Haunted

Hermione jolted up in bed, her heart racing, her parent’s mangled bodies at the forefront of her mind.

“Mum? Dad?” she called out to the darkness. What was going on? Where was everyone?

“Hello? Can anyone hear me?” she cried, pushing back the restraining sheets twisted around her body.

“Hermione, Hermione, calm down, it’s alright!” a familiar voice said, pushing her back against soft pillows.

“Ron?”

“Yeah, it’s me. Sorry, I fell asleep. Are you alright?”

Hermione allowed her heart to slow, the terror to ease as Ron’s hands smoothed the hair from her face which was sticky with sweat. She reached up and gripped his soft palm hard and just held it there while images of what had occurred raced through her mind.

“My parents. Do they-?”

“They don’t remember anything. They think they’re on their way to the states, keep going on about stolen passports or something. Hermione, why did you do it?”

“I had to. You know that, Ron. I can’t put them into any more danger. They don’t understand.”

“But Hermione, you could have just asked us to hide them, you know we would have-,”

“It wouldn’t be enough. They’re safer this way, not knowing anything. Maybe someday when this is all over I can find them, make them remember…”

They were quiet for a minute and Hermione released Ron’s hand. “How did you and Harry hear?”

“George. That wireless station they have going. ‘Potter Watch’. It’s ridiculous. But it served its purpose. Hermione, you know you shouldn’t have gone in there like that. What were you thinking?”

“Ron, please. Let’s not get into this. It’s done. I did what I had to do, alright? You know you wouldn’t have done anything different had it been your parents.”

He didn’t answer because they both knew he would have done worse. He would have gone straight to Lucius, blind or not.

“Where’s Harry?” she asked.

“He’s with Ginny. She got banged up a little, but she’s alright.”

Hermione paused and swallowed the lump in her throat. “And Malfoy?”

“He’s alright. Looks like he took a Bludger to the back of the head but the Healers fixed it up real good.”

“Are they both here?”

“Yeah, mum forced them. You guys are leaving in the morning, though. You do know you’re going to get it once we get back to headquarters? Lupin is pissed. Dad said he’s ready to put you and Malfoy under house arrest.”

She groaned. She knew they’d be mad and she was ready to take the consequences of her actions. But after what Malfoy had done upon her return to headquarters, she wasn’t sure she could stand being stuck in a house any longer with him.

“Ron?”

“Hmm?”

“Will you and Harry stay with me for a couple days? I don’t want to be alone just yet.”

She knew he was thinking the reasoning had to do with her parents, and she was perfectly fine with allowing him to think that if it meant her best friends would be there to protect her from Malfoy.

“Of course, ‘Mione. But only for a few days. We’re getting really close to figuring out this next one. Harry is sure it’s one of the founders. I suppose Dumbledor’s never let us down before, has he?”

She shook her head and laid back against the pillows.

“Try to go back to sleep, alright? Mum is supposed to check in on you guys in about an hour and I don’t think you want to deal with her tonight.”

She nodded and reached out her hand for his in silent entreaty. He took it and she heard a chair scrape across the floor and knew he was moving closer to sit next to her. It was then, as she began to feel safe knowing Ron was watching over her and Harry over Ginny, that she felt a dead weight in the pit of her stomach.

“Who’s with Malfoy?”

“Er, Erickson, I think. He’s a junior Auror.”

An Auror. Hermione had one of her best friends. Ginny had her boyfriend. And Malfoy was being watched by an Auror. Pity welled up in her chest like a tangible thing. She felt the tears sneak up and didn’t know why.

“I have to go to him,” she heard herself say as she pulled back the covers.

“What? Who?”

“Malfoy. Could you please escort me to his room?” she asked and her feet hit the cold tile. She hissed and wondered why the Healers hadn’t put a Warming Charm on them.

“Hermione, I don’t think that’s a good idea…”

“If you don’t take me, I’ll go myself,” she said stubbornly. She didn’t know why she was doing this, why she felt she had to go to him now, in what she assumed was the middle of the night due to the lack of noise. She held out her hand.

“Hermione, why would you want to see Malfoy in the middle of the night? He’s probably sleeping!”

“Ron, please, just take me to him. He was there today, he and Ginny. They came for me. I want to thank him.”

It was partially true, she supposed. She did indeed want to thank him for the umpteenth time. But there was something else that made her need to go to him…

Maybe that kiss…

No, no, Merlin, no. There was nothing behind it but adrenaline and pure…something. Nothing. It was nothing. Of course it was nothing! Nothing at all. Because nothing couldn’t be something. But then again, something wasn’t nothing. Right?

Stop this nonsense, you sound like an idiot!

Great, and now you’re talking to yourself. Brilliant. Just-

“Hermione?”

She jumped at the invasion of her lurid thoughts. She felt Ron’s hand on her arm and nodded her consent to be dragged blindly through the halls. She decided she really hated this part more than anything and once again promised herself to put more time into using the walking stick.

“Alright, we’re here. I’m not allowed in so er, you might have to ask Erickson to escort you.”

“Why aren’t you allowed in?”

“Well, er, you see…”

“Ron, did you pick another fight with him?” she asked incredulously. Honestly, that boy!

His silence was evidence enough and she huffed as he guided her inside. She was just about to call for Erickson to help her to the bed when she heard Malfoy speak.

“No, John, it’s fine. Go on and step outside, she’ll keep an eye on me well enough.”

Hermione bit her tongue at his crude remark and stayed where she was feeling extremely foolish. She didn’t want to try walking around because she didn’t want to run into anything but she was not going to ask Malfoy for help. The door clicked and Hermione’s only means of movement had abandoned her.

“Follow my voice,” Malfoy said lowly, somewhere to her left. “You’re not going to run into anything, it’s pretty much a clear path.”

“Where exactly am I going?” she asked wearily.

“Take a couple more steps, alright, stop.” She heard him shuffling and felt the air move. “Alright, you can sit if you’d like.”

Hermione reached behind her and felt a chair. She sank into it gratefully.

“Thank you, that was very considerate,” she said. “How are you feeling?”

“Alright I suppose. You?”

“Same.”

They were quiet for a moment as Hermione fumbled nervously with her fingers.

“How did you know where I was?” she finally asked.

“Ginny figured it out, really. We went to the manor. They tried to pose the Dark Lord as you, but apparently they did not know you were blind. Tried to make a trade off, me for you. When I passed the fake you he looked at me. I warned the others and we got out of there. That’s when Ginny came up with the idea you were at your parents.”

“How in the world did you two convince them to let you go alone? I can’t imagine the rest of the Order was very keen on the idea.”

“Well, they didn’t really know we were going.”

Hermione shook her head. “Should have figured as much. Malfoy, that was a really risky thing you did. You shouldn’t have put yourself and Ginny in danger like that.”

“What, like what you did?”

“That’s different, they were my family, I had to protect them-,”

“You don’t think Ginny doesn’t see you as family?”

The guilt ate at her. “I know what I did was stupid, but I had to. It was all I could do. Ginny will understand. I’ll talk to her. But you, why would you do it? Again? Why do you keep putting yourself in this circumstance, risking your neck for me?”

“Well, I don’t think I’ve had much choice as of late. You seem to be a lot of trouble, Granger.”

She laughed. “I don’t know why. It’s a new thing, really. I never caused any trouble before all this. I was the boring one, the safe one. I was the one who bailed everyone out, Harry, Ron, Ginny, even Fred and George. Guess we all have to take turns now, don’t we?”

“Well, that’s a way to look at it, I suppose.”

They were quiet again and Hermione took a deep breath. “Thank you. Again.”

“I didn’t do much. Seems I took a lamp to the head upon walking into the house. I don’t remember anything until Ginny was able to Ennervate me in the kitchen at Grimmauld Place.”

“How is it? Your head, I mean.”

“Hard as ever.”

Hermione chuckled and closed her useless eyes, leaning back against the chair which was incredibly soft and warm. She debated within herself about asking him why he kissed her, but he headed her off.

“I heard what you did to your parents,” he said, his baritone voice low. “Why would you do that?”

“Because it needed to be done,” she answered softly. “They’re safer this way.”

“That’s really what you want? For your parents to not know who you are or what they’ve been doing for the past twenty years?”

“It’s the way it has to be. I should have done it long ago. I was going to but…I missed them so much. Harry told me we’d keep them safe, they weren’t going to be found out. They even changed their last name to Griffith, except to their patients. They told me they weren’t going to ruin their practice over something that silly. They never really thought they were in danger. They worried about me, but never about themselves. I won’t have them touched by this, not anymore. It’s not their fight.”

Silence filled the room once more. Hermione heard Malfoy shift slightly on the bed and clear his throat.

“I should go,” she whispered before rising to her feet. She made her way slowly back to the door with her hands stretched out and with the hope that if she neared something, Malfoy would stop her. But the walk was short and clear and when she found the doorknob, Malfoy finally spoke.

“Look at that, Granger. It seems we’ve just had our first civil conversation. Maybe I should have snogged you earlier and saved all the trouble.”

Hermione whipped around and glared in his general direction.

“You disgusting prat! If you think for one minute that any of this has to do with that half-arsed kiss then you should get your head checked, because apparently that lamp hit you harder than you thought! You are delusional if you honestly believe that I give one whit about it!”

Hermione whirled around and ripped open the door and stomped into the hall, immediately running into a very large chest.

“’Ermione! Wha’ are you doin’ down here? Yer supposed to be in bed!”

“Hagrid!” she cried, throwing her arms around him. “It’s been ages! When did you get back?” She shuffled as far away from the room Malfoy was in without making it look obvious.

“About an hour or two ago. Heard you lot were here so I thought I’d come check on yeh. C’mon, let’s get yeh back ter bed. Wha’ you doing runnin’ around on yer own like tha’?”

“I was speaking to Malfoy, that’s all. I was headed back to bed just now,” she answered, trying to hurry the half-giant along.

“Security ‘round this place is bullocks, if yeh ask me. Lettin’ a blind girl run around after she’s been hurt an’ all. Bloody wrong.”

“Hagrid, I’m fine, really,” she protested as he took her arm and, quite literally, dragged her down the hall back towards her room, her feet barely skimming the floor the entire way. He helped her find her way back into bed and heard snoring from her left.

“Is that Ron?” she asked Hagrid as he plopped her into her bed and tried to smooth down her covers, resulting in ripping them right off her legs. She pulled them back up as Hagrid snorted.

“Looks ‘at way. Right good guard yeh’ve got there.”

“Well, now I have you, don’t I?” she said sweetly, knowing it would soothe his ruffled feathers. She was so glad to be away from Malfoy and back in bed that she would say anything to get Hagrid to stay and make sure Malfoy didn’t try to hunt her down in the middle of the night. “You’re all the guard I need.”

He cleared his throat. “Come now, get some sleep, yeh need yer rest fer tomorrow.” A creak and the sound of splintering wood told her he had attempted to sit on the chair Ron had previously occupied. She wondered where he had bunked himself, probably on another bed. She didn’t feel like talking anymore though so didn’t ask and snuggled down into the covers. She bid Hagrid goodnight who told her he’d stay and watch her until she woke.

Hermione slept fitfully between the terrifying dreams of her parents dying, the even more terrifying dreams of Malfoy kissing and touching and holding her, and the constant pokes and prods of the night Healers checking her vitals. By the time she was woken to take her morning potions and eat breakfast, she was more tired than she had been when she’d laid down. Hagrid had stayed true to his word and was there when she woke. When Ron woke, Hagrid berated him for falling asleep until Harry came in and calmed the two down. As she nibbled her toast her room became a complete madhouse of sound. Unable to see anyone, the voices melded together and she was only able to catch snippets of what was happening: Ginny was trying to ask her what she was thinking of, going to her parents like that, Harry was caught between snapping at Ron for falling asleep and reassuring him that no harm had come of it, Mrs. Weasley was shrieking at the Healer for not doing something right, Tonks was saying something about Kingsley wanting to speak with her, Lupin was wondering if she was fine enough to go back to Headquarters and Arthur was complaining that she should be sent to the Burrow where she could be better watched. Hermione covered her face and tried to drown them all out. She couldn’t concentrate, there were just too many voices-

“Shut the bloody hell up!” came a dreaded voice from her left. “She can’t understand you all at the same time, you’re overwhelming her. I’m sure it can all wait until she gets back to headquarters, anyway.”

Hermione groaned. Why did he always have to stick his nose in where it didn’t belong? When a warm hand touched her shoulder she jumped having not heard anyone approach.

“You alight?” Malfoy asked, his voice far too close for comfort.

“I’m fine, thank you. I don’t need saving all the time, Malfoy. I can manage on my own,” she snapped, thoroughly annoyed. What made him think she needed his help? She didn’t need him now any more than she had a year ago or five or even ten. Hermione Granger did not need Draco Malfoy. Period.

The room was quiet for a minute until a Healer ushered everyone out so she could give Hermione one last check up. Hermione submitted to it silently and when the woman left she felt for her wand on the bedside table and, snatching it, summoned her clothes to her. The material smacked her in the face and plopped down onto her lap. While the room was still silent and, she hoped, empty, she pulled on the dirty clothes and stretched, her muscles a little stiff but nothing like the pain that had filled them the day before. Groaning, she stood back up and jumped a foot when someone spoke.

“What I wouldn’t do to stretch like that again.”

“Malfoy, what are you doing here?” she asked, harassed. Had he seen her change?

“I offered to check on you. Are you sure you’re ready to go back to headquarters today?”

“Yes, I’m sure. I don’t want to spend any more time in here than necessary. The Healer’s have their hands full enough as it is with this blasted war,” she replied. “Could you ask Remus to step inside? I’d like to speak with him in private before we leave.”

She didn’t hear him answer but did hear the bang of the door as it shut behind him. She wondered if Arthur had brought him his chair. Had he come in it? Or had Malfoy been dragged to St. Mungo’s? Hermione just didn’t know anymore. Everything about that boy was confused. She swore he was bi-polar or something. Good, bad; nice, rude; he liked her, he didn’t; moody, approachable; determined, sullen. She never knew what to think anymore and the fact that she couldn’t see his face and judge his reactions made it that much harder to tell how he would react next. And that kiss…would she ever be able to think about it without that hot syrupy feeling flooding her stomach? Not that it should, that stupid bastard didn’t deserve a minute of her time.

He’s saved your life countless times, put himself into danger for you. Can’t you just give him a break?

Her goody-goody side was pushing for her to, but another part, the part that contained her heart, still remembered the pain he inflicted by choosing the sick and twisted Dark Lord over her.

What are you saying? He didn’t choose anyone over YOU he chose the other side over THEM, the ORDER. He choose evil over good, he chose to assist in the demise of Harry, your best friend. It had nothing to do with you, it never did. Get over yourself already!

A knock sounded at her door, shaking her from her reverie. “Hermione?”

“Yes, Remus, come in.”

“Draco said you wished to speak to me?”

“Yes. Remus, I know this is asking a lot, but I was hoping you could do me a favor…”

“What is it, Hermione?” He sounded closer and put his hand on her shoulder to let her know where he was.

“Remus, could you take my parents to America? My mum has a friend there, they could stay with her. Her name is Rachelle Page, she lives in New York. They could continue their practice there; they’d never know the difference.”

She heard the older man breathe out through his nose. “Hermione, are you sure this is what you want?”

“It is.” The hand on her shoulder squeezed and she reached up and covered it with her own.

“Alright then. I’ll see to it personally.”

“Thank you. I can always count on you,” she said and sank into his body, giving him a strong hug. He hugged her back and Hermione thought about how much closer she’d grown to everyone in the last few years. They all knew it was a possibility that when someone left, there was a high chance you’d never see them again. So Hermione had let her cold demeanor go and opened her heart to every moment like now.

“Let’s get you back to headquarters,” Remus said and escorted her out and flooed with her back to The Burrow and then to headquarters from there. She was settled into a chair in the kitchen and endured the never ending parade of questions and reprimands and promises to never do what she did again and so on. Then Harry dragged her to the drawing for his own guilt trip, which worked incredibly well as it always did, until they were rudely interrupted.

“Ahem.”

Hermione sat up, pulling away from Harry’s embrace. She knew just by the change in the air who it was.

“May we help you, Malfoy?” she asked, maybe a little more coldly than was necessary.

“Kingsley wishes to speak to you, Potter,” he said, his voice hard and cold. Harry rubbed her shoulder and stood, Hermione reached up to have him help her to her feet.

“Hermione, why don’t you stay here and rest a bit. You’re still a little pale. Or would you rather go to your room?” Harry asked.

“No, I’ll go with you,” she said, feeling around at the edge of the couch for her walking stick.

“Sorry, Granger. Invitation only.”

“Anything he has to say to Harry he can say in front of me,” she snapped testily. When would Malfoy learn to just leave her alone?

“Hermione, he’s right. I won’t be long. Why don’t you just hang out here for a bit. Malfoy hasn’t had his exercises in a few days…”

Hermione clamped her teeth down so she didn’t reveal how much she wanted to hit her friend right at that moment. “I doubt very much that Malfoy wishes to-,”

“Actually, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to do some more work. If you’re feeling up to it, that is,” Malfoy implored. She could hear that sneer in his voice that he was trying to hide. Oh, how she wanted to repeat her third year bravery again. Too bad he was no longer the scrawny push-over he used to be.

“There, see? You’re needed here. I’ll be back as soon as I can. I have a few words to say to Lupin as well,” Harry growled, his voice changing, becoming rough and angry. And he’d used Remus’ last name. Something was wrong.

“Harry? What’s the matter?” she asked, her hand coming to his arm to feel the tension there. But his lips touched her forehead lightly and he pulled away from her.

“Nothing. Malfoy, I leave her in your hands.”

“I do not need to be babysat, Harry,” she snapped. But he said nothing. “Do you hear me?” Nothing. “Harry, I’m not incapacitated!” Still silence. “Harry James Potter! I will not be ignored!”

“He’s already left, Princess,” Draco drawled. “James, eh? I’ll have to remember that.”

“Oh, Malfoy, just leave me alone will you?” She reached down for her walking stick again when her arm was grabbed rather roughly and she was brought against the side of a chair and a hard chest. Her breath hitched when she felt Malfoy’s lips caress the skin just below her ear and her heart stuttered when he breathed into that sensitized canal.

“Stop pulling away from me, Granger. You know just as well as I do that you want nothing more at this moment for me to lick the hollow of your ear, to kiss down your neck and nibble to your lips. You’re growing heavy just thinking about it and I bet if I reach down to those panties of yours, you’d be soaking wet and ready for me. Wouldn’t you?”

Hermione’s entire body felt like molten lava, all hot and mushy and weak, her eyes rolled to the back of her head as his lips did just as he promised. She knew she should be pulling away, shouldn’t be allowing him to do this to her…but it felt so good…

“What part of that kiss has you so shook up?” he breathed before nipping the smooth skin in front of her ear and making her shiver, goosebumps erupting on her overly-sensitive skin. “The fact that it felt so right? Or that it was me who made you feel that way?”

Her knees grew weak and threatened to collapse beneath her as those damnable lips travelled her jaw lazily, each touch of them like electricity straight to her core. She’d never felt this way before, this aroused, this…right. That bastard was right. That was exactly how it felt.

Terrified, she ripped out of his loosened grasp but his Seeker reflexes gripped her before she could stumble backwards and fall onto the couch.

“You can’t ignore this forever, Hermione. Sooner or later you’re going to have to come to the realization that you want me as much as I want you.”

Her knees really did give out this time and she sank heavily onto the couch, her walking stick clattering to the floor. She ripped out of his hands and pulled herself up the back, clambering clumsily over and onto the floor on the other side, desperate for some distance from him.

He’d said her name. When had that ever happened? And the way it had sounded, so natural, so beautiful…her heart was pounding even now.

“Not the most graceful thing I’ve seen you do but it procured the desired effect, I suppose.” Hermione jumped and squealed when his voice was suddenly right next to her. “You can’t hide forever, Hermione.” Oh, her eyes rolled again. Why did her name sound so…sexual from him?

And then the air was free again and she could breathe. He’d left and Hermione sat up shakily, rubbing her sore hand where she was sure a raspberry had appeared from the floor.

“Hermione! Oh, Merlin, are you alright?” Ginny squealed.

“Yes, I’m fine. You seem to have a knack for catching me in these circumstances, however,” Hermione rasped, her voice not wanting to form apparently. She was still shaky from her encounter with Malfoy but she allowed Ginny to help her to the couch again.

“Draco said you fell and he couldn’t help you up,” she explained. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Just…stumbled.” She cleared her throat. What was wrong with her? Why did she sound so breathy all of the sudden? Every nerve in her body was on high alert so when Gin grabbed her hand to look at the damage she very nearly jumped out of her skin.

“Hermione, what happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Did you and Malfoy row again?”

“You could say that,” she lied.

“Or did he kiss you again?”

Hermione choked on her own spit and coughed. Gods, that girl could be blunt. While Ginny banged on her back she spoke:

“Hermione, I know he hurt you by leaving last time, but would it really be so bad to just give him another chance?”

“Yes, it would, and I’m not discussing this with you or anyone. There is nothing to discuss. Malfoy and I accept each other’s presence. Nothing more. Not now, not then, not ever. Nothing happened and nothing is going to happen. Now can we drop it?”

Ginny was silent for a minute before she couldn’t help herself anymore. She and Ron were so much alike sometimes.

“You have become accomplished at lying to yourself but you know how you feel. Nothing you tell yourself, or me for that matter, will stop it. You care for him, just as he cares for you.”

Hermione laughed harshly. “Malfoy doesn’t care for anyone but himself.”

“Oh, really? Is that why he offered himself up to his father in exchange for your safety? Is that why he was the one who dragged us all to Malfoy Manor to find you? Or why he was the only one who could tell that Voldemort had impersonated you? Is he so cold hearted that when everyone else was giving up he pulled me aside and helped me figure out where you might be? Or that he stormed into that house in front of me, crippled and all, to get you out?”

Hermione’s mind reeled. No one had told her what had happened after she’d left. She’d just assumed Remus had led the search like always…

“Hermione, when I got him back to headquarters and brought him around, he went mad. He screamed and screamed at me for leaving you there and was about to go back for you when you came.” Ginny’s warm hands grabbed her own freezing ones and Hermione could hear the change in her friend’s voice. “I don’t know how much you remember, but when you came back he made this sound, this wail, and he…Hermione, he moved his legs. He was trying to get to you so fast I don’t know if he realized…but his legs pushed him across the floor to get to you. He was there before I could even comprehend that you’d appeared. When he kissed you, Merlin, Hermione, you should have seen his face. And when you pulled away…he was devastated. I don’t know what’s been going on between you, but believe me, if you could see what I do, you wouldn’t be so hesitant about opening yourself up to him again.”

Hermione couldn’t take this anymore; she didn’t want to hear anymore. She didn’t want to hope, to wish…

She’d waited so long…

No, no, this was Malfoy. He didn’t care, her friend was just trying to make her feel better…he might want her, but not in the way that mattered. Her body wanted him, there was no denying it. But her mind had to be stronger. It was the only way she could get out of this damn war unscarred.

“Thank you, Ginny, but I think you got the wrong impression from both of us. That kiss you saw was nothing more than a rush of adrenaline and we understand that. There is nothing happening between Malfoy and myself. Now, if you will please excuse me, I have things to do.”

Hermione didn’t know why she was lying to Ginny about this. She’d never lied to her about anything, but this…she was being silly. Hermione knew she was making a bigger deal out of all this than there was. Ginny was prone to dramatics, just like the rest of her family. Hermione was realistic, down to earth. She was able to differentiate between truth and fiction.

Wasn’t she?

Great, now she doubted her own sanity. Bully for Malfoy for creating this mess. Oh, she could just kill him!

Hermione stood and made her way to the door by memory, Ginny, intelligently, said nothing and allowed her to make her way to her bedroom alone where she sank onto her bed. Curling into a ball, she brought her pillow to her chest and hugged it as she used to hug her Raggedy Ann doll when she was little. She felt empty and alone…How had she allowed Malfoy to wrap her into knots like this? And was Ginny right? Did he feel something?

Now you’re just being ridiculous, she scolded herself. You’re a Mudblood, he’s a Death Eater. His father tried to kill your parents. He hates everything that you are. Period.

But what had Ginny said about his legs? They’d moved? Did this mean he was healing? He needed to be working them constantly then to keep them improving.

And he can’t do that without help, she reminded herself. She groaned aloud, burying her head in her pillow. Why her? Why did she have to help him?

Because everyone else is busy helping the Order, she reminded herself, remembering how useless she was and how much trouble she was being. She punched the pillow several times and rolled onto her back, bringing the pillow with her and screaming into it, the sound muffled. Gods, this was so unfair!

Suck it up, Granger! You’re a Gryffindor. So what if he wants you? He a male, a Slytherin male at that. His reputation with the ladies preceded him and she was the only female his age around. Of course he would start to want her, no matter how ugly she was. He was just desperate at this point. But if she could stave off Ron’s advances, she could most certainly hold back Malfoy.

Hermione sat up and took a deep breath, resolved. She would treat this situation in a mature fashion. Malfoy needed help to begin walking again and she was the prime candidate to help him get there. So what if he’d kissed her? Big deal. Like she’s told Ginny, it was simply adrenaline and fear and a very big mistake.

Standing, she went to her door and started across the hall to Malfoy’s room but stopped when she heard voices. She knew it was rude to listen and she almost turned back to her room but when she heard her name she crept forward, putting out a hand on the door and leaning in to better hear, wishing she had a pair of Extendable Ears.

“-doesn’t need to know….good would it do?” Ginny’s voice said. Hermione could only hear bits and pieces but enough that she could put two and two together.

“…know that…safe around here! Not if…hand her over…he didn’t even try!”

“Draco, keep your voice down!”

“What does it matter?” he thundered. Now she didn’t need the Extendable Ears at all, he was yelling loud enough to shake the rafters. “He would have left her there! You were there, you saw, you know how he reacted later! They didn’t even try! It’s a crock!”

“I know, I hate it too but there had to be a reason-,”

“Reason, my arse! Don’t you dare side with him as well!”

“I’m not! But I’m also not going to jump to conclusions! What she did was dangerous; it put us all in jeopardy. You know I would risk everything for her, Kenneth gave his life! All I’m saying is that Lupin must have had a reason for choosing as he did!”

Hermione had had enough. She knocked loudly on the door and heard Malfoy curse. When the door opened she heard Ginny gasp.

“Mind telling me what’s going on?” she asked, her heart pounding. She had no idea what they were talking about, but she wanted to know. Now.

“It’s nothing, Hermione. We were just having a little row-,”

“Gin, stop. I heard enough to know that this wasn’t just a row. I’m blind, not deaf. Harry was angry with Remus and now you two are going off on him. Why?”

Hermione steeled herself for the worst when a long pause followed her demand.

“Come on in, Granger. Take a seat. This could take a while.”

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XOXO

RynStar15

yourcookiedoughbaby@yahoo.com