Stolen Innocence

Chapter Ten

Draco refused to speak with Hermione. The next morning she was gone before he's awoke. He was glad too, he didn't want to deal with her.

He was just so angry. He'd saved her from getting raped, and she had repaid him by yelling at him and accusing him of being a Death Eater. She had no right to accuse him of such things, she knew nothing about him. She should have been happy that he'd saved her when he did. And yet she still sided with that git.

Draco couldn't understand it, why did she still stick up for Weasel? After all the hell he's put her through, after everything he'd done, she was still loyal to him. She refused to see what was going to happen if she stayed with him.

It killed him to admit it, but he'd grown to really care about Hermione. He cared if she was happy, he cared if she was hurting, and that frightened him.

A Malfoy was not supposed to care for someone of such dirty blood. He was to care about wealthy, well brought up pure-blood witches. It was just not allowed to be any different. But as much as he tried to ignore his feelings, he couldn't. Somewhere along the line, she'd grown on him. And now he couldn't hide it, he couldn't pretend that it wasn't eating him up inside to know that she was in so much pain.

He tried to tell himself that it was not his place to care, tried to convince himself that it was her problem to solve. But he couldn't help wanting to save her, to protect her. He knew nothing could ever really happen between them, but he at least wanted to keep her safe and happy.

Draco didn't see Hermione at breakfast. Weasley wasn't there either. It bothered him, hell it scared him half to death, but he pretended everything was fine. He laughed with Blaise and flirted with Pansy. He acted like nothing was wrong, even though he kept one eye glued on the Gryffindor table where Potter sat talking with Longbottom.

Just before the end of breakfast, she made an appearance. Her eyes were still as dead as ever, and her uniform skirt seemed to be a great deal longer. And she was on his arm. She was wrapped up in the arms of that foul abuser. And she was smiling, and so was he. But there was something so insincere about her smile. It didn't even reach her eyes. The smile ended at her mouth, but no one else noticed.

Weasley had a nice black eye, and his nose was crooked and swollen. He acted like nothing was wrong, never once catching Draco's glare. He just sat there with his arms around the girl that loved him so much, even though he cared nothing for her.

She sat and talked with Potter, laughing like nothing was wrong. Weasley kept an arm around her the whole time, half hugging her. It sickened Draco to no end that he could fake that he actually gave a damn.

The bell for classes rang, so Draco and Blaise headed off to Charms while Pansy left for Divinination. He held his head high, lightly chatting with his friend, putting on the facade that he was happy, just as she did every single morning.

*

Draco walked into Advanced Potions with Pansy snuggled up on his arm. He couldn't help but slightly scowl. Hermione had been with Weasley again at lunch. They'd looked so happy, like a teenage romance at full bloom, it disgusted him. He took his seat beside his girlfriend at the back of the room, watching the door for when she entered.

Hermione walked in, the Weasel's arms wrapped around her and Potter at her side. She muttered a goodbye to her boyfriend, pecking him on the lips before taking a seat in her usual spot. She didn't even notice Draco staring at her, both anger and longing in his eyes. She just sat there, chatting it up with Potter, pretending she was a normal, happy girl.

The class went by as dull as usual. They answered questions from their texts on the properties of Veriteserum. Draco kept glancing over at Hermione, searching for signs that she was still unhappy. He noticed she was a lot less talkative, she mostly kept her head down, piling over her work. She never once looked back at him, never even let on what had happened between them the night before.

But he saw through her disguise. He saw the pain in her eyes, the fear that always stuck with her. He knew she was hurting, he saw through her little act. But he ignored the urge to hold her, pretending he didn't care, as if she was nothing to him.

It went on like this for weeks. Draco hardly saw Hermione, she spent most of her time in Gryffindor Tower, not returning until late, or sometimes, not at all. She was gone before Draco woke up, no matter how early he did. She ignored him completely, laughing with her friends and being all cuddly with her boyfriend.

Draco felt himself becoming increasingly irritable. He snapped on his friends and raised his voice to Pansy. He was angry, angry at Hermione for doing this to him. She flaunted her boyfriend infront of him, pretending she didn't feel the connection the two enemies shared. She didn't even glance his way, not once. It was as if he was invisible to her.

Draco found himself staring at her more and more. He could tell she wasn't happy, but it still made him feel good to see her smile and laugh with her friends, even though he knew both were forced. He tried to ignore the want to talk to her to just make sure she was okay. He knew he should, but he just couldn't. He was still angry with her, and he didn't need another row between them.

Draco stayed late in the library one night, working on a Transfiguration paper that was due the next day. It was nearly 3 o'clock when he finished. He headed back to the Head's Quarters, stumbling due to exhaustion, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

When he arrived at his common room, it was dark, so he assumed no one was there. As he made to sit down on the couch, he heard the rustle of robes nearby. He froze, turning towards the noise. He could see a dark figure standing motionless, trying not to be seen. Draco raised his wand, pointing it towards the person.

"Lumos." He said as his wand lit to reveal a terrified looking Hermione.

"Oh, it's only you." He muttered, taking a seat on the couch.

"Shut up Malfoy, I'm just here to grab some things and then I'll be out of your hair." She shot back, annoyance in her voice.

"Go right ahead, these are as much your dorms as they are mine if you don't remember." He drawled, pretending to read over his paper.

"You don't have to be so rude." She retorted, making to walk away.

"I'm rude? This from the girl who lashes out at a person after they'd just saved her from getting raped." He replied, having every intention to start up a fight. Anything to get her to have a conversation with him. Hermione jerked around to face him.

"Well what was I supposed to do? Gravel at your feet thanking you for attemped murder?" She said, her voice cold as ice.

"Better I murder him then he continue to ruin your fucking life!" Draco shouted, standing and facing her. "Don't you fucking see what he's done to you? He's made you think that you're worthless. He's got some kind of sick hold on you where you can't even see how bad it really is."

"Stop trying to fucking counsel me!" Hermione shouted, throwing her arms up in frustration, wincing as though in pain. "I don't need you telling me to fucking leave him, I'm happy. We are in love, we're just different from other couples." Draco faked a laugh.

"Will you listen to yourself Hermione? Just listen to what you're saying for one second. You're saying you're happy being beaten on a regular basis? You're saying you're fine with being broken down to nothing? You say you're in love, but can't you see? He doesn't love you. He just likes having control over you, to have you at his every beck and call, to be there when he wants a piece of ass." The two were circling each other around the room, glaring, their bodies tense. Maybe, just maybe, if he kept talking, he could get it through her head. Maybe he could make her see what her precious boyfriend had done to her.

"If you're so happy, then why do you have to force yourself to smile? Why do you perform a glamour charm on yourself every morning just so people won't see what he's done? You need to look at yourself, look at what little bit of you is left. He's destroying you. You need to get out before he finishes you off." Draco's voice was filled with emotion he never knew he had. His throat felt tight and dry, but he kept forcing the words out.

"I know you think you love him, but you don't. He's put you in a state of mind where you actually believe that there is no life outside of him. But that's wrong, there's more to life then him. Other people care about you, they want you to be safe and happy, how you should be. You don't deserve the shit he puts you through." Tears lined Hermione's eyes. Her tough exterior was breaking slowly.

"You need to see what he's done to you and get out before it's too late." Hermione collapsed onto the couch as the tears began to flow. Draco rushed to her side, holding her lightly as she began to cry.

"I can't, I just can't." She sobbed, covering her face with her hands. Draco held her shaking body, squeezing her tight.

"You have to, if you don't it'll only get worse." He told her. It hurt him to see her like this, but he knew it had to be done. It would only be worse if it didn't happen now. She had to realize what was happening.

"But I need him. I need to be with him." She cried.

"I know you think that, but you don't need him. You'll be better off without him. I know it hurts, but you need to protect yourself." Draco rocked her gently, allowing her to cry.

They sat there for a bit, Draco rocking her slowly, holding her as she sobbed, getting it all out of her system.

"Why does he have to hurt me so bad?" Hermione asked after the tears had lessened.

"I don't know," Draco answered honestly. "But you don't deserve it. You deserve so much better. Like someone who appreciates you and knows how truly amazing you are." He smoothed some stray hairs away from her tear stained face. They sat in silence for a few moments, Draco relishing in the feeling of having her once again in his arms. He liked knowing she was safe, it felt good to be sure.

After some time, Hermione calmed down and the tears stopped all together. She was drained from so much emotion, so Draco lifted her up bridal style and carried her up to her bed. He laid her out on the four-poster, kissing her forehead lightly and smoothing her hair back. He went to walk away when she stopped him.

"Draco," She called. He turned around, his heart light at hearing her speak his first name for the first time. "Would you stay with me the night?"

"Of course." He replied, taking a seat on the edge of her bed as she slid under the covers. He wrapped an arm protectively around her shoulders as he laid down beside her. He closed his eyes, feeling completely content and at peace.

"Draco?" Hermione asked in a sleepy voice as he began to feel sleep overcome him.

"Yes?"

"Will you hold me and make it all right?" She asked in an innocent voice. Draco smiled, wrapping his arms around her tighter so he was flush against her body over the covers.

"Of course."

To Be Continued...

Alright, hopefully you all like this chapter, I just edited it because a certain reviewer informed me of a number of typos. I'm so happy this story is so popular, it is now my most reviewed story. Thnxx goes out to:

-Lilium, haha yes, I agree, Ron deffinately deserved that and worse too. Glad you like this story so much.

-Tjay Motou, well thank you very much. I'm thrilled you're liking this story so much. I owe a lot of it to you and the advice you've given me. I hope this chapter's still correct, I just felt it'd be getting old to have them always bickering. Let me know what youu think.

-angelnomiko, yeahh I know but as Tjay Motou said in her last review "victims of abuse like that often lash out at those who are trying to help... (however Malfoy isn't going about it the best possible way...) mostly because they don't know what else to do when confronted with the truth...". Hopefully that explains a little for you.

-Silent Pluto, haha glad you liked that line so much. It did tickle my fancy quite a bit too (( haha I love that sayingg)). Always happy to have you read ym stories.

-Mrs Gallagher, happy you liked it, loved your new chapter by the wayy.

-alice, yess I agree that Harry is pretty much screwed. Basically he's going to just hear one side of it, so if he gets violent, please don't be mad.

-Lux, I think everyone wants Hermione to break up with Ron, but I'm glad to hear you agree that it's realistic.

-Jess, haha here's your update.

-naughtyslytherinx3, ^-^

-sticky, glad you liked my little dedication. And don't worry, I knew you'd get to reviewing eventually, no problem.

Oh how I love all the positive feedback I'm getting from this story. You all are amazing. I have until Monday off until school so if I get some more reviews *hint hint* I'll deffinately update again in the next few days. Please, leave me love.

Much Love...

XXX

Xx-.k.a.y.y.-xX