What I\'ve Always Known

Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot.

A/N: dee lee lee dee. Well this fic is coming to a close, just three more chapters. Anyone else painfully excited about HBP coming out?


Devil’s Advocate


“Look Hermione, I’m just playing devil’s advocate here.” Harry said to his knees. They were sitting in front of the fire in the common room late that night. Harry had his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. He was rubbing his temples in a circular motion as he had been doing for quite some time. Ron had avoided the pair of them and gone to bed along with the other students.

“Harry, maybe you should get to bed,” Hermione said, eyeing her watch. It was nearly four in the morning and they had classes tomorrow. Harry stared up at her like she was something of another planet.

“And miss gossip like this?” He asked. Hermione laughed out loud. Sometimes, he could be more feminine than her entire
dorm’s occupants combined.

“Alright, if you insist, devils advocate me Harry.” Hermione said, dropping an arm across her eyes. Harry raised a sarcastic eyebrow. Hermione rolled her eyes before sitting up and looking dramatically attentive. Harry couldn’t resist the audience.

“We both know Ron well. We both know he wouldn’t say something he didn’t mean when he feels as strongly as he does about this.” Hermione nodded.” Hermione, I know you don’t want to hear this, but maybe you should really consider the answers to those questions he asked of you. I mean, do you have a rational answer even for yourself?”

Hermione sat stunned. Harry bloody Potter and his bloody devil’s bloody advocate. She in fact didn’t have an answer for herself. It was just something she...felt. But was a gut feeling enough? Especially for something this drastic?

“I-I hadn’t thought-“

“Of it that way, yes I could guess by that flabbergasted expression you’re wearing.” Harry nonchalantly inspected his nails.
Hermione groaned and stared into the fire. “Well it looks as though I’ve given you quite enough to think about this night, or what remains of it anyway. We should both be getting to bed.”

Hermione lay awake right through until dawn, trying to answer Ron’s questions. Why Malfoy? Why had he suddenly changed this
drastically? Had he really changed?

Due to those very burning questions, Hermione showed up in Transfiguration looking like she had just crawled out of her grave. She opened her book and stared blankly at the pages while Professor McGonagall’s voice washed over them all.

Harry had to elbow her in the ribs to get her moving when the bell rang for lunch. Hermione barely registered anything going on around her, including Draco greeting her on their way out of the Great Hall. It was only when she reached Hagrid’s cabin did she realize she hadn’t said anything back. She flushed a deep scarlet, earning her a curious glance from Hagrid, who obviously thought his speech on the comparisons between the Blast Ended Skrewt and the Maphigriff brought the red stain to her cheeks. Harry merely snickered beside her and explained the assignment they were supposed to be doing.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


The rest of the week passed much the same way for Hermione. Besides avoiding Krum’s eye at flying lessons and in the hallways, things had returned to what normal could be considered around Hogwarts. Finally Friday morning arrived and the students could barely contain themselves. It was the last day of classes and a great deal of them would be getting on the Hogwarts express the very next day, including Hermione. Harry and Ron would of course be going to the Burrow, but Hermione’s parents were out of the country and she felt she would rather enjoy the rare time alone.

“Harry,” she said, contemplating another slice of toast.

“Yeah?” Harry didn’t even glance up from his eggs. Ron had yet to join them in the Great Hall and Hermione intended to take advantage of the opportunity to talk to Harry.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about what we talked about.” She said, looking at him. Harry snorted.

“It was hard to miss ‘Mione.”

“Shut it. I know I trust him Harry. I’ll talk to Ron today, but I know this is right.” She said with a small smile on her lips.

“What are you going to say to Ron?” Harry asked with his eyebrows raised.

“Well I was thinking maybe him and Draco could talk, you know…” Hermione trailed off with a half-shrug. Harry seemed to ponder her suggestion some time before sighing and nodding his head.

“It’s worth a shot Hermione, but I honestly will be impressed if you can get Ron in the same room with Draco.”

Their discussion came to a close as Ron entered the Great Hall, looking as though he had stumbled in by a convenient coincidence.

“Morning sunshine!” Harry chirped. Ron grunted.

’Well, now or never….’

“Ron?” Hermione tried to sound nonchalant, but even to her own ears she sounded breathless.

“Yes Hermione?” Ron spoke very deadpan.

“Could you maybe meet me in the library again? At lunch?” Hermione crossed her fingers under the table. Ron didn’t even hesitate.

“Of course.”

And for the first time since that incident in the Hospital Wing, Ron met Hermione’s gaze.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


The morning classes seemed to go a lot faster. Hermione actually shared some small talk with Ron during Charms. Harry seemed positively elated that he did not have to conduct two separate conversations all the time now.

At lunchtime, Hermione made her way from Ancient Runes to the library. Ron was waiting for her, in the same place as on Monday, except this time he had seated himself in a chair. Hermione seated herself in the chair across from him and opened her mouth to make the speech she had been practicing all throughout Ancient Runes. However, she never got the chance.

“Hermione I’m sorry.” Ron said. Hermione blinked. “I’m sorry I made such a bloody fuss over this. I’ve been acting immature, and-and I should’ve realized it’s your life.”

Hermione stared at Ron’s red ears and knew he was genuine. But what had happened in the last few hours to change his mind so drastically?

“Malfoy...Draco found me right after Charms and explained. We talked and now I understand…or at least I hope I do. I’m still trying to comprehend how-“

“Different he is?” Hermione offered. Ron laughed.

“To say the least!” His expression sobered. “Hermione, I really am very sorry.” Hermione just smiled and shook her head.

“I’m just glad to have you back Ron.”

They sat the remainder of lunch in the library, catching up with each other’s lives over the few months they had missed. When the bell rang, they both stood and started making their way towards Potions, still talking.

“Are you sure Hermione? Mum would be glad to have you home.” Ron was saying.

“Thanks Ron. I’m really OK. I think it’ll be nice to have the house to myself. So I can just-“

“Read every book in existence?”

“About that, yeah.”

Draco’s eyes widened as they both entered the dungeons laughing. In fact, many of the Gryffindor students looked shocked too. Seamus gave her the thumbs up while Lavender and Parvarti winked and grinned. Hermione grinned back at them all and took her seat in-between Harry and Ron.

Whilst Snape began his supernaturally boring lecture on the uses of ordinary forest moss in time traveling potions, Hermione ripped a corner of parchment from Harry and Ron’s game of Tic-Tac-Toe and scrawled a note to Draco:


Draco,

I know I’ve been distant lately. I miss spending time with you. Can I see you tonight?

Hermione


She folded the note very small, and discreetly tapped it once with her wand. Responding to the charm, the note disappeared from her table, and onto Draco’s. He started slightly when it appeared under the tip of his quill, but recovered enough to seize it and open it under the desk.

His silver eyes moved back and forth while he brought his quill under the desk. He smiled and wrote something back before folding it and tapping it with his wand. Hermione looked down in time to see it materialize on top of her textbook. She moved it into her lap and quietly unfolded it to read what Draco had written.

Come around midnight. I can’t wait.

Hermione grinned and put the note in her bag before continuing to take notes on the different effects lichen had when mixed with Bile of Warthog.

Hermione busied herself with schoolwork in the Gryffindor common room, rotating between correcting Harry and Ron’s work and nagging them to focus. They finally decided they had had enough at around 11: 45, leaving Hermione alone in front of the fire. Waiting the appropriate ten minutes, she left the portrait hole and made her way swiftly and silently towards Draco’s private dorm. Mallogoff didn’t even crack an eye as she gave the password. He simply swung forwards on his hinges to permit her entry to the brightly light chambers.

“Right on time love.” Draco said from the table in the far corner. He stretched his arms above his head and groaned and Hermione came around to the back of his chair and bent down to kiss his cheek.

“Long night?” She asked, eyeing his open copy of A Theorized Guide of the Evolution of Charms and the scattered sheaf’s of parchment littering the tabletop.

“The longest. Flitwick has got a bug up his arse about something. Quite the nasty essay he set.”

Hermione groaned sympathetically (she chose not to mention she had found the essay quite interesting) and settled herself on his lap.

“Anything I can do to make you feel better?” She asked, wrapping one arm around his shoulders. She moved her fingers up into his silky hair and massaged his scalp. Draco smirked and eyed her lips. She chuckled and placed the necessary amount of pressure on the back of his neck to guide his lips to hers. Draco released the tension of the night by exploring her mouth thoroughly with his tongue, making her moan and whimper in response. Dear god what he could do to her. Just as Draco had undone all the buttons on her shirt, there was a tapping at the window.

They broke apart and spied an Eagle Owl irritably tapping the windowpane with its beak, a roll of parchment wrapped in a black ribbon tied to its leg. Draco sighed as Hermione moved off his lap. Draco unlatched the window and the owl swooped in, landing on the back of the chair they had just been occupying. Hermione untied the parchment and handed it to Draco. The large owl flew back out of the open window as Draco unrolled the parchment.

Hermione leaned against the table and watched Draco’s face expression carefully. The further down the parchment he read, the harder his features became. His skin paled, his eyes became a stormy grey, and his mouth was set in a hard line.

“Draco? What’s wrong?” She asked, moving towards him. He recoiled and Hermione stood stunned.

“You should go.” He said harshly. Hermione frowned.

“Who’s that letter from?” She asked.

“My mother. My father’s been imprisoned.” Draco’s voice shook with suppressed…rage?

“Draco….”She sighed, not sure what to say. “Are you alright?”

“What do you think?” He barked.

“I’m only asking, no need to slide back into your spoiled brat persona.” She snapped, bristling at his tone. She took a deep breath to calm herself, trying to realize that he was just over-emotional. “Why is he in prison?”

“The Manor was searched by the goddamn Ministry.”

“Why was it searched?”

“I don’t bloody know Granger!”

“Calm down Draco!” Hermione squeaked. The transformation in him was truly frightening. He had advanced across the room towards her. He was very pale and shaking with rage, very clearly at breaking point. Hermione was very nearly at the door, and was considering dashing for it Draco was looking so infuriated.

“I thought-I thought you had grown away from your father.” Hermione whispered. As soon as the words past of her lips, she knew every syllable had been a mistake.

“You know nothing about my father.” His voice was a deadly poisonous whisper. “How dare you? This was all a mistake. You were a mistake. Leave and never come back, you filthy, good-for-nothing mudblood!”