Bound

Chapter 21

The hallways were empty, only Draco and Hermione could be seen. Both of them were heading towards professor Alvaro's class, wanting to get this over with.

Draco walked slightly in front of Hermione, he never trusted professor Alvaro, and after those stunts he pulled, there was no way that he was going to earn his trust.

Hermione walked with her head held high and her hands clenched at her sides, she was not afraid, but she always liked to know what to expect, and now, while walking to the professor's class, Hermione had no idea what awaits her and Draco.

"Are you okay?" Draco suddenly asked, pulling Hermione out of her thinking bubble. He noticed the way she clenched her hands and jaw so tightly and he couldn't help but worry.

Since he has already kissed her, he was not afraid to show concern or worry in his voice, in fact, he wanted Hermione to hear the concerned tone of his voice, wanted her to know that he was there for her if she wanted anything. He was there and he was not going anywhere and he wanted her to know that.

Hermione swallowed and nodded her head. "I am okay. I just...I just don't know what to expect this time. Last time, he injured you all, and even though no one believes us, we know the truth."

Draco slowed his pace and took a deep breath before nudging her shoulder, the moment she looked up at him, he gave a lighthearted smirk. "Are you scared, Granger?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, knowing fully well that he was trying to ease her mind. "I am not scared, just...worried."

He smiled softly and with the ounce of courage he had in him, he reached for Hermione's hand, intertwining his fingers with hers.

Hermione resisted the urge to swoon at the feeling of his hand in hers, a shiver crawled down her spine and Hermione tightened her hold on his hand, relishing when that same familiar warmth overpowered everything else she was feeling.

"No need to feel worried, Granger. Nothing will happen." To you, especially when I am with you, he continued the sentence in his mind, but chose not to voice out the rest of it.

Hermione didn't reply to what he said, but her mind finished the sentence, to you, nothing will happen to you as well. However, she chose not to voice out what she wanted to say. Her Gryffindor bravery could only do too much.

The both of them walked to Alvaro's class, surrounded by warmth, protection, and something else neither of them could put a name to until now.

***

Professor Alvaro was waiting in the classroom when Hermione and Draco arrived, this time, he was surprisingly there earlier than he was supposed to.

Draco tightened his hold on Hermione's hand and this time, he ushered for her to let him enter first, since he still didn't trust the professor. He stayed close to Hermione, refusing to leave her side. The Slytherin in him was painted across his face, visible in his clenched jaw and in his hand that was holding Hermione's tightly.

We protect our own.

Words that were spoken during the war, words that his friends and him said to each other on multiple occasions, words that they lived to prove and words that they took to heart. Words that were said to only those who were important to them.

Yes, Hermione wasn't a Slytherin, but even if she was a Gryffindor or a Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff even, Draco and his friends would make sure to protect her. Protect her and those who were also important to them, even if they included the immortal orphan whose hero complex was bigger than Draco's ego. Draco and his friends would do everything to prevent any harm to those who they loved and cared about. They would do anything and everything, and that includes killing to protect their own.