Don't leave me

Summary, - It is the seventh year. What would happen is Hermione Granger, Model Student, Head Girl, Gryffindor found out that Draco Malfoy, cruel, womanizing Slytherin's world wasn't as perfect as he made out.

Disclaimer. - I own nothing except the Plot, everything else belongs to JK Rowling.

Intro. - I hate him. I despise him. He is everything I hate in a human and more. If you can even call him a human that is, he must of lost all the human in him like Voldemort did. Yet why do I long to be near him? Just to have him touch my skin one more time.

Chapter 1.
Who are you?
The dream team sat in the common room. That was what they were called now. Harry, Ron and Hermione had been through so much and come out on top that people had started calling them the Dream Team or the triumphant trio. But lately there had been trouble in paradise. Ron and Hermione had had yet another fight about what Harry should do. Though the three of them were all in the common room none was sitting with the other. Harry sat near the window with Dean Thomas talking about quidditch. Ron sat with Ginny, discussing why Charlie was really coming back from Romania. Hermione on the other hand sat in the corner, piles of homework on the table in front of her that had been given to them to get ready for their NEWTs, even thought they were still eight months away.
Finally deciding to go down to the library and research antidotes one more time Hermione left the common room, her book filled bag weighing down her thin shoulders. Entering the Library Hermione found an empty table and spread her books over it. Leaving the table she walked in between the shelves and found the book she was looking for… “Poisons and Antidotes”. Sitting back at her table Hermione began searching through the book looking absently at the pages, nothing really registering in her brain.
‘If it wasn’t for Voldemort.’ Hermione hissed in her brain though she knew it wasn’t true. Voldemort wasn’t the rift between the three of them. They had been growing apart ever since their forth year. Fifth year was ok, the three of them were still great friends and they hung out every moment of the day but there was something missing from what it had been like the year before. Hermione had marked it down to puberty and hormones but she knew that her drifting was caused by the fact that neither Harry nor Ron had noticed she was a girl, not properly anyway. In their sixth year things had really begun to stick between them. Harry and Ron had begun dating people. They never stuck with one girlfriend more than a few months but they were usually dating someone while Hermione stayed as the outcast neither had wanted.
Now it was October in their seventh year. Hermione had begun to spend more and more time in the library surrounded by books, the only thing she fully understood. Hiding behind the covers, wishing to be in the magical world that was held in their pages before realising she was there and that it wasn’t as great as it was shown to be. Hermione loved being a witch, she had worked full time to become the top of her year and head girl of Hogwarts Academy of Witchcraft and Wizardry but it wasn’t enough anymore. She wanted what any teenage girl wanted, the guy of her dreams, unfortunately this guy didn’t exist for Hermione and if he did he was hiding very well.
“In here again Granger?” the drawling voice of Draco Malfoy passed through Hermione’s daydream, pulling her from their sweet world back into the harsh bitter taste of the air around her.
“What does it matter to you Malfoy?” Hermione asked lazily.
“Just wondering where Potty and Weasel are, I noticed you don’t hang around with them much anymore. Is there trouble in the perfect dream team’s world?” Malfoy hissed leaning a lot closer to Hermione than she would have liked.
“Piss off Malfoy. Aren’t there some young Slytherin’s you could be taking advantage of?” Hermione hissed back.
The rumours never stopped running flying through the halls about Draco Malfoy's womanising. He was one of the most eligible guys in Hogwarts. A rich, smart, handsome, popular, seventh year. She hadn’t seen him as smart until their fifth year when taking Hermione by complete surprise he took top grades on all his OWLs. Hermione knew that Draco had dated nearly every girl in the seventh year and a lot of girls in the sixth year. Hermione had also heard about him taking advantage of the younger girls. Once she had been walking down the corridor and she heard a fifth year crying about how Draco had promised her the world and more if she went to bed with him but then dumped her as soon as the deed was done. Malfoy had made himself a legend over the last three years. Even though he was a Slytherin he was now one of the two most popular guys in the school. (Along with Harry.) But Hermione seemed to be one of the only ones who couldn’t see what they saw in him.
“Oh harsh words from the bookworm.” Malfoy hissed in her ear as he took a seat next to her own. Though the words were clearly sarcasm he said them with a soft tone that washed over Hermione like warm water. Hermione turned and glared at Malfoy. She could certainly see why the other girls found him attractive. He was no longer the skinny eleven-year-old she had met on the Hogwarts Express. He was now tall, he had a well-cut face and a muscular body that showed through his white shirt. Now in the last year the seventh years were aloud to wear whatever they wanted on the weekends. Hermione twisted her short skirt around in her finger. It didn’t matter that she wore short skirts, nobody ever noticed.
“What no hurtful response?” Malfoy asked playfully. Hermione narrowed her eyes, repeating in her head not to give in to his cheap bait. “Oh ok, the silent treatment.” Malfoy drummed the pads of his fingertips against each other, waiting for Hermione to give in and try to insult him.
“Malfoy please just leave me alone.” Hermione retorted at last.
“Not up to form today Granger!” Malfoy replied. His voice mocking her as she sat, staring at the knots in the wooden table. He stared at her, waiting, he wasn’t sure what he was waiting for but he knew something was coming.
“Why are you such an ass Malfoy?” Hermione spat.
“Well that wasn’t what I was expecting…” Malfoy replied. “It’s easier I guess.”
“Easier? Than what?” Hermione asked, her gaze drifting up to Malfoy’s persistent stare.
“Than the show you put on for everyone.” Malfoy answered, not letting his stare lose Hermione’s.
“What show?” Hermione asked.
“This show. You pretend everything is happy in paradise. You pretend everything is fine and that you are happy but inside you are screaming to let everything out.” Malfoy replied knowledgeably.
“Let what out Malfoy?” Hermione spat, she wasn’t used to Malfoy knowing what was going on in her head. And what really annoyed her was that is was Malfoy and not Harry or Ron.
“That you are a woman along with all those flirty girls. That just because you want to get ahead of everyone by studying it doesn’t mean that you don’t want what they want. And do you know what has already leaked out?” Malfoy asked
“No, what?” Hermione replied.
“Why do you notice when they where short skirts and tight tops to make you swoon but not when I do it?” Malfoy pushed his finger under the strap of Hermione’s top, pulled it away from her body and let it snap back.
“Just because I want to look nice you think I am screaming?” Hermione replied, her voice half-questioning, the other half trying to laugh at Malfoy’s analysis. “Cause I want to look nice. Is there something wrong with that?”
“Only when nobody notices.” Malfoy tilted his head and smiled a lopsided smile. Hermione stared at Malfoy for a moment then looked away,
“Come on Granger.” Malfoy stood up and grabbed Hermione hand, pulling her out of the library.
“What about my stuff?” Hermione asked as he pulled her along the corridor.
“Who would want to steal a load of homework? It’ll still be there when we get back.” Malfoy answered impatiently, holding onto her hand firmly.
“Where are we going?” Hermione asked.
“URG, too many questions Granger. We are going to prove a point.” He pulled her away from the main castle and up into the owlery. They walked over to the window and stared down onto the grounds.
“Umm, what is up here?” Hermione asked. Draco indicated to the grounds and the scenery around them.
“What do you think of that Granger?” Malfoy asked, looking at her out of the corner of his eye.
“It’s beautiful.” Hermione replied looking at the rolling hills past the grounds of the Hogwarts castle, onto the setting sun.
“Now, if you didn’t know me, what would you thing about me at a first glance?” Malfoy asked.
“I would think you were… That you are… I don’t know.” Hermione replied.
“Close your eyes Granger.” Hermione closed her eyes. Malfoy’s words suddenly soothed into her head.
“Now you are walking down the street, people all around you, you walk further and see a guy sitting at a table. Open your eyes. What do you think of this guy?”
Hermione opened her eyes and stared into Draco Malfoy’s.
“I think he is smart, caring, funny, and that he is good looking.”
“Right.” Malfoy replied, not taking any notice that Hermione had just paid him numerous compliments. “Now look back at the scenery. You think that is beautiful. But now think about everything you know about what is going on inside that scenery. There are people killing other people, muggles and wizards. There is terror, hurt and pain all held within that beauty. And then you have what you said about me. You said I was caring but you know I’m not. First glances are deceiving Granger, but this isn’t my first glance. I can now look past that first image, that bookworm image and see you. Just like as you have learnt to see a cold, heartless person when you look at me.” Malfoy explained. Hermione stared absently at the scenery, thinking about what Malfoy had said and suddenly it didn’t seem so beautiful. The glowing sunset now filled itself with blood and anger, the rolling hills now filled with sadness and the grounds now filled with pain. Pain Hermione had witnessed and pain she didn’t know existed.
“So what do I do about this hidden me?” Hermione asked.
“No idea Granger, I just wanted to make you see it.” Malfoy replied smiling.
“Well I already knew it was there, I thought you were proving that you could see it.” Hermione replied confused.
“Well a bit of both.” Malfoy replied absently.
“Can first glances be right sometimes?” Hermione asked, snatching a glance at Malfoy every so often.
“Why are you thinking I am really a caring, sweet person?” Malfoy laughed decisively.
“Not really, but I think I see things in you I saw at first glance but didn’t see after that.” Hermione replied.
“What’s that Granger.” Malfoy asked.
“I see someone lost. I see someone pushed into something they don’t want to be in.” Hermione answered quietly.
“What’s that?” Malfoy queried, the smile now vanished from his face, leaving it stone as if there had never been life.
Hermione didn’t know how she knew but she moved closer to him. Lifting up the front of his shirt she revealed bruises, cuts and scars over his muscular chest.
“Oh my god…” Hermione gasped. Draco pulled his shirt out of Hermione’s grasp and pulled it down, his face full of shock and fear. Before Hermione could say anything Malfoy bolted from the owlery. Leaving Hermione staring, shocked after him.

Chapter 2.
Why Lie?
Hermione sat in the owlery a long time after Draco left. Not knowing where she would find him she though if she waited long enough he would come back but he never did. When it came to Dinner time Hermione walked down to the Great Hall and sat next to Ginny at the Gryffindor table.
Hermione looked at Ginny, a glazed, absent look over her eyes. Ginny had also dated Ginny but only for a very short time. Ginny was what everyone called a 'Malfoy conquest.' He had used her just so he could say he had got one over the Weasleys. Usually nobody mentioned Malfoy around Ginny as the subject upset her but this time Hermione felt it was necessary.
"Ginny…" Hermione asked quietly, trying to make sure Harry and Ron didn't hear this conversation.
"Yeah?" Ginny replied, turning from her brothers and smiling broadly.
"I know you don't like talking about this but…" Hermione tried to phrase this right to absorb the shock. "When you were with Malfoy…"
"Hermione, I don't want to talk about… about him." Ginny replied.
"Please, Ginny I only have one question." Hermione begged quietly.
"Ok fine." Ginny answered impatiently.
"Did he uh… when he…"
"I get that bit." Ginny replied quickly. She didn't really want to hear the fact he had bedded and left her along with all the other girls.
"Did he have any bruises?" Hermione asked quietly.
"I don't know." Ginny answered. "I wasn't looking for any so I didn't notice."
"Please Ginny, think." Hermione pleaded. Ginny closed her eyes for a moment but there seemed to be more life there than when they were open. (Well to Hermione anyway.) Hermione could see Ginny's eyes moving behind their lids, trying to remember, or maybe trying to forget, Hermione wasn't sure.
"Yes." Ginny replied finally. "Quite a few actually. I asked him about them but he said they were from quidditch. I remember I was a little confused, because why wouldn't he have gotton them healed by Madam Pomfrey?"
"Yeah." Hermione replied, that glazed look in her eyes now merging into her voice. "Thanks Ginny."
"It's ok." Ginny commented, she took this moment to turn back o her brothers, making sure she wasn't asked anymore questions about her short but painful relationship with Draco Malfoy.
After dinner Hermione walked back down to the Library, only this time she had no intention of studying. Grabbing her books off the table she pushed them into her bag and started towards the door. She was nearly at the large wooden doors when she noticed a white shirt and a head of blonde hair lurking in the shadows.
"Malfoy?" Hermione asked, peering into the shadows.
"Granger." Malfoy replied.
They stood, staring awkwardly for a moment before Hermione had an idea. She grabbed Malfoy's hand and pulled him out of the library. Leaving her bag she continued to pull him towards along.
"Granger I already know the first glances trick." Malfoy replied lazily.
"That's not why we are going. And plus we are not going to the owlery." Hermione commented.
"Where are we going then?" Malfoy asked.
"URG too many questions Malfoy." Hermione mocked making Draco smile, impressed.
Pulling Draco up near the owlery Malfoy was finally able to stop her.
"I thought we weren't going to the Owlery?" Malfoy asked.
"We're not." Hermione replied giving a sharp tug on Malfoy's arm making him trip into following her once again.
"There's nothing else up here." Malfoy replied.
"You just never found anything else." Hermione replied lazily. She stopped at the stepladder into the Owlery, squeezing past the ladder she indicated for Malfoy to follow her. He pushed his way into the small space Hermione was crammed into and looked at the small space.
"We came here?" Malfoy asked.
"Just wait a second." Hermione replied. She took out her wand and traced the tip around a brick in the middle of the wall. Malfoy watched in shock as the wall turned into a door. Hermione smiled at Malfoy's shocked face and opened the door. Walking inside Malfoy saw that it was a fairly plain room except for a bed, a sofa, a table and a few things strewn over the floor.
"How did you know about this?" Malfoy asked.
"Well, I was wanting some time alone and the only place I knew to hide, Harry and Ron knew about so I came up to the owlery, I just noticed the gap behind the ladder. It was complete luck that I started tracing bricks with my wand." Hermione explained. Draco shrugged and sat down on the sofa.
"So why are we up here Granger?" Malfoy asked.
"You know why…" Hermione replied picking up some things off the floor and putting them in the corner.
"Come on Granger. Why do you care?" Malfoy asked dismissively.
"I don't know." Hermione replied.
"Well, you don't have to worry. I got them during quidditch." Malfoy commented.
"Malfoy, why are you lying?" Hermione asked, now staring at Malfoy.
"I'm not." Malfoy replied, his eyes filled with the same fear Hermione had seen in the owlery earlier that day.
"Malfoy, my friend, a muggle." She thought she better add that before Malfoy started asking questions about her friend. "Her dad well he… He attacked her Malfoy. She would come over to my house and she would be covered in bruises. Now she would always make some lame excuse about how she got them and being young and stupid I believed her. She died Malfoy. Her father came home drunk one night and attacked her again, he killed her." Hermione's voice became shallow. Remembering Emma was difficult.
"Touching story Granger." Malfoy replied lazily.
"Malfoy you can't deny what is happening.”
“Actually Granger I can and I will.” He spat.
“When are you going to let someone help? When you’re half dead, when you are dead?” Hermione asked in disbelief.
“Granger, shut up. I don’t need your help or your pathetic childhood stories. I am fine. There is nothing going on. Just leave me alone Granger.” Walking to the door he opened it and left, banging the door behind him leaving Hermione staring, shocked after him once again.

Chapter 3.
The whole story.

Two months past and Hermione stayed out of Malfoy’s way. She couldn’t bare to see him anymore after what had found out. Malfoy also avoided Hermione. He didn’t want to talk to her, especially if his father found out he had been conversing with a mudblood. Harry and Ron were still ignoring Hermione. Was it that? She wasn't sure. Maybe it was her ignoring them. But they hadn’t spoken since the middle of October and it was now the beginning of January. Hermione noticed that Draco had gone back home for the Christmas holidays.
Everyone who had gone home for the Christmas holidays came back four days before classes started so they could get back into school life. Though Hermione was avoiding Malfoy she would look for him at breakfast, lunch and dinner but she could never see him. Two days before classes started Hermione sat down to dinner only to get in a fight with Ron. According to him Harry had seen Hermione walking with Malfoy, hand in hand. Hermione knew the truth but she couldn’t tell Ron what had really happened. Instead she only tried to deny it, making Ron even angrier.
“You are dating our worst enemy.” Ron yelled.
“Ron if you think I would do that you don’t know me!” Hermione screamed before marching out of the hall. Running up towards the owlery she slipped behind the stepladder and opened the door to the secret room. Stepping into the room Hermione gasped and threw her hands to her mouth. Draco Malfoy sat on the couch, his lip swollen with blood running down onto his chin, his face covered in bruises and cuts and his arms… His arms were slashed repeatedly, blood gushing from each cut.
“Oh my god.” Hermione gasped. She ran to Malfoy and grabbed some clothes. Wrapping a shirt around each of his arms she tried to stop the bleeding. Kneeling in front of him she touched a hand to his cheek. He flinched at her touch but looked down into her eyes.
“When did this happen?” Hermione asked. Malfoy inhaled in short and gasping breathes as he tried to speak.
“All holiday. He just hit me and kicked me. I tried to get out but he caught me and beat me even more.” Hermione looked to Malfoy’s arm.
“Did he do this?”
“No.” Malfoy answered shortly.
“You did it to yourself?”
Malfoy didn’t say anything, he only nodded slightly.
“Oh my,” Hermione thought for a moment. “Ok. I’m going to go down to the library and see if I can find anything to heal all this.” She told Malfoy, then she ran from the room.
Running down the corridors Hermione had to keep swerving people to stop from crashing into them. Finally while turning a corner she almost ran into Dumbledore, and while trying not to she fell over backwards.
“Miss Granger, are you ok?” He asked politely as Hermione pulled herself to her feet.
“I’m sorry sir, I was trying to get to the library.” Hermione replied.
“Why in such a hurry?”
“It’s an emergency sir.” Hermione said breathlessly.
“And what is this emergency?”
“I can’t say sir.” Hermione cringed on the inside. She hated keeping things from Dumbledore.
“Well, ok. If you need anything Miss Granger, I am here.” Dumbledore nodded.
“Thank you sir.” Hermione replied and rushed into the Library.
Madam Prince tried to ask Hermione a lot of questions when she asked for wizarding healing methods but Hermione wouldn’t answer. Finally Madam Prince gave her a book named injuries and their muggle cures. Hermione thanked madam Prince and rushed back up to the secret room. Stepping inside she saw that the clothes wrapped around his arms were almost soaked in blood.
“Hey.” Hermione said quickly, She kneeled on the floor and opened the book. Looking through the index the found the charm she was looking for. “The Cut healer Charm.” Hermione flipped to the page and read the instructions. Putting the book on the floor she pulled out her wand and unwrapped one of Draco’s arms. She touched her wand tip to the cut making Malfoy howl in pain. Hermione mouthed sorry then whispered.
“Helkure” Before her eyes the cut healed itself and all the blood that had been gushing from that slash disappeared. Hermione quickly mended all the cuts. When she was done she noticed all the blood that was on the clothes was gone. Hermione pulled herself up onto the sofa and collapsed onto it next to Draco who suddenly seemed a lot better, which wasn’t surprising seeing as he just got all his blood back.
“Hermione…” Malfoy started. Hermione jumped, it was the first time Malfoy had called her by her first name.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
“Just don’t do it again ok.” Hermione breathed. “So are you going to tell me what is going on?” Malfoy was quiet for a moment then in a sudden burst he told Hermione everything.
“It started ages ago. I don’t know when. Well I guess my dad did a very good job of brainwashing me for a while. He told me power was everything and that you had to be strong or people would crush you. I started to believe him after a while. he said Dumbledore was an old fraud who didn't know what was coming to him. Then he started to beat me more often saying it was good for me. I didn't want anyone to know so I distanced myself from people. He also said Voldemort wouldn’t want a weak right hand man. Becoming a death eater is my destiny according to my father. I get initiated next summer. There is no way out of it. My father would rather kill me than have me not join Voldemort.”
Hermione sat silently listening to Malfoy explain everything to her. She couldn’t see any way out of this but she knew they had to try.
“Malfoy I don’t know what to say.” Hermione whispered finally.
“You don’t need to say anything. I suppose I will just have to do what he says.” Malfoy replied.
“Malfoy you can’t go on like… like this!” Hermione replied pointing at the bruises on Malfoy’s arms. Over the next few weeks Malfoy and Hermione started spending more time with each other. Hermione would walk up to the secret room on Saturdays and usually find Malfoy sitting on the sofa. Both would talk about their problems, their dreams, their likes and dislikes. Hermione actually realised why most of the girls in Hogwarts liked Draco Malfoy. He was very smart and witty, he was definitely cute but mostly he wasn’t as bad as he made himself out to be. When they talked she had seen him smile and talk with her like she was just like him. No wait, it was better than that. He talked to her like she was a girl. One Saturday morning Hermione opened the door to the secret room and found it empty. Thinking Malfoy was just sleeping in she started on her homework. 12…1…2…3… where was he? 7…8… this is ridiculous. Hermione was about to leave when the door opened and Malfoy stood in the doorway. Well, he wasn’t really standing. More only upright because he was leaning on the doorframe.
“Malfoy what happened?” Hermione shrieked.
“Do you really have to ask?” Malfoy asked.
“Good point.” Hermione replied helping Malfoy over to the sofa. The bruises were quickly gone and Malfoy sat, resting on the sofa, Hermione collapsed next to him.
“How come you saw your dad today?” Hermione asked.
“I got a letter from him telling me to meet him. He had permission from Dumbledore to let me go.” Malfoy replied sulkily.
Before she knew what she was doing Hermione turned onto her back and leant her head against Malfoy’s muscular chest. Malfoy looked down at her with content. He stroked the hair out of her eyes and smiled down at her. For a moment they stayed like that. Staring at each other then Malfoy moved in for the kill. Bringing his head down he held her face in both hands and kissed her gently. Hermione pulled herself up and kissed Malfoy back. It didn’t matter anymore that they were meant to be enemies. That they were meant to hate each other, she had fallen for his charms and he had simply fallen.

Chapter 4.
The letter.

Hermione and Malfoy now made their way up to their secret room as much as possible. Malfoy had promised to move slow but every time Hermione would give in to her own temptation and the pace would quicken. It was nearing the Easter holidays when Hermione and Malfoy finally slept together. Hermione never had to ask Malfoy to be gentle. She didn’t have to explain it was her first time. He knew everything and succumbed to her every wish.
“It’s strange isn’t it…” Hermione whispered and she curled into Malfoy’s muscular arms. They had been lying awake for a while now, neither wanting to move.
“What’s strange?” Malfoy asked, brushing her hair away from her neck and kissing the soft skin.
“The term sleeping together.” Hermione replied calmly.
“Why’s that?”
“Well, you have to be awake.” Hermione commented making Malfoy laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Hermione asked.
“Well, you sound like a child asking why the sky is blue.” Malfoy replied. Hermione lay silently for a moment.
“Why is the sky blue?” she asked jokingly. Malfoy smiled and closed his eyes. Hermione turned over so she faced Malfoy and fell asleep in his warm embrace.
‘Tap tap tap.’ The sound pulled Hermione from her slumber and drove into her head. Opening her eyes she saw a large Eagle Owl tapping at the window. Hermione slipped out from Malfoy’s grasp and opened the window letting the bird fly in and deliver its letter. Hermione detached the letter from the Owl’s leg and held it tightly in her hand. The bird flew off immediately, obviously not needing pay. Hermione looked down at the letter and saw there was a black symbol on it. Hermione recognised it straight away as the Dark Mark. Suddenly the reason the owl had come here instead of to the Great Hall was perfectly clear. Turning the letter over Hermione saw a neat loopy name that she could make out as Draco.
Turning back to her lover she noticed him stirring. He was missing her, even in his sleep. Hermione held the letter crunched in her hand. Should she give it to him? She knew the letter was from his father and was probably about becoming a death eater, she also knew it would annoy him. Watching him turn over in his restless sleep she couldn’t hide the urge to rip the letter into a thousand pieces and never let Draco know it existed but she knew she couldn’t not let him see it. She had to give him the letter and let him know what was so important that it would be delivered at… Hermione checked her watch; it was four in the morning. What would be so important that they would have it delivered at four in the morning, and what could be so important that it has Voldemort’s symbol on it?
Hermione clutched the letter tightly in her shaking hand and leaned out of the window. The cold morning air hitting her face with a thousand needles. Wrapping a blanket around herself she sat on the overly large windowsill watching the grounds from the secret room. Hagrid was already up, checking all the animals for his classes, fang the boar hound bounding along at his heels. She must have sat watching the scenery for an hour or more, the letter still clutched in her hand. She couldn’t wake him to give him the letter, it wouldn’t be right to bring this calamity to his knowledge while he was still so peaceful. No, she would wait till he woke, then she wouldn’t be breaking his world a second before she had to.
Sitting on the windowsill, her knees up to her chest she watched as more and more people woke and ventured out into the grounds. It was a Sunday, many people would be going to Hogsmead today but for Hermione the thrill had gone. She could sneak down to the Kitchens and get some butterbeer, she didn’t really want any chocolate ad she definitely didn’t need anything from Zonkos. Owls flew in and out of the window above her, coming and going from their morning deliveries.
Just as Hermione was watching the Ravenclaw team going down to an early quidditch practise she felt a warm breath on the back of her neck. Closing her eyes and smiling, Draco Malfoy slipped his arms around her waste and hugged her tightly from behind.
“Why are you out of bed?” He asked tenderly. “I was missing you, longing to touch you.”
“I was woken up by an owl who has no respect for people’s sleep.” Hermione replied.
“Really, what was the letter about?”
“I don’t know. It was for you.” Hermione held out the now slightly crumpled letter.
“You open it.” Malfoy said quietly, not wanting to release his grip from this beautiful girl.
Hermione smiled and opened the letter. Lines and lines of small neat, loopy writing blurred out from the page.
“You read it out to me.” Malfoy whispered, nuzzling into her neck.
“Draco, I heard something that disturbs me. A friend of yours sends me word that my son is never able to be found on a Saturday and that they saw you conversing with a mudblood. And not just any mudblood but Harry Potters friend Hermione Granger.” Hermione stopped and looked at Malfoy. Malfoy was silent for a moment.
“Read on.” He said quietly.
“You know that the Dark Lord wishes for none of his followers to converse with mudbloods or muggles, and that he also wishes The Potter boy dead and gone. You have brought disgrace to the name Malfoy. You will come back home this Friday night. You are to be initiated then. You will do as you are told this time Draco, or there will be consequences.” Tears streaming down Hermione’s face she couldn’t even say the name ‘Lucius.’ Malfoy hugged her tightly from behind.
There they stayed for a while, neither able to speak of the letter or anything to do with it, only say in their silent surrender that neither had liked its contents. They didn’t know who made the first move but soon both were back in the bed, curled in each others arms, not letting the outside world affect them anymore, the only sound passing into their ears was the others breath.

Chapter 5.
Don't leave me
Hours passed as seconds as their time together slipped away from them. Sunday left in a rush of cold wind leaving them only weekdays where they would have to pass each other in the hallways, neither saying a word about what was drawing closer by seconds and minutes.
Hermione only returned to her dorm room once on Monday morning to grab her robes and her books. She brought them all up to the secret room as did Draco. Both would sleep there for the next week. Potions class seemed torturous. Snape had become more of a nightmare for both Hermione and Draco. Usually Snape was Draco’s favourite teacher but now he was with Hermione the insults he threw at her were digging into his skin like knives. Every insult he muttered or yelled would make Draco want to stand up and scream back at him but knowing he had to pretend to hate Hermione he sat, staring at his badly mixed potion. He had too much on his mind to concentrate on a potion he would never use.
‘What would be the use of a shrinking potion?’ Draco thought. ‘I mean the only time you would use it is if something huge is coming at you, about to kill you. I doubt I would be carrying a shrinking potion with me and I highly doubt I would be able to say “Can you wait a second while I brew a potion to shrink you to the size of a pea.” No it would be useless.’
Hermione was also not up to her usual form that week. Her worry for Draco made her unable to listen in class and she didn’t take her usual notes. Every day as soon as class was over she would sprint at full speed to the Great Hall and grab some food from the table, she would put in a bag and run with it up to the Secret room where Draco would be waiting for her. No homework was done that week either. Neither could bring themselves to stay away from each other long enough to complete and assignment. Instead it was discarded at the door and completely forgotten about. Instead they would eat some dinner then sit, mostly in silence, just basking in the other’s company.
Hermione woke up with tears streaming silently down her face. It was Friday. At six o’clock Draco would go home to become a death eater. They had tried to think of any way to get out of it but none had been very good. By Thursday night Hermione had just been crying any suggestion she could think of, including running away to china and working selling souvenirs. That night they had made love until both was so exhausted they couldn’t move. Hermione lay, awake in sleeping Draco’s arms. She felt close to him like this. He didn’t know her worries of the day ahead, her fears about what would happen as soon as he left the safety of Hogwarts school neither would he know she loved him. But also little did she know that the man she loved was actually lying awake, fearing her same fears, worrying her same worries, and loving the girl that lay asleep (or so he thought) in his arms.
“Promise you’ll come up here before you go?” Hermione asked as they got read to leave for classes.
“Hermione we finish at twelve today. Of course I’ll be up here.” Malfoy replied.
Hermione smiled a worried smile. In a way she didn’t want to see Draco after this. Their last night together had been so perfect she didn’t want her memory of that night erased by their last meeting before he went home. But in another way she didn’t want to leave his side for a second that day. She wanted to stay with him and just do anything. Even sitting across the room from him, knowing he was there would be enough for Hermione.
Unfortunately that wasn’t possible. Every class Hermione and Draco had on a Friday wasn’t with the other.
Draco sat through Transfiguration with a distant look. He transformed his rock into a dog easily then sat staring into nothingness, wishing he was somewhere else. Ancient runes was also very boring. He sat, staring at the board though not taking in what it said. Not listening to the professors drawls about how to figure it out.
At twelve they met back at the secret room. Neither went to get lunch. They just went straight to the room and sat talking about nothing and everything. Within what seemed like milliseconds it was six o’clock.
Draco got up to leave. He grabbed his cloak and pulled it loosely around his shoulders. Hermione stood up and walked with him to the door, tears creeping up into her eyes. Standing half in the room, half out they said their goodbyes. Malfoy promised to try and get out of it. He promised he would make his case that someone might find out he was a death eater if he was initiated before he left Hogwarts. Smiling down at Hermione he placed his warm hands to her cheeks and kissed her softly. She put her hands through his hair and kissed him back, savouring every taste of his lips and every movement of his tongue. He pulled away, much to the dislike of his heart and head. He wanted to stay but he had to go. Hermione longed to ask him to stay. Ask him not to leave her. Beg him to just stay one more minute so she wouldn't have to say goodbye but she didn't. She just leaned on the doorframe, wishing that she had been dreaming, he wasn't going home and she would wake up any moment, Draco's arms curled around her like they had been when she fell asleep. Slipping out from behind the stepladder he took one last glance at Hermione Granger, leaning against the doorframe and whisked off towards fate and Hermione knew she wasn't dreaming anymore.

Chapter 6.
I Love You.

Hermione left the secret room after a few minutes. How she wished that time moved the other way around. That when you were with the one you loved minutes moved like hours and when you were apart hours moved like seconds but it was no such luck. Seconds dragged out making her more and more nervous by each lasting moment. Moving to the window she watched as Draco walked down to the gates of Hogwarts. 'Lucius must be waiting for him there!' She thought as Draco glided down the grounds, his cloak billowing out behind him. Soon he was gone. He disappeared behind the gates of Hogwarts School and Hermione had lost him.
Walking to the Gryffindor tower she passed people she knew but she didn't recognise them. She didn't answer when Harry said hello to her for the first time in weeks and she didn't care when Ron tried to apologise. She nodded and accepted his apology but at that moment in time she didn't care if they never spoke again if Draco would just return.
Sitting in a chair by the window of the Gryffindor common room she waited. Waited impatiently for Draco to return to the safe of Hogwarts castle, to the safe of her arms. Harry tried to talk to her many times during the evening but Hermione only mumbled a nonsensical response. Draco had told her he would be back by midnight so at ten to twelve she got up from the chair and sprinted to the secret room. By the time she got to the stairs up to the Owlery she had a stitch in her side and she felt that if she ran one more step she would split in two but she kept running. Up the twisting stairs until she reached the landing with the old wooden stepladder into the owlery. Slipping behind it she fumbled in her pocket for her wand and quickly traced the brick turning the wall into a door. Slipping her wand back into her pocket she pushed open the door and screamed as she looked in on the scene of her worse nightmare.
Draco lay on the floor in the middle of the room. His robes torn and muddy, his face black and blue. She ran to him and knelt beside him. Putting her hands to his shoulders she shook him violently. 'He's passed out.' She promised herself. 'He just passed out!'
Ripping the front of his robes she saw he had been wearing jeans and a white T-shirt as normal. She pulled up the shirt and yelped in agony for him. Slashes covered his chest and he looked like he had been beaten with a metal pipe. Shaking her head Hermione shook Malfoy's shoulders screaming for him to wake up. She pulled out her wand and screamed 'Enervate' at the top of her lungs but nothing worked. Collapsing onto the floor she finally noticed a quill lying on the floor and a letter crumpled in his left hand. Pulling the letter out of his loose grip she opened it up, a silver ring fell out, a dragon circling around it. She put it on her own finger and read the scribbled message. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she read Draco’s final farewell. As she read further and further on memories that weren’t her own flooded her mind.
The boy walked down the grounds. His hands shaking as he drew nearer the gates. Finally he saw them. They stood in front of him. Every one of them masked and armed with baseball bats. ‘This isn’t going to be traditional’ he thought to himself as he stopped in front of them. The man in the middle unmasked himself.
“Hello son,” He said coolly, hitting the baseball bat softly into his hand.
“Hello father.” The boy replied. His palms were sweating now. ‘I hate to do this.’ He forced himself.
“So, are you joining us or not son?” His father asked, now tapping the baseball bat harder.
“No. I’m not.” The boy replied weakly.
The first blow came from his father. He struck him full force in the side making the boy keel over onto the floor. It wasn’t long before all of the men were hitting him. For a moment they stopped. The boy opened his eyes and saw they were backing off, all of them except his father. The boy stood up, his legs bursting with pain. He thought they were finished, he looked his father straight in the eyes and before he knew it his father swung again hitting the boy square in the side of the head. The boy screamed. He pulled himself to his feet and ran. Running back up to the castle as fast as his bleeding legs would carry him. He didn’t know if they were following him and he look back to see. He made it all the way up to the secret room he had shared with his love for the past week and collapsed onto the floor. Finding the first things he could find he wrote her a farewell.