In the Eyes of the Enemy

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

In the Eyes of the Enemy- Chapter Nine Decisions


Draco had spent the evening anxiously awaiting Hermione’s return from her birthday celebration with the other Gryffindors. As curfew pasted and the hour grew late Draco felt himself begin to panic. His stomach sank as Dumbledore entered the room carrying Hermione’s unconscious body. He raced over to the old man and asked, “what’s happened? What’s wrong with her?”

Draco didn’t like Dumbledores tone as he replied, “I don’t think it was anything serious Mr. Malfoy. Miss Granger it seems to have had a bit too much excitement for one night. I think it’s best you get some sleep she should be well by morning.”

Draco glared at the old man standing before him and asked, “Shouldn’t she be in the hospital wing, so Madame Pomfey make sure she’s alright?”

Dumbledore was become aggravated at Draco’s incessant questioning and snapped, “I checked her myself Mr. Malfoy she will be fine. She merely needs some rest and I think the comfort of her own room would be the best place for it. Again it is very late young man I appreciate your concern but please head to bed. I assure you Hermione will be fine.” Draco angrily headed into his room as the headmaster had instructed.

Once Draco had gone to his room Dumbledore quickly passed through Hermione’s portrait and into her room. He removed the levitation charm he had placed on her and neatly tucked her into bed before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead and whispering “I’m sorry for placing such a heavy burden on you child. I love you Granddaughter.” A tear escaped Dumbledore’s eye. He had watched her grow into a fine witch these may years at Hogwarts. She had on many occasions terrified him by being one of Harry’s best friends as the three of them had managed to find their way in and out of Voldemort’s grasp more times than he cared to think about. Today though her anguish was not at the hand of Voldemort but of the actions of hlf. lf. Once again Dumbledore felt the sadness of being responsible for a loved ones pain enter his heart.

Ginny laughed at Ron who was looking fairly pale while repeating over and over “she’s my niece.”

Harry joining in the amusement Gave Ron a slap on the back and said “you did say she was like a sister to you.”

Ron looked to Andrea and asked “why didn’t you tell mum and dad the truth when Harry defeated Voldemort the first time.”

Andrea and Albert exchanged a nervous glance before she replied, “Ron, Albus couldn’t assure us that he wouldn’t return or that Lucius, who was still alive wouldn’t come after us. Hermione was so small and the magic that had protected us the first time wouldn’t have worked again. Because of what happened, in exchange for saving our lives, I wasn’t able to have any other children. We were safer living as muggles especially Hermione.”

Ginny almost afraid to ask whispered, “You can never have more children?” With tears in her eyes Andrea replied, “for all the magic we use there is a paymeade.ade. Normally you just tire from using too much magic as it is a physical drain on you but using such strong uncontrollable magic the payment is higher. In our case we exchanged the lives of ourselves for any other which may be.”

Ginny wrapped her arms around her sister and said, “I’m sorry.”

Andrea merely shook her head and said, “don’t be Hermione is the best daughter wuld uld ask for, she is strong, intelligent, and beautiful. We’re thankful just to have her in our lives.”

It was then that Dumbledore entered the room and announced, “I don’t think a certain Head Boy was happy to see me return his girlfriend unconscious to her room at this hour the three of you may have some explaining to do tomorrow.”

Albert and Andrea’s eyes flew open in shock as they shouted at the same time “BOYFRIEND.”

Dumbledore quickly dashed to the corner of the room to hide with Greselda as he said “I believe I’ve put my proverbial foot in it. Maybe the 3 of you could explain.”

Ginny and Ron knowing better than to divulge dating secrets to parent allowed Harry to speak, “For the past few weeks Hermione has been dating Draco Malfoy.”

As the name was uttered Andrea screamed “A Malfoy, and Lucius son no less.” Her furry turned to Dumbledore as she shouted “why didn’t you put a stop to this, you know what his father did, how could you allow this to happen.”

It was Albert who spoke seeing his wife anger reaching an all time high. He calmly asked “I thought she hated Draco?”

Harry tried to help by saying “he’s really not that bad we’ve all been spending time together lately and once you get him away from the rest of thethertherins he’s not half bad.”

Andrea reached for her husbands hand and marched to the fireplace where she turned and said “Albus fix this.” She grabbed a handful of powder and through it into the grate before disappearing with her husband.

Ron turned to his headmaster and asked “Are you going to stop Hermione from seeing Draco?”

Dumbledore simply shook his head and repliNo MNo Mr. Weasley I’m not. Hermione now knows all that is involved and it is her decision to make. Whatever she decides I would ask you three to be there for support as one way or another she’s going to need it.”

Draco heard the door to the common room close and took the opportunity to sneak across the room to Hermione’s. Once inside he noticed her sleeping form and made his way over to the bed. He had no intention of leaving even if Dumbledore was to return so he slipped in beside her and held her close in his arms.

The next morning Hermione woke as the first rays of daylight danced across her face. She quickly realized she wasn’t alone in her bed and looked up to see the still sleeping Draco resting beside her. The events of the previous night came flooding back to her. The man sharing her bed was the son of the man who had tried to kill her and her parents so many years ago. She had grown to love him, but now she wasn’t sure what she should do. It wasn’t safe for her to be with him as his family was a danger to hers. She began to wonder if she could trust him. He had been honest with her about his father being a deatheater, it was no secret after all. Lucius Malfoy had been caught red handed several times but through his connections and money had always managed to walk free. It was then that Hermione decided that her parents had sacrificed so much to protect her that she owed it to them, to keep them safe. She would need to be the one that ended it as much as it broke her heart to say goodbye.

Hermione began to shake Draco and said “Draco wake up. I want you to leave. Come on get out of my bed now.”

Draco began to stir and upon realizing She was awake kly kly wrapped his arms around her and replied “your ok. I was so worried when Dumbledore brought you in that something was wrong.”

Hermione moved away from the bed and curtly said “I’m fine now I want you to go please I’ll be changing my password as soon as you leave so don’t bother to try to enter my room again.”

Draco was in shock and simply muttered, “I don’t understand Hermione what’s wrong?”

Reaching behind her neck Hermione unclasped the necklace and let it fall into her hand. She then handed it to him and said, “It’s over Draco. This is yours you’ll be wanting it back.”

A furry rose in his voice he yelled, “that necklace was gift for your birthday Hermione I don’t want it back. Now what the hell is going on?”

Hermione straightened herself and said, “it’s over Draco, We’re finished and now I’d like you to leave.”

Draco quickly crossed the room to where she was standing and as his voice cracked asked, “Why are you doing this?”

Hermione mustered all the strength she had remaining and lied, “because there’s someone else.”

That had done it. He turned his back on her and bolted from the room. Seeing that he was gone Hermione collapsed on the bed as her body shook with grief and the tears poured down her cheeks.

Hermione relaxed in her hot bath until all the evidence of her crying had been washed away. Today was shaping up to be one of the hardest days of her young life. Pushing Draco away had broken her heart if not her spirit but if she was going to go through with it, she needed to make it believable. For that she’d need her friends most of whom she had just learned were also family.

Hermione made her way to the Gryffindor table for breakfast and took her usual seat between Harry and Ron. She casually leaned over and whispered to Harry “I may have done something stupid and I think I’m going to need your help to put oft off.”

Harry whispered back in Hermione’s ear “Hermione you know I would do anything for you. Is this about Draco?”

Hermione nodded before continuing to whisper “after what we found out last night about his father I decided to end it but the only reason I could come up with was that I had been seeing someone else. I could ask Ron but aftert wet we learned last night it would just be too awkward.”

Harry nodded in agreement and asked, “What did you have in mind?”

She smiled and said; “I was thinking we could make it look like we were a couple just until things blow over with him.”

Harry simply smiled and replied, “It would be my honor to be your boyfriend. Even if it is just for show I’ll still be the luckiest guy at Hogwarts.” Hermione was so relieved that he had agreed to go along with her plan that she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a kiss.

The act had not only shocked the rest of the Gryffindor table but also a certain Slytherin who had been watching Hermione since she entered the room. The kiss had proved more than Draco could bear to watch. He quickly left the Great hall opting instead for a walk around the grounds as he tried to understand what had gone wrong. It had become painfully obvious to him during breakfast that the other guy Hermione mentioned was Potter.

So many things just didn’t add up in his mind. He knew she was close to both Potter and Weasley but after 6 years of school nothing had ever emerged between them. Why had it started now when he and Hermione were so happy together? Why was she unconscious last night? What had made her stop loving him? These were questions he wanted answers too because his heart was telling him that something just wasn’t right.

After their kiss the Gryffindor table was ablaze with questions for Harry and Hermione. Were they together? What about her and Draco? When had it happened? They did the best they could to answer saying that they had feeling for each other for a long time and that after last night things had changed. She informed everyone that she and Draco were no longer together which was greated with a cheer from the majority of the table. Ron and Ginny were in shock as it all unfolded before them and the moment breakfast ended they took the opportunity to pull Harry and Hermione into Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom to ask them what was going on.

Hermione explained her decision to end things with Draco before his father could be a danger to her or her parents. For the most part they agreed it was the right thing to do in light of what they had learned in Dumbledore’s office.

As the boys left the bathroom to head to class Ginny caught Hermione’s hand and asked, “this thing between you and Harry it’s all pretend right.”

Hermione nodded and replied “There’s nothing really going on between Harry and me he’s just being a good friend.” Ginny breathed a sigh of relief and the two girls exited the bathroom together.

Over the next five and half weeks Harry and Hermione were the perfect image of a perfect couple. They would hold hands during meals and between classes. On occasion they would even allow themselves to be caught snogging in the halls. To ensure things went smoothly for them Ron and Ginny traded rounds with Hermione, so she could avoid being around Malfoy as much as possible. The ruse had been going well as far as anyone could tell. In rt dat days though word had even spread that Draco was dating Pansy Parkinson again so Harry and Hermione were thinking for way to end their charade. Their answer came by way of Dumbledore on the day before the seventh years were to leave for London on their muggle weekend.

Dumbledore sadly told Harry “I’m sorry Harry but you juon’ton’t be able to join us this weekend on the trip to London. I have tried to think of every way we might possibly be able to make it work, but ultimately you going without your wand, is a risk I’m just not willing to take. Again I’m truly sorry.”

Harry smiled to reassure his headmaster and said “It’s fine Sir I spent 11 years as a muggle I’m quite happy to remain a wizard for this one weekend” Dumbledore smiled and made his was down the hall.

Hermione’s face lit up as she pulled Harry in the direction of Myrtle’s bathroom. As they entered the room Hermione said, “Harry this is it, you and Ginny can be seen together while I’m gone, and then when I get back we could have a fight about it in order to break up.”

Harry frowned and her and said “Hermione I really do like Ginny and I don’t want to do anything to hurt her.”

Hermione laughed and replied “You silly fool she likes you too, maybe the two of you could actually tell each other how you really feel while I’m gone and maybe when I get back I’ll find you together for real. If not I’ll think of something else.”

Harry grinned and asked, “So she really likes me?”

Hermione smiled “Yes Harry she does.”