Stolen Innocence

This chapter shall be dedicated to Dee because she is my loser && she got hurt, so hopefully this makes her feel better ^-^

Chapter Thirteen

Hermione was sitting alone in Study Hall, reading over her notes from Potions. She could feel Draco's protective gaze on her, but she didn't dare look back.

The two had come to a silent agreement of sorts. They aknowledged each other in the halls with a small nod or smile, but they did not talk. Draco kept watch over her in class, but he did not sit with her. This plan was working well, it made Hermione feel safe, and did not draw attention to their growing friendship.

Hermione was nearly finished touching up her notes, when she felt the prescence of someone behind her. Fearing it was Ron, (who hadn't spoken to her since they'd broken up two weeks before) she didn't turn around. She kept her head in her books, ignoring whoever it was.

The person stood there, watching her read. Eventually they sat down and Hermione had no choice but to face them. She let out an annoyed sigh and turned to see a concerned Harry sitting beside her.

"Oh, Harry, I didn't see you there." She said, faking suprise. Harry hadn't really talked to her lately, she hadn't given him the chance. She knew he'd probably heard Ron's side of the story, so he'd obviously take his side. She just hadn't been in the mood to have him lecture her.

"Hermione, we need to talk." He told her, his voice urgent. She felt a twinge of guilt at the look on his face.

"Then talk." She said, marking her page and closing her books.

"Um, alright." He replied, looking around to be sure no one would over hear. She watched him catch Draco's gaze and give him a rude look. She wanted to tell him not to, but that would only cause trouble. She was supposed to hate him, after all.

"Well, it's just, something's been going on with you," He started, noticably uneasy. 'Well spotted,' Hermione thought to herself. "I mean, you've been acting really weird. First you start to avoid Ron, then you just stop talking in class, next you broke up with Ron for no reason and now you're outright avoiding me." He paused to allow her to comment, but when she didn't, he continued.

"I know something's been going on. You're acting so different and you even look different. I just wish you would talk to me. I mean, we've been friends for seven years now, it hurts to think that you can't talk to me." He told her, causing her eyes to glaze over with tears. She bit her lip, willing the unshed tears to disapear.

"Of course I can talk to you, Harry," She said, putting a hand ontop of his. "I'm sorry for how I've been acting, I just have so much going on right now with NEWTs coming up and my Head Girl duties."

"Hermione, you've always been busy, but you've never been so busy that you've cut me out of your life like you're doing now. Why won't you just talk to me and tell me what's wrong?"

"I'm fine, Harry, I swear." She lied, trying her best to make him believe her.

"No, no you're not!" He half shouted, earning him some looks. "Stop lying to me Hermione."

"Don't you try to tell me how I feel." She said, becoming annoyed.

"Well then why don't you tell me, and honestly this time." He said, anger evident in his voice, but he held it in, feigning calmness.

"Just drop it, okay Harry?" She said, gathering her things. She needed to get away from him before he got it out of her. She didn't want him to know, he'd think she was weak.

"No Hermione, I won't." She put her books in her bag and went to stand up, but Harry grabbed her arm. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Draco tense up, his eyes having never left the two.

"Let go of me." Hermione said, fear building up inside her at the touch. She could feel herself start to panic, feel her heart begin to race as she helplessly tugged at her arm.

"It's Malfoy, isn't it?" Harry asked, talking fast, aware that they were now the centre of attention. She kept tugging, trying to break free of his grasp. "Ron told me he'd messed with your head, but I never believed it until now."

"Harry, let go of me!" She shouted, pulling her arm free. She grabbed her bag and stormed out the hall, glancing over at Draco who had stood up during the little row. She gave him a look to tell him she was alright, then made her way to her dorm.

Hermione said the password and ran into the Heads' Quarters. She threw her bag down and collapsed on the couch, greatful that Harry didn't know where her new dorms were.

She sat there, trying to catch her breath and calm herself down. She didn't know why having Harry touch her made her panic so bad. Draco touched her all the time and it never bothered her. It scared her to think she was that afraid of her best friend.

She knew she should have told him what was going on, he had every right to know. But something inside Hermione wouldn't let the words come out.

And then he mentioned Draco, causing something inside her to boil up. How dare he blame Draco, the one and only person that who had been there for her through this whole thing. Harry had no clue how much the supposed Death Eater had helped her.

She sat there, waiting for Study Hall to be over, knowing full well that Draco would come to check on her. Right on que, he walked through the door, throwing his book bag aside and rushing over to her.

"You okay?" He asked, sitting down beside her. She gave him a weak smile.

"I'm fine, I just over reacted." She told him. He let out a small sigh of relief.

"What did he say to you?" Draco asked after a while.

"Just that he was worried about me and wanted to know what's been going on." Hermione said.

"I'm guessing you didn't tell him." He replied.

"Of course not!" She said, a note of outrage in her voice. "I can't tell Harry!"

"Why not? He's your friend, isn't he?" He asked with a confused expression.

"Yes, but-"

"But what? The two of you have been friends for how long and you keep something like this from him?" Draco said, raising his voice slightly.

"I can't tell him!" Hermione yelled, standing up. She didn't want to admit why. Why couldn't he just leave it alone?

"And why not? Are you afraid he might actually be able to help you? Or is it because he'll finally realize you're not the perfect witch you make yourself out to be?" He shouted back, hitting her where it hurts.

"I never said I was perfect!" Hermione replied, a look of shock on her face.

"Yes, but that is what you want everyone to think. Perfect fucking Hermione. You want them to think you have it all." He spat as tears began to well in her eyes. His words hurt, stinging her heart.

"You shut your mouth! You have obsolutely no clue what you're talking about." She shouted, her voice wavering with emotion.

"Are you sure? Because I think I'm dead on." Draco told her, his voice as cold as ice.

"Well you're not, okay?" Hermione said, dropping onto the couch as the tears began to stream down her face.

"Oh shit." Draco said, sitting back down on the couch as well. He tried to wrap his arms around her, but she pushed him away.

"Don't touch me." She said coldly, her body shaking with every sob.

"No, Hermione, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." He told her quickly, desperation in his voice.

"Yes you did." Hermione cried, covering her face with her hands. She was ashamed of her tears and how many times he'd seen them in such a short time.

"No I didn't. I'm sorry, I got mad, I didn't realize what I was saying." He said, again trying to get close to her. She moved as far over as she could on the couch.

"Is that what you all think of me? You think I'm putting on some kind of act to impress you all?" She asked through her tears, sobbing with every word.

"Uhh, well..." He stammered, looking anywhere but at the crying girl.

"Well that's not how it is!" She shouted, looking at him with angry eyes filled with tears. "I don't need to impress any of you."

"I know that-"

"No you don't! You don't know anything about me!"

"Well I would if you just opened up to me!" Draco shouted back.

"Maybe I don't want to open up to you!" She spat. "And why would you want me to anyway? I'm nothing but a bloody charity case to you."

"No you're not, why would you think that?" He asked, hurt.

"Hmm, I don't know," She said, pretending to think, her voice getting colder with every sentence she spoke. "Something a little fishy about Draco Malfoy, son of a well known Death Eater, who for the last six years has been trying fruitfully to make me believe that I am walking scum suddenly trying to help me out with my issues."

"It's not like that, I've changed!" He said defensively.

"I highly doubt that." Hermione said, the tears suddenly gone.

"See, there you go again. You think you've got me all figured out, don't you?" Draco shouted, anger growing in his voice.

"It's not very hard when you strut around Hogwarts like you're king shit." She told him, glaring daggers.

"Well you're wrong. Maybe I was actually trying to be nice." Hermione let out a cold laugh.

"You, nice? Don't make me laugh."

"Why do you have to be so fucking difficult?" Draco said through gritted teeth and a clenched jaw. His hands were balled into fists at his sides.

"Why do you have to be such a git?" She asked, rising from her seat and making her way up to her room.

She heard Draco let out a yell, then heard his fist connect with the wall followed by a lot of cursing. She gave a weak smile, then fell down to the floor as the sobs started up again.

Why must she push everyone who cares anything about her away? Why couldn't she just let Draco help her?

To Be Continued...

There we go, I've finally finished this chapter. It's nice and long too, so hopefully youu all like it. Thnxx goes out to:

-angelnomiko, in good time it will happen.

-Britt, here's more for youu.

-catysmom, here's your update.

-xwritexorxdiex, I'm happy youu like it so much.

-alice, will do, sorry I haven't checked it out yet, I've been getting these terrible migraines during the week && on weekends I'm never home anymore, but I'll be sure to check it out soon.

-sticky, they'll get together soon, I'm sorry it's taking so long for them to get together, I just want to make it realistic. There will be some smut in the next chapter though, I promise.

All my reviewers rock. Oh yess, and thnxx also to Dee for reading this story as well. i'm very happy at all the positive feedback I've been getting. If more people review, I'll be sure to update as soon as I can.

Much Love...

XXX

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