Beautiful Disaster

Beautiful Disaster - Chapter 21

A/N: Thanks to the lovely kazfiest for betaing!

He looked over at his companion for the day, his fellow head, and sighed. He felt the day could have been much better spent wrapped up in his warm bed with Hermione beside him. Had it not been a Hogsmeade weekend he would have seen to it that his dream had become a reality. Instead, he and Padma had to see that all students that were attending Hogsmeade were on their way. It had been her suggestion that they actually formed a united front and show the school that they could work together. He thought the plan was bollocks, but after a bit of prodding from Hermione in private he'd relented and agreed to this rather horrible plan.

He and Padma had nothing in common. No interests or classes that would give them a topic of discussion. Instead, she walked beside him and kept casting glances over at him. He knew the effects of the Veela charm, and that despite herself, she would be more than willing to whatever he came up with. That held no enjoyment for him at all. All he wanted was Hermione and she was off doing whatever it was she, Potter, and Weasley did on Hogsmeade weekends. He frowned as they finally reached the Three Broomsticks. Her entire day idea was going to be the death of him.

They were stopped from entering, however when Draco suddenly felt a horrible crushing ache in his stomach and nearly fell to the ground, his hand on the door the only thing that kept him upright. Padma looked at him concerned as he doubled over. "Malfoy, are you okay?" she asked concerned.

He tried to stand up straight, but found it nearly impossible. He managed to lean back against the building and take several deep breaths. He was about to say something when someone suddenly rushed into the street screaming for help. He spotted Draco and Padma and rushed to them. "Come quick! Someone attacked Hermione Granger!" he panted. Draco then realized the cause of the pain and did his best to surpress it so he could run and find out what happened. He nodded to the boy. "Show us," he said, holding the pain down as best he could.

Padma and Draco followed closely until they came to the fence near the Shrieking Shack and saw her laying in what appeared to be a pool of blood with students around her. Draco nearly vomited as he saw blood pouring out of her mouth, nose, eyes, and ears. There was a group of students gathered around her and Draco frowned. "Did anyone see what happened?"

They all shook their heads. Padma knealt beside Hermione. "Go find a Professor. Immediately."

Draco stared in horror at the sight in front of him. He knealt beside her on the opposite side as Padma. The blood didn't seem to be stopping and it only made him nauseous. He sought out their bond and found her, weak though it was. He held onto it, hoping to reassure her that she would be fine. Truth of the matter was, he wasn't sure if she would be.

Padma removed a handkerchief from her pocket and used her wand to wet it and tried to wipe some of the blood from her face, only to find that she was smearing it. It was only a few seconds later that they were joined by McGonagall, Snape, and Hagrid.

"Wha' appened?" the giant asked.

Everyone looked up at them except Draco. "We don't know."

"Did Malfoy do this?" McGonagall asked, weary of his presence beside her best student.

Padma shook her head. "No. We had just arrived when we were told of her attack."

Snaped had pushed Padma aside and was examining her. "We need to get her to the infirmary immediately. Minerva, you should portkey with her. I'll interrogate the students."

McGonagall nodded and used the emergency portkey to transport the girl. The remaining students looked around. "Now," Snape's voice interrupted their thoughts, "what happened?" he asked coldly.

One of the younger students answered. "We don't know sir. We were walking up here to take a look at the place. And we found her."

"And then what did you do? How long did you stand around looking at her before you decided to get help?"

"I went immediately, sir," said the student who had found Padma and Draco.

"And you found the two Head students?"

"Yes."

"Miss Patil and Mister Malfoy, can you fill in what happened once you were found?"

Padma again spoke up, answering for both of them. "We had just arrived at the Three Broomsticks when he found us and told us what happened. We came immediately and I sent one of the students to find a professor."

"Did either of you notice anything suspicious?"

Draco shook his head. "No, sir."

"Very well." Snape turned to Hagrid. "I would advise that you find Potter and Weasley and tell them what happened. The rest of you, get back to your weekend and stay away from this place until we're able to investigate."

The students began walking away, Draco still feeling pain coursing throughout his body and nearly couldn't walk. Snape's voice haulted him. "Mister Malfoy, I would like a word with you." Draco stopped and waited for everyone to get out of view before he fell to his knees and clutched his torso and Snape dropped beside him. "When did you feel the pain start?"

Draco choked out a breath as he looked at him. "I don't know. About...five minutes before the boy found us." He shook his head. "It's awful!"

He put a hand on Draco's shoulder. "Do you need to go to the infirmary?"

He shook his head. "For what reason? There's nothing physically wrong with me." He frowned. "No, I just need to get to her."

Snape shook his head. "That's impossible for the moment. You can't be seen hovering over her by anyone or you could blow everything," he whispered. "I suggest if you don't want medical treatment that we get you back to your room to rest."

Draco reluctantly nodded, finding the pain very compelling to do as his Head of House requested. Snape helped him stand and they made their way, slowly, to the carriages. Draco sat silently across from the older man, all the time clinging to his bond with Hermione. He could feel, not only her fear, but her pain as well, and he reached out, trying to reassure her that everything would be okay. Truth was, he wasn't sure it would be. He only hoped that Madam Pomfrey was able to figure out what happened to her and heal her.

As they reached the castle, Snape escorted Draco to his room. Once inside, Draco collapsed in one of the high back chairs, unable to make it much further. Snape stood beside him, staring at the young man. "Any idea who would have done this to Miss Granger?"

Draco only shook his head as he winced. "Any number of Death Eaters could want her dead..."

Snape shook his head at that. "I think they would be much more prone to taking her in order to lure Potter. Injuring her and leaving her seems much more calculated than that."

Draco was having a hard time processing what he was saying. "Meaning?"

"I think it was personal."

Draco stared at Snape for a moment before taking a deep breath as the pain began to ebb and relief flooded him. "You think it was a student," he said softly.

"I do."

Draco shook his head. "Most of the students like her."

"Right. Most of them do. But there is a small minority..."

"Slytherins? You think someone in our house did this?"

"I think it's highly likely, Mister Malfoy," Dumbledore said from the entrance of Draco's common room. He closed the portrait behind him and moved to sit in the chair facing Draco. "The attack was personal. Death Eaters would have killed her immediately or taken her and used her as bait for Mister Potter."

Draco shook his head. "I don't think that they're capable of doing this."

"Don't you? Think of your own friends. Their dislike of Miss Granger is well known," Snape said softly. "I believe it could have been one of them."

He shook his head, unable to believe that one of them would do such a thing. He realized, however, that they may be right. It was a hard concept to grasp that the people he'd grown up with, considered his best mates, would do something so horrendous to someone.

Draco finally sighed as he looked at the Headmaster. "How is she?"

He smiled. "She's doing very well. Pomfrey was able to stop the bleeding almost immediately, but I believe she was still in a great deal of pain. I left when Misters Potter and Weasley arrived."

He frowned. "When can I see her?"

At this, Dumbledore and Snape shared a look, which greatly confused Draco until the Headmaster addressed him once more. "I'm afraid I can not permit you to see her, Draco."

"Why not?" he asked, although, he had a very good idea of the reason.

"Come now, Draco. You're an intelligent young man. I'm sure you can think of at least a dozen reasons."

Draco stood and began pacing. "I'll go crazy if I can't see her."

Dubledore remained sitting and shook his head. "I have a much more important task for you." He folded his arms over his chest as he waited for the Headmaster to continue. "I want you to listen and see if you can discover who it was that did this. I'm sure whoever it was will want to brag eventually. All it would take would be a hearty congratulations or a complete put down of what they'd done to get the culprit to confess to their crimes."

He titled his head. "And then what? Run and tell you and have everyone in Slytherin know I'm a traitor."

"Draco, our investigation will turn something else. All we need is a confirmation."

He frowned. "I'm betraying my friends..."

"One of which, I believed, hurt Hermione," Dumbledore said softly.

He frowned then nodded, taking in the headmaster's words. "Fine. I'll ask around." He took a seat once more, feeling both physically and emotionally drained and knew that the only remedy was being able to see Hermione. "You're certain I can't see her? Later tonight. I don't care when, I just..."

Dumbledore shook his head. "I can't permit it. Should someone discover you it would be catastrophic."

Snape looked at Draco. "It's for the best."

"That's easy for you to say," he nearly growled. He was already developing ways of sneaking out of his room to check on her. He had a feeling that even thinking such a thing in front other two may not be wise as they both seemed to be able to read his thoughts. Instead he searched out his bond with Hermione. She was still afraid, and he felt that it was only natural after being attacked, but he also felt her reassurance that she was, in fact, fine.

"Well," Dumbledore said as he stood. "Severus and I shall leave you. Try to find out what you can about Miss Granger's attack."

Draco nodded and watched as they both left. He heaved a sigh and stared into the fire, wishing more than anything that he could see Hermione.

--------

Harry stared at his ginger-haired friend as he paced back and forth. He'd been watching this going on twenty minutes and it was starting to grate on his nerves. "Ron. Stop pacing."

Ron looked up at Harry and frowned. "How can you be so calm?"

He shook his head. "Who said I'm calm? Wearing a hole in the floor isn't going to make everything better. Besides, you're driving me crazy with the pacing."

Ron leaned against the wall outside the infirmary and stared at his friend. "Who do you think did this?"

He shrugged. "It could be anyone."

"But who do you think did it?"

Harry tilted his head for a moment as he stared at Ron. "I really don't know. Who do you think did it?"

"Off the top of my head? Malfoy and his cronies."

Harry shook his head. "It's not Malfoy's style."

"Come on, Harry. He once wished her dead, he hates her and her bloodline..."

"If it were him he would have attacked her long before now. He's had ample opportunity."

This seemed to make Ron angry. "You're defending him?"

Harry rolled his eyes and sighed. "Believe me, defending Malfoy is the last thing I want to do. But you heard Hagrid; he was with Padma when she was attacked."

"That doesn't mean he didn't put someone up to it."

Harry shook his head. "I don't think it was Malfoy, Ron. There is just nothing...provoking it. I'll say this about Malfoy, he doesn't initiate, he retaliates. This is vicious and evil, which I'm sure he's capable of being, but this just doesn't...feel like him."

Ron blinked several times at Harry before starting to pace again. Harry only frowned at that. Given the information that Hermione had told him only a few short weeks ago, he found it hard to believe that Malfoy could do such a thing to Hermione. He was sure that Malfoy finding Hermione in her condition had to be hard for him to take.

The door to the Infirmary opened and Madam Pomfrey exited with McGonagall. "She's asking for you two."

Ron nearly knocked the two of them over in his haste to get to her bedside. Harry followed as quickly but allowed the two women to move from the doorway first. He took a seat on the foot of her bed as Ron had pulled the chair up beside her. "How are you feeling?"

She shrugged as she looked down at her hands. "About as well as you'd expect."

Ron looked to Harry before looking to Hermione once more. "Did you see who did it?"

She shook her head as she locked eyes with the two boys, both startled to see that the whites of her eyes weren't white, but red. She could see the look on both of their faces as she covered her face and a soft sob escaped. "Madam Pom-omfrey says that it will eventually wear away, but that they'll be red for sometime," she said with a sniff and removed her hands.

"What were you doing by the Shrieking Shack?" Ron asked. "I thought we were going to meet by the bookstore."

She shrugged. "I don't know. I don't remember walking up there."

Harry frowned. "What do you remember?"

She sighed. "I remember helping one of the third years find his friends; he was rather distraught that he was alone, and the next thing I know, I'm here."

"Did you see anyone before hand? Anyone that could have done this to you?"

She shook her head. "No."

Ron looked to Harry, then blurted out his thinking from earlier. "I think Malfoy had someone do it."

Hermione turned brown on red eyes to Ron and shook her head. "It wasn't Malfoy," she said softly.

"You said yourself that you didn't..."

"It wasn't him, Ron. Trust me, he had nothing to do with this. And he wouldn't put someone up to hurting me."

Ron looked back and forth between his two friends both who weren't looking him in the eye. "What's going on here that I don't know about?"

Harry shook his head. "Nothing."

Hermione looked to Harry and frowned. "Actually," she started.

"Ah, Miss Granger," the voice of Dumbledore interrupted a conversation she'd been dreading. She was a bit relieved that she wouldn't have to deal with Ron's temper so soon after being attacked. She wasn't sure she could handle another go of any kind today. "It's good to see that you're doing better."

She nodded and turned eyes that she assumed would startle him as they had her friends. But he didn't so much as blink at the difference. "Thank you."

"I would like a word with you privately, please."

Ron and Harry left, Ron throwing a last, hurtful look back at Hermione before he left. Hermione looked at the professor and sighed. "Thank you again, Professor."

He smiled and took the seat Ron had vacated. "Let's discuss what happened. Can you go over it for me, please?"

She sighed and told Dumbledore what she'd told Harry and Ron. He seemed concerned that she didn't remember how she had arrived at the Shrieking Shack. "Miss Granger, think very carefully. Do you remember a voice, a face, a lone dark figure?"

She concentrated for a moment and tried to remember, and then it came to her, a voice. "A female's voice."

Dumbledore nodded. "Did you hear what she said?"

"‘Mudblood’. She said ‘Mudblood’," she answered softly.

"Anything after that?"

She shook her head. "No, Professor."

He nodded and frowned. "We now have more than we did." He tilted his head. "I believe your friends will want to see you once more," he said as he stood.

"Actually, Professor, could you tell them I've gone to sleep?" He nodded and began to leave. "Professor, have you...have you seen Draco?"

He turned and nodded. "I have."

"Can he...can he see me?"

He shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't permit it. I've explained it to Draco, much to his displeasure, that it would engender catastrophic results if he was discovered with you."

She frowned. "I understand," she said as she lay back against her pillow and cast her eyes up to the heavens.

He nodded. "I knew you would. Get some rest, Miss Granger."

She rolled to her side and smiled as she felt Draco's reassuring presence through their bond. He was trying to comfort her the best he could without actually seeing her, and it made her feel better than any medical remedy. If she knew Draco, she knew she would see him later.

-------

It was well after midnight. In fact, the entire castle seemed to be consumed with sleep. Except for him. He was determined to see Hermione and he wouldn't let anything stand in his way.

He crept into the Infirmary, Madam Pomfrey having left to find her own bed. He walked along the aisle until he found her softly sleeping. He smiled, happy to see that she was okay. He moved to sit beside her on the bed and brushed her hair back from her face. She caught his hand in hers and smiled, her eyes still closed as she said, "I knew you'd come eventually."

He shrugged even though she couldn't see it with her eyes still closed. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," she answered. "I need to tell you something."

He nodded. "You can tell me anything."

"Madam Pomfrey healed everything, but my eyes are going to take some time to get back to normal."

He tilted his head at her as she sat up and kept her head down. "Hermione," he started until she lifted her head and looked at him. His face hardened at the sight before him and she squeezed his hand. "I'll find who did this."

She shook her head and wrapped her arms around him. "For right now, hold me?"

He wrapped his arms around her and brushed his fingers through her hair. "I wanted to see you sooner," he whispered.

She inhaled his scent and clung to him a little tighter. "It wasn't safe. It still isn't safe for you to be here."

He shook his head. "I don't care. I...I didn't want to be away from you."

She smiled. "I asked to see you."

He kissed the side her head and he pulled back a bit. "When do you think you'll be released?"

She dropped her hands to her lap and he took them immediately into his. She then shrugged. "Not sure. She could release me tomorrow or keep me here until this," she said pointing to her eyes, "goes away."

"Do you know who did it?"

She shook her head. "But it was a female. I heard her voice."

He sighed. If it was a member of his house, that narrowed it down considerably. He looked down at their hands and frowned. "I've been going out of my mind wanting to see you."

She gave a soft smile. "I know. I could...feel it, as strange as that is."

He nodded as he looked at her. "Don't go anywhere by yourself."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to let this stop me from living my life."

He scowled. "There's living your life and there is being foolish."

She tilted her head at that, his extreme change in temper so quickly. "Draco, I won't be held in a cage. But, fine, I'll be more careful."

He sighed. "I'm not trying to hold you in a cage. I want to protect you. I never...want to feel your pain again."

She bit her lip then. "You felt it?"

He nodded. "Of course."

She shook her head. "I don't want to talk about this anymore."

He smiled. "What would you like to talk about?"

She sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder as his hand stroked over her back. "Nothing."

He frowned. "I can't stay much longer." She nodded, but showed no sign of moving. "If you're released tomorrow come to my room for a bit."

She smiled. "Why would I do a thing like that?"

He smiled and shrugged. "I'd like to see for myself that everything was as I left it," he said with a chuckle.

She hit him playfully on the arm and hugged him once more. "I promise," she said softly.

He kissed her gently as his thumb stroked over her cheek. "I'll see you later," he said, leaving one last kiss on her nose before he left. Hermione gave a dreamy sigh as she leaned back against her pillow, she rolled to her side and closed her eyes, knowing she would have a restful nights sleep with Draco's scent around her.

-------

Draco sat in his personal common room and stared into the fire. It had been three days since he'd seen Hermione and he was going out of his mind with wanting to see her. He'd exercised restraint, however, and kept away, not wanting to be found out. But in doing so, he was left miserable. His feelings for his witch had grown into something so strong and powerful that it often times seemed to consume him.

He leaned his head back and sighed when the portrait to his room opened and Hermione stepped through. He stood immediately and moved to her as she closed it. He lifted her off her feet and hugged her tightly. "When were you released?" He asked as he set her back on her feet.

She smiled at how happy he was to see her and looked up at him. "This afternoon. Harry and Ron have been keeping me to themselves since. I finally managed to convince Harry that I needed to see you and for him to cover for me."

He smiled. "Then I suppose I owe Potter," he said as he pulled her a bit tighter against him. "I'm so happy to see you."

She grinned as she pulled back from him and manoeuvred him towards his room. "Come on, we don't have a lot of time," she said as she leaned up to kiss him.

He leaned into the kiss as his hands made very quick work of removing her robe. He lifted her off her feet once more as she wrapped her legs around his waist and moved to the nearest wall. His lips moved over her neck as he thrust against her, trying to get a bit of relief. He groaned against her skin. "Gods, I love you," he grunted and he felt her stiffen against him and looked up at her. "What?"

"What did you just say?" she asked, her eyes wide and her face flushed.

He thought back for a moment. "Oh, that."

She untangled herself from him. "Yes, that. Do you?"

He looked at the top button of her blouse and then her eyes. "Yes."

She didn't do anything for a long moment then she smiled and he was amazed by how it seemed to light up the entire room. She leaned up on her toes and threw her arms around him as she kissed him.

He pushed her back against the wall once more as his hands began to roam over her body. "Do you?" he asked as he pulled back a bit. He wanted her to look him in the eye, but was also afraid of her rejection. Instead he focused on her mouth, which seemed to be much safer at the moment.

She nodded and whispered, "Yes."

At that he stepped back, took her hand, and pulled her into his room. He made quick work of the buttons on her blouse and tossed the garment to the floor. She sat back on the bed and she pulled him over her. "I wish we had all night," she said softly as he began making his way down her body.

He smiled. "I think Potter would have some sort of fit if you didn't return promptly," he said as he licked at the skin between her breasts.

She stroked her fingers through his hair. "Let's not talk about Harry right now."

He nibbled along her flat stomach and grinned. "Your wish," he said softly as he moved back up to place a kiss on her lips.

--------

Hermione returned to the Gryffindor common room an hour later and couldn't wipe the smile off her face. Harry was seated at a table beside the window when she walked in, only a few other students were scattered throughout the room and she was thankful for that. She joined Harry at the table who gave her a small smile. "What?"

She only shrugged. "He loves me."

He nodded. "Ah." He was quiet for a moment and frowned. "I don't suppose he knows who it was that attacked you?"

She shook her head. "But he is going to work on finding out."

He leaned back in his chair and lay his quill on his parchment. "Ron was looking for you."

She furrowed his brow. "What did you tell him?"

He shrugged. "That you had to tutor a Ravenclaw and you said that it was important that you keep the appointment."

She smiled. "Thank you. I know this must be hard..."

"It is. I don't like lying to Ron. You need to tell him. Soon."

She sighed. "I started to, in the Infirmary, but Dumbledore walked in."

He shook his head. "It's not going to go very well when you finally do. He's going to be angry."

She shrugged. "What can I do about it, Harry? This is my life. After months of knowing about this and getting to know him, I've accepted it. I love him. I can't...help it." She frowned. "Don't you think I would if I could?"

He nodded. "Maybe he'll be reasonable. But I think for that to happen, you have to tell him. Don't let him find out like I did. I don't think he would be quite as calm."

She shook her head. "Definitely not."

He frowned. "The new spells you showed me, where did you find them? I haven't seen a single book with one of them."

She raised an eyebrow. "A reliable source."

"So, he's supplying you with spell books?"

"Not him, his father."

Harry stared at her for a moment before he said, "What?"

"He gave me a book full..."

"You took a book from him? After what happened to Ginny?"

She rolled her eyes. "Harry, relax. I told you everything. Why can't you believe what I'm telling you?"

"Because I remember the past. I don't trust him."

She shrugged. "I don't either. But I trust Dumbledore. And if Dumbledore can trust him, then I think we should."

He shook his head and sighed. "Anyway, about the spells. They're pretty intense."

"That's the idea. I was told that you need to be able to take control in the attack and not just be defending yourself but actually able to inflict harm of your own."

He nodded. "Not a bad plan."

She smiled. "I didn't think so. Look, you have every reason not to trust them as history has proven that we shouldn't. But you trust me, so believe me when I say that they are not our enemies."

He sighed. "Fine."

"Thank you." She stood. "I'm going to head up to bed. It's been a long day."

He nodded. "See you later. I'm glad to see your eyes have cleared up."

She let out slight grunt and nodded. "Me too. Good night."

"Night."

-------

Ron and Hermione made their way to the Prefects meeting in comfortable silence. Padma greeted them at the door with a bright smile and a hug for Hermione. "I'm so glad you're alright."

Hermione smiled. "Thanks to your quick thinking."

She shrugged and Ron left the two in the hallway. "Well, Draco wasn't doing much to help. He looked sort of...paralyzed."

She shrugged as well. "It might have been the blood."

"Well, I'm just happy that the professors actually listened to me. Professor McGonagall thought he had done it."

She furrowed his brow. "House fighting, I suppose."

She nodded. "Anyway, go on and have a seat. We'll get started in a minute."

Hermione walked into the room and tried to fight off the blush that started to creep onto her face at seeing Draco after his confession earlier in the week. He was seated in his usual place at the table, but had a book open in front of him and looked up briefly as she walked in. She took a seat beside Ron who was busy chatting with one of the Hufflepuffs when the door closed and Padma moved to the front of the room to sit beside Draco.

He closed his book and looked around the room and tried not to smile at the blush on Hermione's face. He turned to Padma and nodded for her to begin. "We'll be discussing the Leaving Feast preparations."

Hermione removed a quill and piece of parchment as she always took diligent notes in the meetings. Besides Padma, she was usually the only one. Padma nodded her head to Draco for him to begin. "We decided that we'd like a little something different this year. It has been the same since we've been here and frankly I'd like a little more of a celebration for our leaving. So, Padma and I came up with the idea of a ball."

Several of the girls in the group let out little yelps of happiness but they were quickly quieted by a look from Draco. "So, we're going to form different committees, with Padma and I either both over them or one of us individually. Now, we'll open the floor for suggestions of committees."

Pansy raised her hand. "Entertainment, of course."

Padma nodded. "Excellent. Next?" she said as she wrote the suggestion down. When all was said and done, they had around six different committees and Padma had laid out parchment for each person to sign up when the meeting was concluded.

"Next order of business," Padma began, "is security. After the brutal attack on a student, the professors have increased security around the castle. Aurors are watching Hogsmeade and a few of the outlying areas, but they want us to be especially on guard. We'll be doing rounds together; we will no longer be splitting up and taking different areas singularly, but always with someone. The curfew has been shortened for everyone to be in their common rooms by nine. Prefects have until eleven to complete their rounds."

Draco did his best not to allow his mind to wander, but upon seeing Hermione diligently taking notes with the briefest hint of thigh showing as she scratched her leg was leaving him decidedly distracted. He was brought out of his thoughts as students began coming up front to sign their names onto committees. He sat beside Padma and waited for everyone to file out before he started collecting the parchment. He handed it to her and she sighed. "So, I have a question to ask you, one that's been bothering me since Hermione was attacked."

He didn't look at her as he retrieved his cloak. "What's that?"

"Do you have a thing for Hermione?"

He whipped his head over to look at her. "What?"

"Well, I won't tell anyone if you do. But I've noticed that you stare at her and your reaction the other day when we found her hurt..." she shrugged. "It would make sense."

He furrowed his brow as he stared at her for a moment. "Have you lost it? Granger?"

She smiled. "That wasn't a 'no'. Besides, I was just going to make a suggestion. A warning, really. If I noticed, then I'm sure others have noticed."

He tilted his head at her and used his wand to shut the door and secure the room. "Noticed that I stare or noticed something else?"

"A little of both. I’ve noticed that you've been assigning yourself and Hermione rounds at the same time, tutoring students together. I'm probably the only one that notices that, as I am the only one other than you that has access to everyone's schedules." She tilted her head. "So, is it more than just staring?" He frowned, wondering if he could really trust her. The side of him that searched for someone to confide in since his father was gone told him to tell her, but the side of him that was cautious told him to keep his damn mouth shut. Her next statement settled it for him. "I'm not going to tell anyone. Who would believe me?"

He sighed. "It's a little more complicated, there being more." He ran a hand through his hair and sat in his seat once more.

She sat down as well. "So, you and Hermione are together?"

He nodded. "I know how ridiculous it is, but neither of us really had any control over it."

"And why is that?"

He tilted his head, not willing to divulge that he was a Veela. "We just don't."

"How is this even possible? I mean, Harry and Ron would kill you if they knew." She then nodded and smiled. "They don't know."

He shook his head. "Potter knows. She hasn't told Weasley yet. She's scared to, actually."

"Why? If he's her friend then he should learn to be understanding."

He stared at her for a moment then smiled. "I'm sorry, do you attend school here? Weasleys and Malfoys have hated one another far longer than anyone can remember. Not to mention that he has feelings for her."

She shrugged. "Well, the longer it sits the angrier he's going to be. Not that I really care much for Ron. I think he's a few cards shy of a full deck, myself."

He then grinned. "Then you and I have something in common."

She frowned. "I will say this: you two need to be more careful. She's much better at hiding it than you are. At least, she can stay concentrated on whatever it is she's doing. You're much more distracted when she's around."

He shrugged. "Can't help myself."

She stood and collected her things and gave him a final word. "I hope you're armed when she does tell Ron. He's probably going to kill you," she said with a final wave as he used his wand to open the door.

----

Draco made his way back to his common room, muddling over the conversation he'd just had with Padma. He probably had been a bit too overt in his fascination with all things Hermione. He didn't know whether it was the Veela in him or the seventeen-year-old that was so entranced by her.

As he opened the portrait and walked inside, he found Hermione seated on the sofa, a smile on her face. He removed his robe and loosened his tie as he sat beside her. "What took you so long?" she asked as she leaned her head against his shoulder.

"Padma stopped me. She's noticed that I have a thing for you."

She lifted her head and looked at him worriedly. "That's not good."

"Actually, I believe she'll keep it to herself. She warned me that I need to be more careful because if she noticed it, then someone else might."

She bit her lip and sighed, "She's right."

He huffed, "What she noticed was that I always schedule our Prefect duties together. Patrols tutoring, things like that. My reaction when you were attacked told her all she needed to know."

She frowned and rested her head on his shoulder once more. "Anything else?"

"She said that I need to be armed when you tell Weasley as he might try to kill me. I'm not worried about it as I’ve already proven that I can take care of him if need be, but she said something else that got me. That if Weasley is really your friend, he'll be your friend after this."

She nodded. "It's what I keep telling myself. But, I'm worried that he'll draw attention to it. If I tell him then there's a chance he could just start yelling and react...without thinking about the consequences."

He sighed. "I worry about that too. Maybe I should tell him."

She shook her head. "That's not a good idea."

He held up his hand. "Hear me out. If he's going to hex me, he could do it then and not go screaming through the school. It would keep him contained."

She frowned. "I think telling him with Harry is the best thing to do."

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "He's your friend. Whatever you think is best."

She moved her hand over his chest as she toyed with the buttons of his shirt. "So...the leaving ball. Are you planning on taking anyone?"

He shook his head and smiled at the top of her head. "No. Why?"

She shrugged. "I just don't want to see you with someone."

He smiled. "I'll go by myself if it makes you feel better."

She nodded. "It does."

"But I expect the same out of you."

She frowned but nodded. "Deal," she said as she sat up and straddled him. "Now that we have all of that out of the way," she grinned.

He chuckled as she took his tie in her hand and tugged him up to her. "Yes, let's get to more important matters," he said before he leaned up to kiss her. She helped him remove his tie and began working on the buttons of his shirt as his hands moved beneath her skirt, seeking out the smooth skin of her thighs.

He moved his lips over her throat, stopping briefly to nip at the pulse as she ground her hips down against his. She moaned and looked down at him. "Draco," she said breathily, "I want to ask you something." His only response was to grunt at her, "Are you happy with - yes - what we do?"

He stilled her hips for a moment and looked up at her. "You're sitting where you are and you have to ask me that question?"

She smiled as she looked down at him. "I meant, do you want more? Are you disappointed that we haven't gone further?"

"Yes, I want more. But am I disappointed with what we have? No. I'll take whatever you can give me," he said as he untucked her shirt and slid his hand over her skin.

She sighed. "I want to, but I'm afraid."

He tilted his head. "Of me?"

She shook her head. "No. Of the after."

He sighed. "Hermione, you're it for me. We're it for each other. My feelings for you won't change, but grow stronger, as will your feelings for me."

She nodded. "Like I said, I want to, but I'm afraid."

He frowned. "I don't want you to be scared, especially not of something that's supposed to be fantastic. But do you ever see yourself being not scared?"

She sighed. "Probably not until we actually make love."

He smiled. "You and I are going to be just fine, Hermione." He leaned up to kiss her and she pushed him back a bit.

"You aren't worried at all?"

He shook his head. "No."

She furrowed her brow and sighed. "Why not?"

He tilted his head. "Do you love me?"

She nodded. "Yes."

He shrugged. "Then that's all I need."

She smiled and rolled her eyes. "You're so easy."

He smirked. "Yes, I am. Now, if we're done with the discussion there's something much more pressing to take care of."

She laughed. "Yes, I suppose there is," she said before she leaned in and kissed him.