did this to you?' Harry looked serious.

'No..the last thing I remember was leaving my common room.'

'So there's nothing, nothing at all you remember?'

'No. I don't.' Hermione paused, trying to take everything in. 'What spell did they use?'

'Sectumsempra. I recognised it immediately from when I used it on Malfoy.' Harry said bitterly.

'Oh..' Hermione looked down, twisting the bed sheets in her hands.

'Madam Pomfrey got you all healed up though! She said that there will be some pain but you should be out of here in no time!' Ginny said brightly.

'Yeah..'

'Are you okay?' Harry looked concerned.

'Just a bit confused and tired. That's all.' She gave him a small smile.

'Hermione...are you absolutely sure you don't remember? There's nothing you aren't telling us?'

She narrowed her eyes slightly. 'Do you honestly think I'd let whoever did this get away with it? No I don't know who did it, if I did I'd tell you!'

'Okay, okay. I'm sorry.'

She sighed. 'It's okay. I'm sorry for snapping.'

Harry took her hand and squeezed it. 'I was really worried about you for a while you know. We all were.'

'Well I'm okay now.' Her eyes widened in shock. 'Have I missed lessons? How much work have I missed?'

'Yep, she's definitely okay!' Ginny laughed while Harry rolled his eyes.

'You missed a days lessons and the work's been left in your common room. Okay?' He said, smiling.

'Thank you.' Hermione leant back against her pillows and closed her eyes, relieved.

'Malfoy wasn't in lessons either today.'

Her eyes snapped open. 'What?'

'He didn't turn up to Potions, Charms or Herbology.'

'Do you know why?' She asked, feeling slightly panicked.

'Well I have an idea.' Ron spoke for the first time, his eyes narrowed.

'Y,you do?' Hermione stammered slightly.

'Ron, I already told you we have no proof! So drop it!' Ginny said to him angrily.

'Well he hates Hermione, knew she would have been alone patrolling that night, hasn't turned up to lessons all day, and oh yes, he has a good knowledge of that spell and the harm it causes from when Harry used it on him!'

'Wait..you think Dra- Malfoy did this?' Hermione gasped.

'Yes! Who else hates you enough to do something like this?' Ron looked at her as though she were mad.

'Hmm, I don't know, let me see..probably the other hundreds of Slytherins that go here?!' She snapped.

'Hermione, I'm telling you, it was him!' Ron was almost shouting now, his cheeks were flushed a dark red colour and his eyes were flashing in anger.

'Well it wasn't, I know it wasn't.' She stared at him fiercely.

'And how do you know that?' He demanded.

'Because he was 'busy' with Pansy Parkinson that night! I couldn't get out of that common room quick enough!' She bit her lip, hating that she was lying to her best friends, but knowing that if they learnt the truth, they would most certainly go after Draco.

Ron blinked at her. 'And how do you know that he didn't follow you?'

She rolled her eyes. 'Honestly Ronald, do you really think Malfoy would spend his night chasing me if he had other 'plans' with Pansy?'

'Well I don't know, this is Malfoy, Hermione! His father's escaped Azkaban, he could be following his orders!'

'I share a dormitory with him! Do you really think he'd be stupid enough to do anything? He'd be the first one McGonagall would suspect given our history, he really wouldn't be so foolish!'

He stared at her, and she could see her words had had some effect on him as he turned to Harry. 'Help me out here.'

'Well actually Ron, I think Hermione has a point.' Harry looked at her. 'You're right. Malfoy wouldn't do anything as stupid as that, especially now his father's escaped and McGonagall's watching him like a hawk.'

She sighed. 'Thank you Harry.'

'But who else could it be?' Ron said, his brow was furrowed and he looked deep in thought.

'Ron, please give it a rest. Hermione looks shattered, can we not talk about this later?' Ginny spoke up.

'Yeah, come on mate. It's nearly time for bed.' Harry nodded.

'You guys go ahead. I need to speak to Hermione.' Ron answered.

'Ron...' Ginny said warningly.

'It's not about the attack.'

Hermione looked at him as he and Harry shared a look, her eyebrows raised in curiosity.

'Yeah, come on Ginny, let Ron talk.' Harry stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder.

She sighed. 'Fine. But you better not start hassling Hermione.'

'I won't.' Ron said firmly.

Ginny bid Hermione farewell, and followed Harry out of the hospital wing. Hermione watched as Ron shuffled nervously in his seat, clearing his throat.

'Is there a problem?' She asked.

'Well I..I umm...' His voice trailed off and he stared down at his hands.

'Honestly Ronald, spit it out!' She was growing impatient, and the dull pain on her torso was starting to increase.

'I'm really sorry about how I've behaved.' He muttered, his face a little pink.

Hermione studied him for a second. 'You know I never wanted to hurt you.' She whispered.

'I know, I know. I just...I just loved you so much, still love you so much. And when you said you wanted to things to end...well it broke me.'

'I'm sorry Ron.' She said softly.

'It's okay Hermione. It'll get better right? I'll move on. It's just a bit hard at the moment.'

'I understand. And I do love you too Ron, ever so much. And..well I really miss our friendship.' She bit her lip.

'I do too. Even when we're driving eachother mad.' He gave her a small smile.

'Well what is life without our squabbling?' She grinned back.

'Also...' Ron started but Hermione interrupted, rolling her eyes.

'Let me guess...you need help with homework?'

'Maybe a little.' He admitted.

'Well the minute I'm out of here we'll get on that!'

'Can't wait.' He grimaced.

She pushed his arm playfully. 'I've missed this.'

'So have I.' Ron said wistfully.

'Promise me we'll be okay? And that we'll stay friends?'

'I promise. Nothing will bring us apart again.'

Ron took Hermione's hand and squeezed it, and she smiled at him happily. What she didn't notice however, was Draco Malfoy stood a couple of feet away, watching their every move.

Draco

Draco watched as the Weasel took Hermione's hand, and she gazed into his eyes, looking completely content; nothing like someone who just a day ago had been hit with a curse. He narrowed his eyes as Weasley kissed her hand and she giggled, fighting the urge to throw a curse at Weasley himself. Storming out of the hospital wing, he walked quickly to the common room, steadily growing angrier as he replayed the image of Hermione and Weasley in his head. She had looked so happy, in fact, positively thrilled at his company. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks were glowing, nothing like someone who had just been cursed. Nothing like how she had looked the other day when Draco had returned from his father's. He remembered how her skin had looked so pale, her eyes red and tired, her hair matted. Was that really the effect he had on her? Was it actually Weasley who was better for her? It had certainly looked like it from where he had been standing.

Draco arrived at the common room, ignoring Crookshanks' indignant hiss as he dropped onto the sofa next to him. He stared into the fire, watching the flames as they flickered. Why was she so pleased at his company? He shook his head, desperately trying to tell himself that there was nothing for him to worry about, Hermione had left Weasley for him. But was it for the best...?

She certainly would be safer with Weasley, that was for sure, Draco's world seemed too dangerous for her to be a part of. Already she had been cursed by someone, and he would bet his life on it being a Slytherin student. And if they ever exposed their relationship to everyone, she would most definitely be a target of danger...

But he couldn't leave her. He shook his head angrily, trying to clear his mind of all the contradictive thoughts, and of all the confusion. It didn't work however, and as the image of Hermione and Weasley holding hands and laughing together flashed before his eyes again, he slammed his arm down onto the sofa angrily, causing Crookshanks to jump up and run out of the room, fur sticking up all over the place. He pictured Hermione's happy smile as she gazed into Weasley's eyes, his hand holding hers and him moving forward slowly, gently kissing her...

'NO!' He stood up angrily, furiously pacing around the room, trying to clear his mind of the thoughts that were taunting him. He couldn't bear the thought of them together, the thought of Hermione being in love with the Weasley all along and just using Draco as some sort of distraction, something to get away from the issues in her relationship with Weasley. What if it were true though? What if that was all he was to her? He'd never dreamed of her doing that to him until he'd seen her with the Weasel...

Draco looked at the time, and remembered yesterday when Blaise had invited him to the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade for Butterbeer tonight. Suddenly it didn't sound like a bad idea at all; it would take his mind off of Hermione and Him, and would give him a chance to spend time with his fellow Slytherins. He crept out of the common room, making his way out of the castle easily thanks to his Head Boy badge. He shivered slightly in the bitterly cold breeze, trudging his way through the thick snow that was covering the grounds.

'Hey, you!' Draco turned around as a fifth year prefect shouted his name.

'What?' He snapped.

'Oh, err sorry, I didn't know who you were, I-'

Draco scowled at him and turned around, not bothering to listen to the rest of the Ravenclaw's stuttering.

When he finally arrived at the Three Broomsticks, Draco was relieved to be inside, taking in the warmth of the room as he walked in.

'Draco! Over here!' He looked in the direction of the voice that was calling his name, and could see Theo beckoning him over. He smirked, making his way towards the table where Blaise, Theo, Goyle, Pansy and a few other of his Slytherin companions were sitting.

'I didn't think you were coming! What changed your mind?' Blaise asked.

Draco paused for a second, then muttered. 'Granger.'

'Isn't she in the hospital wing?' He looked confused.

He swallowed nervously. 'Yeah but her Mudblood stench and possessions are still occupying the common room.'

Blaise grinned. 'I get you. I'm getting drinks, want one?'

'Yeah, thanks.' He sat on a chair in between Goyle and Theo.

Draco stared down at the table, aware of the conversation that was taking place but not really paying any attention to it. He hated calling Hermione that name, bad mouthing her to all his friends. But he had no other choice, and right now all he could think about was her with the Weasel, which was resulting in a bitter anger towards the pair of them.

An hour passed, and as Draco bid goodbye to the remaining Slytherins, he felt someone tap on his right shoulder. He turned around, now facing Pansy Parkinson, who was batting her eyelashes at him.

'Yes Pansy?' He sighed.

'Well I couldn't help but notice how umm...bored you looked tonight. And I was wondering, do you fancy some company tonight?' She gazed up at him.

Draco stared at her for a couple of seconds, considering her offer. Hermione sure had no problem spending intimate time with Weasley, and he was sure that she would be enjoying every second of it. And Pansy could just be the distraction he needed...

'Sure. Why not.' He smirked as her face broke into a delighted smile.

'You won't regret this.' She breathed into his ear.

'I sure as hell will.' He thought to himself, letting her take his hand and lead him out of the still busy pub.