Hidden Pain

Chapter 9: I Love You

The castle was filled with rumours for days after that. Students were talking about the way Draco had stood up for Hermione, the fact that Ron had called one of his best friends and whore and a Mudblood, and that Harry had sided with his arch enemy. Soon, the whole school including his sister had turned against Ron. Furthermore, Harry and Ginny had become rather close friends with Hermione and Draco. After Hermione recovered, whispers followed her as she walked from class to class. But she patiently ignored them until they slowly died away. Unlike her, Draco had taken to use his power rather violently to students who talked about him and Hermione. He was rather efficient in handing out detentions and taking away points. Soon, the mere presence of his in the hallways caused students to shut up for fear of being punished. In spite of Ron's slander, Hermione and Draco retained their relationship and to Harry and Ginny this incident brought them even closer together. It seemed to the student population that when he breathed in, she breathed out.

Slowly the weeks passed by calmly. Draco received no more messages from his father and he was slowly beginning to believe his ordeal was finished. That it until the 13th of February. Draco and Hermione finished patrolling and went back to their rooms.

"Good night Draco," said Hermione yawning giving him a hug.

"G'night Hermione," answered Draco returning the hug and then went into his room.

The next second he yelped and came back out his face pale, holding a letter. He immediately went to Hermione's room and knocked frantically on her door.

"Hermione," he said urgently, "Are you decent?"

Hermione straightened up hearing the panic in his voice. She quickly threw on the tiny pale pink tank top shirt and the pants and then opened the door.

"What's wrong?" she asked urgently pulling him in her room.

"My father sent me another letter," said Draco holding out the piece of parchment to Hermione.

Hermione quickly took it and scanned it.

"Draco, you've got to make your final decision tonight. Are you going to become a Death Eater?" asked Hermione.

"Hell no," said Draco emphatically.

"Then we've got to tell Dumbledore," said Hermione urgently.

"No," said Draco immediately.

"Draco, look. You can only shield yourself from him for so long. And what about the summer vacations? Where will you go then? You need protection and Dumbledore can give you that. I can only help you so much," pleaded Hermione.

Draco sighed and shuffled his feet. "Fine," he relented.

Hermione grabbed Draco and the letter and the two ran to Dumbledore's office.

"Acid pops," panted Hermione.

Immediately, the gargoyle sprang away revealing the stairs to Dumbledore's room. The two jogged up the steps. As she got to the landing, Hermione knocked three times and waited trying to control her breath.

"Come in,' said the voice of Dumbledore.

Hermione gently opened the door and walked inside with Draco at her side. Dumbledore looked from his desk and waved his wand. Immediately, two stuffed armchairs appeared in front of his desk. Hermione tiptoed across the wooden floor and shivered. Silently, she and Draco took a seat in front of the wise old man. Hermione drew her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

"Yes Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy," said the headmaster putting down his quill, "What is that you need to speak to me about?"

Hermione slid the letter to the headmaster who unfolded and read it.

"I see Mr. Malfoy," said the headmaster solemnly, "I am very happy that you decided to come to me. I deduce that this is the reason the two of you were gravely injured after the Hogsmeade trip."

Hermione nodded, as did Draco.

"Very well," said the headmaster standing up, "Draco, come here my boy. We need to make arrangements for you."

Draco stood up and followed the headmaster to a corner of his room. Hermione leaned her head against the soft leather and soon she had fallen asleep. Thirty minutes later, Draco and the headmaster returned and chuckled when they saw Hermione. Draco smiled softly when he saw her. She looked so peaceful and so petite lying on the soft leather sofa. A surge of an unexplainable attraction ran through him. He had never felt it before.

"Should I wake her?" asked Dumbledore.

"No," whispered Draco, 'I have something I have to do. I'll be back in 10 minutes."

And with a swish of his robes, he was gone. Dumbledore took his seat behind his desk and waited for Draco to return. True to his word, in less than 10 minutes Draco re-entered the room. Gently, he picked up Hermione, said good night to the headmaster, and left the room. His eyes twinkling, Dumbledore went back to work with a small smile on his face.

Draco carefully carried Hermione back to their rooms and after saying the password, carried her to her bed. Hermione stirred and opened her eyes as he entered her room.

"Draco," she said sleepily as he put her down. "What happened?"

"Everything's fine now," he said. "I told Dumbledore everything. He took care of everything."

Hermione's face broke into a radiant smile.

"Oh and I have a surprise for you,' said Draco.

"What is it?" asked Hermione her sleepiness falling away as she bounced on the bed.

Draco pulled back the sleeve of his robe and Hermione gasped; the scars from his knife cuts had vanished.

"Oh Draco,' said Hermione awestruck placing an hand on his arm, "You're perfectly over the cutting now. Oh Draco."

Hermione threw her arms around Draco and hugged him tight. Draco wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back.

"Oh Draco," sighed Hermione as she drew back, "I'm so happy. I could dance!"

Draco laughed as he pulled his sleeve back down. Hermione quickly reached up and kissed his cheek and then went back under the covers. Hermione nestled under the covers as Draco tucked them firmly around her.

"Goodnight,' whispered Draco as he left the room.

As he loosened his tie with one hand he reached up and touched his cheek with his other hand. He glanced towards Hermione's room as his mind began to wander. He couldn't deny it anymore. He remembered the way he felt in Potions class as he worked with Hermione. He remembered the Quidditch match and how that hug had sent shivers down his spine. Christmas flashed through his mind as he remembered his quick feelings of kissing her. He remembered the moment when he nearly kissed her on the sofa. He remembered the way her smiles sent tingles down his body, the way her hugs made him feel special, and the way her tears made him melt. He knew what that exotic feeling was tonight. It was love.

It was too hard to deny it after tonight.

He was in love with Hermione Granger.

. & .

The next morning Hermione woke up and smiled happily remembering last night's events. She climbed out of bed and looked around the rooms but Draco was nowhere to be seen. Remembering that it was Valentine's Day, she quickly took out her ruby red long-sleeved shirt and a flowing white skirt and a pair of corkscrew shoes. Even though no one had asked her she decided to go and check out the Valentine's dance. As she showered, a figure slipped into her room and left her flowers and a note on her desk. As Hermione got out, the figure slipped out and ran to the dance in the Great Hall.

Content, Hermione towel dried her hair and entered her room when she caught sight of the articles sitting on her desk. Curious Hermione threw her towel on her desk and picked up the flowers. Inhaling deeply, Hermione closed her eyes as the sweet smell of roses overtook her. She then picked up the card and flicked it open.

My Dearest Hermione,

I really have no idea where to start. Should I start with how you mean to me? Or how much you've helped me? I guess I'll just start with Thank You. Thank you Hermione. Over the past 3 months you've brought so much meaning to my life. You've brought back the color and happiness back to my life. For the first time, I met someone who truly cared about how I felt and how I was doing. Slowly, as the months passed I opened my arms to accept you as my friend. But in the weeks after that, I took you into my heart too.

I never thought I would ever say this to someone and if someone had said I would be saying it to you last year, I would have laughed. But the feelings are too hard to ignore. I love you Hermione Granger. You may think that how can a hard man like me ever learn to love. With parents like mine, I would not blame you for thinking such. But I just want you to know that I love you with every fiber and piece of my body.

You've given me back my life. You cared enough to find out what was troubling me and when you found out you tried helping me even as I pushed you away. You were the only one who tried to get to know the real me and not the fake façade I showed the world for 7 long years. You risked your life for me and slowly accepted me as a part of your life. You made time for me whenever I needed it and your faith never wavered.

Even as I write this letter, I hope that maybe in spite of everything I have done for the past 6 years you could return my feelings. I'm at the dance right now and if you're there in 30 minutes after you finish showering, I will know your answer. If you're not, I will know how you feel.

Even if you don't reciprocate my feelings, I want you to know that you mean the world for me. You are my world and my everything. I love you Hermione Granger.

All my love, Draco

Hermione looked up as she finished reading the card. Tears were flowing freely down her face as she took in what the card said. She couldn't believe it. Draco loved HER. And as she stared at the wall opposite her, her mind took her back to the months they knew each other. She remembered the way she would fall when she looked into his eyes. She remembered the euphoria she felt when Draco won the Quidditch match. She remembered how right it felt nestled in his strong arms, as if nothing could go wrong. She remembered the way she felt when he was at death's door after their narrow escape from Lucius. She remembered the tingle his touch and smiles and kisses on her cheek shot down her spine. She remembered the way he stood up for her in the Great Hall after Ron trashed her.

And she knew her answer.

Glancing at her clock, she gasped as she realized that she only had 10 minutes left. Immediately, she sprang up and placed the card on her desk and ran to the bathroom. She quickly changed into her clothes and tied her shoes. She ran not worrying about the way she looked.

Leaving her room, Hermione ran to the Great Hall as fast as her feet would carry her. She flung open the door and saw that she was late by 15 seconds. She urgently searched the room looking for Draco across the floor. And then she saw him; he was staring at the floor dejected his head hanging. He stared around the room with hope in his eyes but when it hit him that Hermione wasn't in the room, he turned away. His heart was crushed and his body filling with the hollow feeling of rejection. Hermione ran forward.

"Draco," screamed Hermione running towards him causing people to stare at her.

"Draco!' yelled Hermione.

Draco paused in his footsteps; was it him or did he hear his name? He turned around and saw her running towards him. Her hair flying behind her and her face breaking into a megawatt smile was Hermione. Her face was devoid of make-up and her hair was wet and curly. His body surged with happiness when he realized she must have run here. Draco's face broke into a smile that lit his face and held out his arms. The next second Hermione was in arms and was hugging him tightly. Draco closed his eyes as he clutched his precious bundle to him. People on the dance floor stopped as they saw former archenemies embrace.

"I love you Draco," whispered Hermione. "I love you."

Those three words warmed Draco to his core. Hermione pulled away her arms still round his neck. Draco looked deep into her eyes and he slowly leaned down. Draco slowly lowered his face to Hermione's and softly placed his lips on hers. . All action in the hall stopped as they saw Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger kiss. Hermione's eyelids fluttered closed when she felt Draco's lips upon hers. She felt as if fireworks were erupting throughout her body. For a while no one spoke in the Great Hall. Hermione tangled her hands in Draco's hair as she responded. Slowly, they broke apart and looked around smiling sheepishly as the Great Hall applauded. Draco then kissed Hermione again as happiness took over every fiber of his being.

A few minutes later, Draco held his hand out to Hermione and led her to the dance floor. Hermione wrapped her hands around his neck and he pulled her close to him.

"I asked the people to play this Muggle song," whispered Draco, "It says everything I want to tell you."

Hermione listened carefully as the first notes of the song started.

I love you... I love you... I love you

Baby I love you
You are my life
My happiest moments weren't complete
If you weren't by my side
You're my relation
In connection to the sun
With you next to me
There's no darkness I can't overcome
You are my raindrop
I am the seed
With you and God, who's my sunlight
I bloom and grow so beautifully
Baby, I'm so proud
So proud to be your girl
You make the confusion
Go all away
From this cold and mixed up world

I am in love with you
You set me free
I can't do this thing
Called life without you here with me
Cause I'm Dangerously In Love with you
I'll never leave
Just keep lovin' me
The way I love you loving me

And I know you love me
Love me for who I am
Cause years before I became who I am
Baby you were my man
I know it ain't easy
Easy loving me
I appreciate the love and dedication
From you to me
Later on in my destiny
I see myself having your child
I see myself being your wife
And I see my whole future in your eyes
Thought of all my love for you
sometimes make me wanna cry
Realize all my blessings
I'm grateful
To have you by my side

Every time I see your face
My heart smiles
Every time it feels so good
It hurts sometimes
Created in this world
To love and to hold
To feel
To breathe
To love you

Dangerously in love
Can't do this thing
I love you , I love you, I love you
I'll never leave
Just keep on loving me
I'm in love with you
I can not do
I cannot do anything without you in my life
Holding me, kissing me, loving me
Dangerously
I love you
Dangerously in love

By the time the song was done, Hermione was in tears.

"Oh Draco," she said as she buried her face in his shoulder. Feeling tears prick his own eyes, Draco caressed her back.

"The only thing that was wrong was that I'm not your girl and everything pertaining to that," joked Draco causing Hermione to laugh tearfully.

"I love you Draco," whispered Hermione as she laid her head on his shoulder.

Smiling, Hermione looked around the hall as she clutched Draco close to her. She smiled happily as she saw Harry and Ginny on the dance floor together. She closed her eyes and sighed as the feeling of happiness overtook her body. She had found her love and no one could take him away from her.

And that was all she needed.

Love Always,

Anjali Potter

Dangerously in Love by Beyonce Knowles