At Rainbows End

It was a few weeks before Hermione was released from the hospital and sent back to her room. She walked the halls slowly hoping not to run into anyone so that she wouldn't have to explain what happened to anyone who didn't already know. As she grew closer to the dorm she wasn't sure if she wanted to go in, she knew that Malfoy would be there and that he knew what had happened and would probably mock her for it. She was about to turn away and go somewhere else when she heard someone walking down the hall so she just went through the door to avoid them.

When Hermione entered the common room she saw Draco sitting in front of the fireplace with a huge fire burning. It looked as though he was just staring into it deep in thought. When he heard the portrait close he looked over and saw her quickly got up and walked over to her. Before he could do anything or say anything she turned from him and ran up to her room closing and locking the door behind her. He didn't go after her knowing that she was probably thinking that he would say something mean and hateful so he just returned to his seat looking into the fire again, he would wait till later to talk to her.

It wasn't until around dinner time when Hermione came out from in her room hoping that
Draco would be gone. Looking around the dorm it seemed as though he was but when she walked to the couch in front of the fire she saw him lying there asleep. She though about waking him and telling him to go to his own room but thought better of it, she didn't feel like arguing with him at the moment. So instead she just turned and headed towards the portrait but before she could walk out she was being grabbed from behind and turned around to come face to face with Draco and she gasped. She tried to pull out of his grasp but he wouldn't let go.

“Let me go Malfoy.” She said in a small weak voice and she cursed herself for letting Lucius mess with her like this, for making her weak.

“No, we need to talk. It's important and it can't wit any longer.” He replied and pulled her over to the couch sitting her down not taking his hand off her.

“Make this fast Malfoy, I need to eat to keep my strength. Apparently the knife your father used had a spell on it that weakens me and Madam Pomfrey didn't know the counter for it.” her words made him cringe, he knew all to well the spell that was used and there wasn't really a cure but he didn't tell her that.

“Granger, Hermione, I'm going to tell you something that may be hard for you to comprehend but believe me when I say that it's not a lie that everything I'm about to tell you is the truth....” He paused and took a breath. “There is rummer of a girl, a princess, with uncontrollable power. For this girl it could destroy her without the right help or it could help her do wonderful things. With this power there is still restrictions. It is said that the power is the strongest when there is a rainbow in the sky, and even though there isn't always one there the power is still there. If this girl were ever put in the dark for a long period of time then the power would lessen and she would eventually die. Her power is her life force I guess you can say.” He stopped to see what her reaction would be.

“Ok, so you're telling me about a fairy tale that my mother used to tell me? I've heard all of this before, maybe not in as much detail but I've heard about this story. Why are you telling me this?” She asked confused.

“We've been looking for the princess for some time now. The dark lord wants to capture her and use her for evil. To help him win this war, for the pleasure it would give him to see her in pain, to her for his own pleasure. This would also destroy her but if she were to get the right help then she could stay free and possible control the power and beat the dark lord. At first I was supposed to help him find her but when I found out who she is I went to the order and asked for their help to keep me safe and they agreed as long as I helped them keep the princess safe. I told them it shouldn't be a problem seeing as I have to share a dorm with her for the year.” He stopped to let this sink in. When she finally understood what he had said her eyes went wide and her mouth fell open.

“Are you saying that you think I'm the princess?” She asked not being able to believe that the story was real let alone that she was the Rainbow Princess.

“I know that it's a lot to take in at one time but I has come to our attention that time is running out and that you need to know everything so that you can protect yourself. Why do you think that Potter left you behind? Why do you think that they let me come back? To be the head boy? I'm here to help you, when I found out that you were the one he was after I had to do something, I couldn't let him get you. You will either bring his downfall or the orders downfall. I know this is a lot but the fate of the wizard world belongs to you.” Draco was looking her in the eyes hoping she would understand and believe everything and do the right thing and stay by him.

As they sat there Hermione's mind was reeling with the information just giving to her. She couldn't believe it, she wasn't a princess surly someone would have told her before now. As she sat there thinking the reality of it hit her, the dark lord was after her, Harry knew and left her with Draco. It was all to much for her and before she could stop herself she was running out the portrait and down the stairs and outside. She didn't know where she was running to but she had to keep going, she had to get away from everything and everyone, she needed to be able to think about things.

A few minutes later Hermione found herself outside of the forbidden forest walking a long the edge of the trees. She always seemed to find herself there when she needed to talk and to be away from everyone else, aside from the library of course. She walked around thinking about everything that Draco had said to her, she did seem to feel more powerful when there was a rainbow. She remembered when she would ask her mother how the story ended and she would say that she didn't know yet, maybe it was because the end hasn't happened yet. She had also said that people would try to get her and she was right, the dark lord wanted her, Lucius wanted her, her 'uncle' Rodney wanted her, and the order wants her. It wasn't like she didn't know what side she would be on, she was already on the light side, the orders side. She knew then that what she was told was true and that she needed help, she was supposed to go home for the Christmas holidays but now she knew that Rodney was on the dark lords side and that she would be in a lot of trouble if she went back. She needed to stay at the school but then she was in danger from Lucius and she would have to explain to Snape why she didn't want to go home and he wouldn't listen to her if he was on the dark side so she would be forced to go anyway. She hoped that if her uncle didn't realize that she knew the truth then maybe he wouldn't take her to the dark lord and maybe she'd be safer there.

Draco went to the Great Hall for dinner hoping to see Hermione there also but she wasn't anywhere in sight. After he finished eating he went to Snapes office and knocked on the door waiting for and answer. When Snape answered he let Draco in and told him to take a seat.

“What is it that you need Draco?” He asked looking at him with his blank expressionless face.

“I told Hermione about everything. She has the right to know and now that she does she'll be able to protect herself better.” Draco replied not really looking at his godfather, he knew this wasn't going to go well.

“Everything? About the power? The consequences? You?”

“Ok so maybe not everything, she doesn't really know everything about me. I told her I was working for the order now but that's all.”

“How did she take it?”

“Not well, she ran off.” He could sense Snapes anger before he heard it.

“You let her run off unprotected?! You should have followed her or stopped her from running in the first place. What if something happens to her?” Snape was furious standing up and heading towards the door he told Draco that he had to inform the order that Draco should go and find Hermione before she got hurt.
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So there it is, I hope you liked it. Please review and tell me what you think.
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