Forbidden Paths

Chapter 11

Draco was feeling slightly self-conscious because of the uniform that they had to wear in this little dueling group. The shorts hugged his arse and they showed the outline of his boxers. He stepped out into the sun and received many approving glances from the girls that had joined this group.

He spotted Potter and Weasley who flanked Hermione. He lazily watched the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher display some moves on Professor Doleer the Muggle studies Teacher. They told the class to pair up with there own house so he went to Crabbe and Goyle walked up to Bletchley.

It was good that Malfoy was to busy getting his butt kicked to watch Hermione anymore. She had partnered up with Harry because Dean had waved Ron over to partner with him.

Hermione was about to attempt to throw Harry over her shoulder but she seriously doubted this was going to happen seeing as Harry was a foot taller than her and about 40 or 50 pounds heavier than her.
Harry approached her from behind and grabbed her around the waist. The whistle blew and the air was filled with grunts and groans as people were hurled on the ground. Hermione grabbed Harry’s arm but she was kind of distracted as he muttered something in her ear and kissed her neck. She fell backwards against him and she felt him on the small of her back.

Her mind snapped back to reality and she flipped Harry over the best she could. The whistle blew again and everyone stopped. Professor Stanton told them to partner up with people from their rival houses.

Immediately Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy walked over to Harry Ron and Hermione. Crabbe walked to Ron and Goyle, for some reason walked up to Hermione and Malfoy to Harry. Hermione bit her bottom lip. She knew that the outcome of that fight would not be a good one.

The whistle blew and Harry and Draco began circling each other. In about two seconds Draco was below Harry and Harry’s hand was making a lot of contact with Malfoy’s jaw.

“Why can’t you just leave her alone?” Harry grunted as Malfoy punched him in the stomach, “She doesn’t want you anymore.”

“Shut up! Potter you have no clue what she wants,” Malfoy panted as Harry sunk his fist in to Malfoy’s face.

“She wants more than your giving her,” Harry snarled.

Professor Stanton blew her whistle and said, “Alright everyone enough for to today. Those of you that are badly injured please make your way upstairs to the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey will attend to your riesries.”

Malfoy had a bloody lip and it looked as if his jaw was dislocated but he popped it back in and grabbed Hermione around the waist and led her towards the castle. He didn’t care who saw them as long as he got her as far away from Potter as he could. The only one that would be fulfilling her would be him.

Harry watched them walk up to the castle together and he felt as if he had lost Hermione forever. He turned around and helped Ron up. He had sustained a lot of bruises from Crabbe. From the way he was limping he thought that he had done something to his leg.

Draco led Hermione to the broom closet where they had had shared their first real kiss. He leaned into her and kissed her lightly on the lips.

“Is it true?” he asked quietly, “What Potter said? Do you want more than I’m giving you?” He broke eye contact and stared at her knees.

“No Draco I happy with taking it slow. You actually paid attention to me. But I’m ready to go further. I was devastated when you stopped me yesterday, Draco. I want you because I love you,” Hermione finished dramatically. She looked up to find a surprised looking Draco.

“Hermione, I love you too. I’m scared to move on. I think that after I come I won’t want you anymore,” Draco explained lamely.

“Well, I respect that Draco. But I need to feel closer to you,” she b rub rubbing his chest and he bent down and kissed her with passion.

They stood there for a while kissing and talking. The exited the broom closet and ran right into Lucius Malfoy. Draco’s eyes widened and he dropped Hermione’s hand but it was too late the damage was done.

“Father, what are you doing here?” Draco choked out.

Lucius’s cold eyes surveyed the crime scene. He looked into Draco’s eyes but Draco looked away. He wasn’t going to let his father read his mind that easily. His father was skilled in Legimency but not many people knew that. His father glanced into Hermione’s eyes and his eyes widened in shock and disgust.

“Come Draco,” his father said sternly and Draco gave one look at Hermione and followed is er. er. He was in trouble now.

Hermione watched him walk away. He said that he loved her. Her heart was fluttering with emotion. But for some odd reason she had the biggest sense of foreboding as if something horrible was about to happen to her or Draco.

Hermione made her way up to Gryffintowetower. But when she passed the Transfiguration classroom she heard something that sounded horribly like someone screaming at the top of his or her lungs. She quietly opened the door and saw Draco rolling on the floor his eyes wide in terror.

His father lifted the curse. Hermione looked at Mr. Malfoy. Draco was still on the floor with tears rolling down his face. He choked out, “Hermione run!” Hermione turned on her heel and jetted down the corridor. She approached the two gargoyles that flanked the Staff Room door. Leaned between them and began hammering on the door.

Professor McGonagall came out looking harassed and she said, “Yes, Miss Granger what is so urgent that you felt the need to knock the door down?”

“Professor,” Hermione wheezed, “its Draco. His father is torturing him in your classroom. Come on with me you have to save him. Please.”

Professor McGonagall studied Hermione’s face for a second and figured that she wasn’t lying. Hermione’s face was very pale and tinged with green as if she was going to be sick. Her hands were shaking, as was her voice.

“Lead the way Miss Granger,” Professor McGonagall said starting to walk down the hall.

“Alright Professor,” Hermione said and started to jog down the hallway. She felt faint but she knew that she had to keep her wits about her because Draco needed her to save him.

When they got to the Transfiguration classroom Draco was lying on the floor unconscious and he was having trouble drawing breaths. Hermione dropped on her knees beside Draco and began sobbing uncontrollably. She lay down on the floor next to him and began patting his head like a scared little girl.

“Poppy!” Professor McGonagall screamed into the fire, “I need you in my classroom immediately.”

As soon as she removed her head from the fire Madam Pomfrey came hurtling into the room. “What is it Minerva?” she breathed. Professor McGonagall pointed at Draco and Madam Pomfrey gasped. “What happened!” she exclaimed.

“His father came for a visit,” Professor McGonagall said in a disgusted tone.

Madam Pomfrey cast a dark look at Draco, “We’ll have to get him to the Hospital Wing to see what injuries he has sustained, Locomoter Mortis,” she muttered and Hermione watched as the boy who said he loved her floated out of the room unconscious. She dissolved into tears again.

Professor McGonagall walked over to her and sat down on one of the chairs in her classroom. She began patting her back, “Now, now Hermione don’t cry he will be alright. Madam Pomfrey is a professionally trained mediwizard and as you and your friends Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley know she can heal anything and fix any broken bone in a matter of seconds.

“Why Mr. Potter just took Mr. Weasley up to the Hospital Wing and Poppy fixed his broken ankle in a couple of seconds. Hermione you should of known better to get involved with Mr. Malfoy though,” Professor McGonagall, said in a motherly way, “After Lord Voldemort’s return Lucius Malfoy was right at Voldemorts side when he beckoned them to come.

This relationship that you had with Draco was forbidden from the start and he knew that. He has long pondered the results of what would happen if his father ever found out. As you see his father was not at all pleased. Hermione, I want you to seriously consider the consequences of this relationship between you and Mr. Malfoy before you take it any further. Now I suggest you go up to your common room and join Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley inc incase Lucius hasn’t completely left the building,” professor McGonagall finished ushering Hermione out of her classroom.

Hermione walked up to the common room. It seemed to take forever because her legs felt as if they were made of lead. She gave the new password, “Higgeldy Piggeldy,” and walked through the portrait hole where the common room was surprisingly empty. Harry was sitting on the couch by the fire with his Charms homework spread out on his lap. Hermione sank onto the couch next to him and started sniffing again. She was trying to hold back her tears because it was beginning to hurt her throat when she cried. Harry looked up from his Charms notes ad took one look at her face and said, “Hermione, what is it this time?”

Hermione looked at him for a second. He seemed angry but about what Hermione couldn’t figure out. She looked at him and her sniffles became more pronounced until they became dry sobs. Tears began rolling down her face and Harry took her head in his hands and looked deep into her eyes, “What happened Hermione?” She buried her face into his strong Quidditch toned chest and began reliving the day’s horrific events.

Harry’s eyes widened at the story. He stroked Hermione’s hair. He picked up her face after she stopped telling her story and her tears had subsided and pulled her face toward his and kissed her long and hard. He pulled away and Hermione pulled forward to kiss him. She wanted to escape from all the hate in the world and she couldn’t do that with Draco but she could do it with Harry.

They kissed passionately for about a half an hour. Somehow Hermione wound up straddling Harry. He was breathing heavy and he pulled her back down toward him and they deepened their kiss.

The portrait hole opened and Ron walked in. He heard fast ragged breathing and moaning. He also saw a tuft of raven black hair that he immediately knew was his best friends.

“y may mate pretend like I’m not here,” Ron muttered blushing slightly. He really wanted to see who this girl was that was making Harry breathe like that. So he slowly moved toward the couch. He saw some sandy brown hair that was unusually bushy and he knew it belonged to his other best friend Hermione.

“When did you two start going out?” Ron blurted and Harry and Hermione separated their lips reluctantly and they looked up into to Ron’s furiously red face.

“We aren’t going out,” Harry wheezed. He tried to get up but then he remembered that she was on top of him. He gave her a look and she rolled off him and sat into one of the chintz armchairs that were by the fire.

“Then what was all that about,” Ron said. Hermione was wondering how much he had really seen, “You were panting and moaning like there was something going on. I was wondering whether you had run a marathon before you started snogging you were breathing so hard.”

Hermione felt herself blush. She knew that she was breathing hard but she didn’t know it was that hard. She was trying of an explanation but her mouth was failing her. She just kept staring at Ron who kept looking at Harry then Hermione waiting for one of them to start talking.

“Well Ron, remember when I told you that Cnd mnd me broke up?” Harry asked. Hermione didn’t see where he was going with this so she let him continue.

“Yeah, How can I forget it happened yesterday after Hermione brought you upstairs? You were out of breath then too,” Ron said trying his best to see if he could make a connection.

“Well, I told you that I met some girl and she helped me get over it,” Harry said trying his best to make Ron get it but he still had that puzzled look on his face, “Ron! Don’t be thick. Hermione told you not to worry about what happened that I would be okay. Now tell me how would she know that if she had just run into me in the common room and then brought me upstairs?”

“I don’t know maybe she…” Ron’s eyes widened and then he pointed from Harry to Hermione and then shook his head.

“Exactly,” Hermione piped up, “I was the girl that helped him get over it.”

“But what about Malfoy? You two are still together right?” Ron said with a hint of hope in his voice that he was wrong.

“Well, I’m seriously reconsidering that because of what happened this afternoon,” at Ron’s inquiring look she once again recounted the events of that night as she had for Harry. When she finished she said, “If Lucius Malfoy would do that to his own son, then I’m afraid what he would do to me the Mudblood who loves his son,” she finished and looked to the side of the couch breaking eye contact with Ron.

Harry looked at her and got up and told her to stand up. He sat down on the chintz armchair and patted lap for Hermione to take a seat. Ron blushed slightly at Harry’s forwardness. Hermione sat down and turned slightly so she could rest her head on Harry’s shoulder.

She started to cry again she had know clue why she was getting so emotional, “You should of seen him there. Does it hurt so badly Harry? Did you just wish that your life would end instead of having to endure the torturing anymore?”

Harry looked like he was going to start crying too. Then his eyes had regained that deadened look he had gotten the night he had been in a graveyard during their fourth year. He had watched Lord Voldemort return and he watched his friend Cedric ory.ory. He had been tortured repeatedly with the Cruciatus Curse by Lord Voldemort. He slowly nodded, as the memory wedged it’s way deeper into his memory.

“His face was so contorted with pain he didn’t even look like the same person I had just been with three seconds before. He was actually crying,” Hermione sobbed and she put her head on Harry’s neck he kissed her neck and patted her back some more. She felt an extra hand on her back and saw that Ron had pulled up a chair so he too could comfort his friend.

Harry was deep in thought and he said, “It’s a pain that he will never forget. I haven’t forgotten it at all. It feels like your whole body is on fire. I kept praying that someone would hear me screaming and then they would call the police but no one ever came. I kept praying that I would pass out so I could get dying over with. The pain stuck with me even after I left the graveyard. My brain hurt so badly. I could barely think straight,” he finished looking into Hermione’s chocolate eyes.

“I’m scared whether Draco will be alright. I mean, if I hadn’t gotten there when I did Draco would probably be dead,” she hiccupped at the thought.

“Hermione maybe you should go upstairs and get some sleep,” Harry suggested. His eyes still hadn’t lost the dead look. The look reminded Hermione of the way that Harry’s late godfather Sirius Black had had in his eyes after he escaped from Azkaban the wizard prison.

She hopped off his and and walked upstairs. As she reached the second landing she was absoluteure ure that Harry had begun to cry as well. She heard Ron say, “It’s alright mate let it all out.”