Authors Note: First and foremost thanks to everyone that reviewed the last chapter. Reviews are very encouraging and I really can't stress enough how much I appreciate them. The more specific you are when you review the better. I thrive on them so thank you so much!! You seriously make my day when you review. Reviewing also encourages the updates to come faster.
Secondly, I'd like to send out an enormous apology for the delay in updates. I had a ton of deadlines all at once then when they were out of the way a lot of other things came up. I'm really super sorry. In order, to prevent this from happening again I've continued to write the next few chapters so that I'm ahead. I'm hoping to stay ahead in order to get a new chapter up every week or two depending on how far I decide to spread them out.
Thirdly, I haven't heard any complaints about this yet but I figured I'd go ahead and address it. At this point and time in the story everything is still being set up so not a lot of "action" has happened but that's going to change very soon. Before you can build a great story you have to lay a solid foundation so that's what I'm trying to do but I assure you things are going to REALLY pick up very soon. We are going to get into more emotional and deeper and darker things.
Lastly, I'd like to give another huge thanks to my beta Megan. She's wonderful!!
For everyone that has been patient thank you very much and I hope you enjoy this chapter. Review it!! Even if you don't enjoy it still review!! I'd still like to know your thoughts even if they are negative. Thanks again.
Chapter Four
Everybody
There was a low buzz of very soft murmurs dancing around the Hogwarts library. Students from various houses were scattered about, positioned over their books and talking in hushed tones – no doubt trying their hardest to make as little noise as possible in order to satisfy Madam Pince. However, none of the students were succeeding quite as well as the two that were perched across the library making absolutely no noise at all.
The two students sat opposite one another on the desolate side of the library in complete silence while they poured over the advanced potion books that lay in front of them. Hermione and Draco had been there an hour, during which time both students' eyes had remained etched on to the pages that lay before them. Their concentration was so intense it was almost as if they were scared the words would scramble out of the book if they dared look away. It'd been three weeks since their altercation. Three long weeks which also now marked the last time they'd had a proper conversation with one another.
After the blow-up, Hermione and Draco continued to meet in the library daily though most of their meetings were conducted in utter silence. All that could be heard was the sound of rustling pages, quills on parchment and the occasional instructions that Hermione would grumble out. All the laughing, playful banter and casual conversation there once was had disappeared and was now nonexistent. Needless to say, they only spoke when it was absolutely necessary.
Hermione initially attempted to rid herself and Draco of the awkwardness by pleading with Professor Slughorn to allow a partner swap. However, considering that their first potion was brewed to perfection and their reports had received top marks the Professor claimed that it'd be daft to break up such a promising pair. Of course, Hermione continued to protest but in the end realized it was a lost cause and grudgingly decided to concede. Thus, the silence commenced.
Staring down at the open book in front of him, Draco willed his eyes to stay on the page. He wanted to look up at the bushy haired girl across the table so badly and say something, anything at all, but he refused to be the one to break the silence. He'd lost count of how many times he'd apologized and still she chose not to accept it and he refused to seem desperate. However, the silence had been suffocating him for three weeks now and he didn't think he could endure another minute. The tension was so thick it made it difficult for him to think about anything other than her.
Without realizing it Draco began to methodically thrum his long, pale fingers against the table as he continued to read the same sentence several times over in his head. Amortentia is the most effective love potion in the world which causes the drinker to be greatly infatuated or obsessed with the giver of the potion, he recited repeatedly in silence. His mind immediately slipped to Hermione once again. I ought to slip Granger some Amortentia…then she'd be craving to talk to me, he thought with a small smirk.
"Draco!" Hermione bellowed irritably.
The sound of his name coming from her lips startled him. He looked panic stricken for a moment. Had he said what he was thinking out loud? Or had she performed Legilimency on him? He hadn't really meant to think it. Draco knew he'd better set it right quickly before she hexed him into next term. He opened his mouth to explain, but before he could utter a word she'd begun to speak again.
"Could you please halt the infernal tapping," she said through clenched teeth in a slightly irritated tone. Her eyes darted from his face to his drumming fingers.
In his mind he breathed a sigh of relief as his lips twitched into a small smile. His grin was full of both amusement and triumph. He'd unknowingly coaxed Hermione into speaking to him and he relished it.
"Sorry," he said back swiftly.
Hermione nodded curtly and resumed reading. Draco ducked his head back to his book and waited about five minutes before he started rapping his fingers against the table once more – this time intentionally. He truly enjoyed getting a rise out of her. Her teeth would clench, her cheeks would flush and smoldering embers would soon be dancing in her eyes. It wouldn't be long now. He heard the thump of her quill being slammed on the table before she even spoke.
"Draco," she grumbled out between her already clenched teeth – boy he loved hearing her angrily say his name.
The blonde slowly brought his eyes up to hers and tried his hardest not to smile. However, by the increasingly torturous look that was spreading across Hermione's face, he knew that he'd failed miserably. His smile quickly faded and he knew he must correct the situation. "Sorry, hab..."
Hermione held her hand up before he could finish his statement. "Since you're insistent on driving me absolutely mental, I think it's best if we be done for the day." She stood up and gathered her book and parchments as quickly as possible. "Good evening," she said nodding at him before striding off.
"Hermione…" he said standing up, "…wait" he finished in a softer tone as he watched her retreating back.
Draco sighed as he ruffled his hands through his blonde hair. He noticed there were a few first years staring at him from a nearby table. "Don't you have studying to do?!" he huffily spat at them. They quickly looked away and Draco jerked his book up and sauntered out of the library.
After flinging her over-stuffed school bag on to her four-poster bed Hermione let out a long, overdue, frustrated scream. She then plopped down on the bed's edge and huffed loudly blowing a piece of loose hair out of her face. She couldn't believe that she'd once again let Draco Malfoy get the best of her. She could still recall the irritating smirk he had plastered across his smug little face. He was purposefully trying to provoke her into speech and she'd fallen right into it. After she'd done so well keeping her mouth closed – though not without difficulty – the past three weeks.
Even though Hermione was trying her hardest to stay mad at Draco, she couldn't seem to keep the thought of him out of her head. Every time she closed her eyes all she could see was his face – with those brilliant stone grey eyes, blonde hair, and pale skin topped off with his very Malfoyish grin. She didn't understand why thoughts of him continued to invade her brain. He'd proved to be exactly what she knew him to be all along – a sneaky, untrustworthy, git. Any logical person would be disturbed by the mere thought of him, yet Hermione somehow wasn't. In fact, it was becoming increasingly more difficult for her to continue giving him the cold shoulder. She'd even considered accepting his apology on numerous occasions, but a nagging and prideful part of her still wouldn't allow it.
"Get it together, Granger," she muttered to herself out loud as she took a few deep breaths.
"He's a lying, sleazy, filthy little ferret." She said rubbing her temples hard. "Who's extremely good looking." She winced as she repeated the words out loud.
"No. He's vile, evil and malicious wrapped in cold, pale, Slytherin skin." She said loudly as she continued to debate with herself. "Beautiful, smooth, pale, Slytherin skin," the voice in the back of her head contradicted.
"No, no, no he's the devil," she said shaking her head quickly. "He's the enemy." She said in a matter of fact tone.
"Who's the devil?" called a voice behind her.
Hermione let out a small squeal and jumped as she turned around to face her red headed friend. "What!? Uh… Nothing. I was just talking to myself," she replied a bit too excitedly.
Ginny's eyebrow quirked as she grinned. "Do you do that often? Because it's a bit creepy, and unless you plan on chatting up here with yourself all night I suggest you get up and come with me to the Great Hall for dinner."
"Ha Ha," Hermione said sarcastically, rolling her eyes as she grabbed her wand and potions book in order to make her way to the Great Hall with Ginny. She was relieved that her friend hadn't cross-examined her for more information.
Slumped in one of the high-backed chairs of the Slytherin common room, Draco sat staring into the crackling fire that blazed beneath the elaborately carved hearth. His face remained stoic, clearly lost in thought, as he watched the embers dance around the flames.
Draco didn't understand how one person could leave him in such a state of flurry in a matter of weeks. Before he was partnered with Hermione, Draco had been perfectly content with his life and his choices. Now, everything had gone topsy-turvy and it was all Hermione's fault. She'd shown him for a brief moment what it'd be like to have a true friend. She'd given him the benefit of the doubt, and in return he'd left her disappointed and offended. He suddenly felt that ever increasing dull pang of lonesomeness deep in the pit of his stomach. However, the loneliness was soon replaced with another emotion – anger. Draco was angry that she'd so easily abandoned him, leaving him feeling weak and pathetic. "She should have at least given me a second chance," he thought to himself. Despite the fact that he was berating her in his head he couldn't help but grin at the thought of her. "I must be going absolutely bonkers," he thought. From a very young age Draco had become a master of compartmentalizing his emotions. Now he was flipping through his emotions faster than a passing bludger in the heat of a Quidditch match.
The blonde leaned forward and put his head in his hands. "Shake if off, Draco! Hermione's an annoying little know-it-all, not to mention a Gryffindor! And worst of all, she's Scar-head and Weasel's best friend." He groaned into his hands. "She's also smart, a bit charming, and extremely beautiful when she's angry," the voice in his head disputed.
"Yeah, yeah, shut up." He said loudly to himself as he sat straight in the chair.
Not a second later Blaise Zabini entered the Slytherin common room and traipsed towards Draco. "So, what did you do to get the mudblood's knickers in a twist?" He sneered as he plopped down in the chair closest to Draco's. "I saw you two in the corner while I was snatching some Fizzing Whizzbees from a second year. The troll looked narked off when she tore out of the library. You know, I bet she…"
Blaise continued to speak, insulting Hermione at every opportunity, but the last word Draco comprehended was 'mudblood.' He immediately felt a surge of uncontrollable rage well up inside of him at the sound of his housemate's degrading words. His face contorted into a scowl as he gripped the wand lying inside his pocket so tightly his knuckles turned white and his hand began to shake. In order to suppress his desire to hex the bits off Blaise, Draco remained silent. He wanted to defend her, but he didn't. After all, Hermione wasn't even speaking to him at the moment. Why should he?
"I don't know, Blaise, but I don't really see how it's any of your business," Draco finally mumbled out before standing up. "I'm going to dinner." He said retreating as quickly as he could to the Great Hall.
In the Great Hall Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table across from Katie Bell, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan. Flanked on her left and right side were Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley. The six Gryffindor students were all laughing as Dean reenacted a horrific but comical scene that involved Professor Flitwick, a rather disheveled Seamus, and an Accio charm that went wrong.
"I didn't know Flitwick was standing behind his desk! You know, he's not exactly the tallest teacher here. If I'd known I probably wouldn't have summoned his massive Master copy Charms textbook to my desk now would I?" Seamus tried to convince his fellow Gryffindor classmates.
"I don't know, Seamus. I mean, you did try to change water to rum in our first year, and you know how well that turned out." Dean couldn't help himself.
The whole group was laughing in an uproar at the memory. Though Hermione was laughing, she felt a spasm of guilt in her chest as she thought of Harry and Ron. Her laughter died out long before the ones ringing around her. There she was, sitting comfortably, surrounded by friends, safe in Hogwarts castle while her boys were off risking their lives to save the Wizarding World from the clutches of the Dark Lord. Suddenly, she felt incredibly worthless.
The first two weeks they'd been gone Hermione questioned Dumbledore daily for news, but she'd always returned from the Professor's office none the wiser. Eventually, her own problems became the center of her attention and she'd pushed the thoughts of her friend's whereabouts and their safety to the back of her mind. Now that she was thinking about it, she felt extremely selfish.
Pushing her unfinished Yorkshire pudding away from her - she'd lost her appetite - she stood up forcing a smile on her face. "Well, I've got loads of studying to do. I'll see you all back in the common room." As she evacuated the Great Hall, a pair of gray eyes followed her out of the double doors.
After entering the corridor just outside the Great Hall, Hermione found herself plummeting quickly towards the hard stone floor. Right before she hit, she felt a pair of strong arms grab her by the waist and hoist her back to her feet. She looked down to find a string of extendable ears wrapped around her feet. Turning her head she saw the two culprits, obviously first years, running as fast as their small feet would carry them down the foyer.
"Ten points from you both," she yelled loudly as their backs disappeared around the corner.
She then realized that there were hands still latched to her waist. She looked up and saw none other than Cormac McLaggen's frisky grin staring back at her. She wanted to roll her eyes but instead decided to show her gratitude. "Thank you," she said trying to wriggle out of his embrace to no avail.
"No problem, Granger," he said as his smirk spread wider across his pompous face. He pulled her closer and moved his hand lower stopping only inches from her bottom. Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but before she could a menacing voice came from somewhere behind McLaggen. Recognizing it, she froze.
Draco, having deserted the Slytherin table to pursue Hermione, had the tip of his wand pressed into the back of McLaggen's neck. Seeing Cormac's hands all over Hermione had brought out a possessive side of Draco he didn't know he'd had. "McLaggen," he spat out the name with venom in his voice. "Kindly remove your hands from my… Hermione," he finished quickly. "Damn! Why did I just say my Hermione?!" He instantly rebuked his choice of words. He hoped no one noticed.
"Your Hermione?" Cromac, Hermione, and to Draco's dismay, Pansy Parkinson said all in unison. Draco's eyes darted over his shoulder and saw Pansy standing just in front of the castle entrance, waiting for an explanation, arms crossed with a wretched scowl on her face. He knew he should be worried for his reputation, but at the moment he didn't seem to care. He looked back at Cormac and saw that he'd let go of Hermione and was trying to take a step away from her. After seeing this, his hand loosened the grip on his wand and he lowered it only a fragment.
"I didn't know you two were together," Cormac said raising a questioning eyebrow at Hermione. She opened her mouth to object but Draco piped up first. Draco didn't know where this sudden boldness came from but he couldn't seem to control his brain or his tongue.
"Well, I hope it's clear to you now. So how about moving along while you're still in one piece." He heard Pansy shriek in surprise behind him. She'd of course been expecting him to deny the accusation. Draco took a few steps towards Cormac and spoke in a low chafed tone. "I better not ever see your repulsive hands on her again, especially so close to her lower extremities." His tone was deadly.
Draco didn't even wait for a response from Cormac. He could see the fury in Hermione's face and knew she was about to spew. He didn't want her making a scene in front of their two housemates, especially since he'd lied, so he took two long strides towards her and seized her by the arm. His pale fingers gripped her arm firmly as he hauled her to a deserted corridor.
"Let go of me," she shrieked the entire time as she struggled against him. After seeing that her attempts were useless she stopped wrestling him. She thought about pulling out her wand and giving him a good hexing, but concluded that would only make the situation worse. When he finally stopped and loosened his grip she jerked her arm away from him.
"That was extremely rude. I could have walked on my own, you know. I have two perfectly capable feet that don't need your guidance." She said rubbing the arm where his hand had been.
"Are you okay?" He said looking at her a bit concerned. His face looked so calm. It startled her a bit.
She let out a disgruntled laugh. "Am I okay? I would say I'm okay if you hadn't just embarrassed the living daylights out of me. Have you gone mad?" She said gaping at him.
"You do realize that by telling that cow Pansy Parkinson that we're dating you've practically told the entire school." Her voice was a bit high and squeaky as she unconsciously stepped closer to him. "I wouldn't be surprised if we were on the front page of the Daily Prophet tomorrow… And, your Hermione?" She inquired, quirking her eyebrow. "I hadn't realized you'd purchased me."
Yes, she was furious with him, but she couldn't suppress the dancing pixies that filled her stomach when she thought about Draco calling her his Hermione.
"I meant to say my potions partner Hermione," he interjected quickly though he knew it was a weak lie.
"You are absolutely ridiculous," Hermione said as she continued to scold him. "And for the record, you shouldn't have intruded in the first place. I'm perfectly…" She didn't get to finish because Draco had interrupted. Capable of handling myself, she finished in thought.
"O, I shouldn't have intruded," Draco bellowed at her. He was furious now. To him it sounded like she was enjoying McLaggen's hands all over her.
"I didn't think you were the type of girl who liked getting pawed on in the middle of the corridor like a common whore." He spat back at her, voice full of rage.
Hermione's mouth fell open. She was dumbstruck for a few moments and before she knew what she was doing she'd raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face. Seeing the fury flicker fast across his face Hermione scrambled for her wand, but wasn't quick enough. Before she knew it he'd seized her once again.
Shaking with rage Draco retaliated by snagging Hermione's wrist and firmly shoving her against the wall. He pinned her arm over her head with his fingers still tightly wrapped around her thin carpus. His body melted against hers as his grey eyes met her brown ones. Suddenly, all his animosity retreated. His anger was replaced with a new emotion – desire. Draco's heart thumped wildly, urging his lips forward to meet hers. He couldn't explain what had come over him.
Hermione stood limply, pressed against the wall. Her stomach was flip flopping at the close proximity of his warm, hard body. Initially she thought she was done for. However, now that she was looking into his eyes, she could see no trace of anger at all. In fact what she did see in his eyes frightened her more than his anger ever could – lust. Draco inched closer to her and her heart picked up speed. She could hear it thudding loudly in her ears and she was certain he could hear it to.
"Hermione, I've been looking everywhere for you!" Hermione and Draco quickly sprang apart. Ginny, just noticing their close proximity, looked from Hermione to Draco and back to Hermione. "Sorry, am I interrupting something?" She asked hesitantly not sure if she wanted to know the answer.
"No, no, of course not," said Hermione as she straightened out her robes. She gave a sideways glance to Draco who was peering at her out of the corner of his eye.
Ginny stood dazed for a moment, deciphering if she wanted to further question Hermione, then shook her head. "Alright then… Professor McGonagall just delivered a message to me. She said that Professor Dumbledore needs to see us in his office right away."
Students were now beginning to make their way down the once empty corridor. Hermione's mind was still racing and it took her a minute to comprehend what Ginny was saying. "Right, of course," she said nodding.
"I'll see you tomorrow in the library." She said inclining her head towards Draco. Hermione knew her face was terribly flushed and was embarrassed to look directly at him.
"See you then," he replied softly to Hermione and then nodded at Ginny before turning on his heel.
"Oi! Out of the way!" They heard him yell down the hall as he pushed his way through a throng of second years.
Hermione and Ginny made small talk on their way to Professor Dumbledore's office, anxious to know what the meeting was about. Obviously, Pansy hadn't spread Hermione and Draco's dating rumor yet. Hermione figured it was probably because she wanted to start by telling her Slytherin housemates first. Luckily, Ginny hadn't ambushed her with questions about the scene she'd walked in on either. Maybe she could sense Hermione's embarrassment and was choosing to ignore it for her friend's sake.
"Why do you think the Professor wants to see us?" Hermione asked as they reached the stone gargoyle that lead to the Headmasters office.
"I have no idea," said Ginny shrugging.
"Acid Pops," Hermione said brightly and the stone gargoyle began to move. She was feeling much more comfortable now than she did five minutes ago.
When they reached the office door Hermione held her hand up to knock, but before she could the door popped open and the Headmasters voice rang out. "Ah Miss Granger, Miss Weasley please do come in."
As Hermione and Ginny both entered into the room they found Professor Dumbledore staring at his Pensieve. Dumbledore came around to sit on the other side of his desk, beaming at the sight of them. He stood up and gestured for them to sit down. "Please, have a seat." The girls sat down as the headmaster offered them a bowl of sweets. "Lemon drops?"
"No thank you, professor," they said in unison.
"Very well then," he replied slowly as he rested the bowl back on his desk. "I'm sure you're wondering why I've summoned you here this late in the evening. Mister Weasley," he called over his shoulder. Hermione's heart skipped a beat. Was Ron back? If so, where was Harry? Just when she was about to panic Ginny's older brother, Bill Weasley, emerged from the shadows.
Ginny beamed at Bill as she got up and hugged him tightly. However, Hermione's face was flushed with confusion. She didn't understand why she was called here if Ginny was just receiving a visit from her brother. Hermione wiped the confusion off her face long enough to stand up and hug Bill herself.
"It's wonderful to see you Bill. How's Fleur?" She said giving him a sideways smile.
"She's well. Her English is rapidly improving. You'd be impressed." He retorted with the famous Weasley lopsided grin before glancing over at Dumbledore.
Hermione shifted on her feet as the room went silent. She was about to start her inquisition when Professor Dumbledore began to speak. "Bill has brought some interesting news," he said speaking in a soft voice. "News that I think will be of great interest to both of you." He inclined his head toward Bill to continue where he left off.
"I've come to inform the Professor that I've recently seen Harry and Ron."
With horrified looks on their faces both Ginny and Hermione spoke at the same time. "Are they…"
Bill held his hand up to stop them and let out a small chuckle. "They are both fine. They have a bit of bumps and bruises and were looking a bit thin. Mum wasn't too happy about that." He said, wincing as he remembered his mother's shouts. "But other than that they are in good condition. They've had some slight hang ups, which is why they haven't returned yet. And since they can't exactly send anything by owl I volunteered to report to Dumbledore."
Hermione and Ginny both let out breaths they hadn't realized they were holding. Both girls felt lighter knowing that the boys were okay.
"Thank Merlin," Hermione muttered to herself as she closed her eyes.
"Well, I really best be off. Fleur is waiting up for me." Bill said before saying goodbye to the Professor.
"I'll walk you to the door," Ginny said standing up and escorting her brother out.
Hermione sat in the chair a few moments longer. As she watched Ginny give her big brother a huge hug a nagging question developed and was on the tip of her tongue. She wasn't quite sure if she wanted to ask the Professor or not. She'd decided to let it go when the Headmaster spoke.
"Miss Granger, is there something on your mind you'd like to share with me?" He said beaming at her as his light blue eyes flickered over his half moon spectacles.
Hermione straightened up in her chair, took a deep breath, and nodded. "Professor, do you think it's possible for people to change? Say if a person's been corrupt all their life and has done loads of atrocious things, is it possible for them to truly become good and be honorable?"
"Ah, you see, believe it or not we all have good and bad in us and the ability to be either one. However, it all comes down to our choices." The Professor then let out a deep sigh before continuing. "Though, some are born into unfortunate situations where it need not matter what path they chose because there are always others who are insistent on choosing the path for them." He said bending his head down and giving her a knowing look.
Hermione couldn't help but to blush a bit. She was sure he knew she was inquiring about Draco. She had no clue how he knew, but he knew. Then again Dumbledore was very keen and always aware of everything.
"Friendship, trust and loyalty go a long way Miss Granger. You'd be surprised just how influential it can be. It has the ability to pull people out of very grim places." His face was serious and his eyes were surveying her intently. "Some just need a little more guidance than others."
He leaned forward on his desk. "Do you recall anything I said at the end-of-term feast your fourth year?"
Surely, she could recall something. She remembered just about everything the Professor said at the feasts. She closed her eyes for a moment, recalling what was spoken and tried to find what he said that would be significant to their current conversation. Then it hit her. "You were talking about," she paused, "Voldemort and you said 'His gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust-'"
"Of course," she said softly, more to herself than Dumbledore. Realization was finally hitting her. She knew that soon she'd have to make a choice. She looked up and saw the Professor smiling at her, giving her a wink and she smiled back him.
"Thank you Professor. For everything," she said smiling once more before rising on her feet.
As Hermione and Ginny made their way back to the Gryffindor Common Room, Hermione mulled over her conversation with the Professor and concluded that she wasn't a Gryffindor out of chance, she was a Gryffindor because she had courage and nerve. She knew what she wanted, or better, who she wanted. Now she just had to work out how to get it.