Only Ones Who Know

Bombarda Maximum

May was Hermione's favorite month. The weather was warm and as far as she knew, she and Draco were on a good note. They hung out almost every single day. She helped him perfect his Patronus charm and he even took her to tea after the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff when everyone was celebrating. There, he invited her to his match against Ravenclaw. The first one he'd play after being suspended.

The Quidditch Cup match was in less than a month away. Gryffindor slaughtered Hufflepuff, putting them in the first spot. Tonight's match was between Slytherin and Ravenclaw for the second spot. She only agreed to go because everyone would be there watching. She would have stuck out like a sore thumb in the green and blue audience.

Hermione sat next to Luna and Ginny. Harry and Ron, who sat in front of them, were scoping out their potential opponents.

"It's hard to say, Harry," said Ron. "But if it's Slytherin, I can't promise to play a clean game." They went on and on about their game plan. Hermione grew bored of listening.

Madam Hooch explained the rules like every time before and released the balls. Roger Davies was quick with the Quaffle, making the first attempt against Slytherin.

"Ten points Ravenclaw!" Lee Jordan's distinctive commentary voice boomed through the air.

Hermione didn't bother to pay attention to the score. She was too busy watching Draco circle the pitch. Goddamnit, he was fast. He darted around the stands. Sometimes when he flew by Hermione she could vaguely smell him in the air. Hermione was beginning to think he might be faster than Harry as he left the Seeker for Ravenclaw, Cho Chang, in the dust.

Points went up by tens. Ravenclaw was breaking two hundred and Slytherin staggered behind them barely hitting a hundred. Malfoy was their only hope. Harry had already spotted the Snitch an hour in. Hermione could never see it. Must be those ridiculous glasses of his. Giving him super-sonic eyesight or something.

Hermione saw Harry gesture towards Cho Chang and sent her in the direction of the Snitch. He was a fool for her. She wanted to kick him in the back of the head. She looked over at Draco who was oblivious to what was going on. He didn't notice that Cho turned around towards the south side of the pitch. He continued to circle until saw Cho following a golden spec. He flipped around and zoomed after her.

They were both neck in neck. Reaching and nudging into each other to get ahold of the tiny, winged ball. Hermione watched nervously as he sped up and down the pitch. He was inches away from the snitch when Goyle shouted at him to watch out. A Buldger was heading straight for Draco. Crabbe, mistaking Draco's head for the Buldger, hit him in the face and knocked him off his broom. Draco took Crabbe down with him. Hermione gasped as he fell. Draco and Crabbe watched Cho catch the Snitch from the ground. Draco picked up his broom and repeatedly smacked Crabbe with it.

"Ugh! You idiot!" Draco yelled. "You lost us the cup!" Draco didn't stop hitting him until the match was called. Then, he stormed off the field.

Hermione left with the crowd but made her way to the Slytherin locker room. She met him as he was leaving in a huff. He didn't stay for the end-of-the-season Captain's speech.

"Don't be so hard on yourself." She followed after him. "You did great. There's always next year."

"Yeah right! I'm never playing with those wankers again!" He tore off his gloves and threw them to the ground. "Couldn't even let me catch the blasted thing." He cursed them under his breath. Hermione held his face in her hand. His fair skin burned red with anger. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the wall. He relaxed with her touch. He grabbed her waist and kissed her back. Hermione didn't want it to end. Every time they kissed, it got better. It felt like it was starting to mean something.

***

Hermione was in the Room of Requirement with the other members of Dumbledore's Army. It was one of their last meetings before the end of the year. They were practicing their Patronus charms. Only a few had perfected them while others still struggled. Hermione had hers down for months now. She witnessed Ron perform his first non-corporeal Patronus. She was proud of him. Harry was beaming. Becoming the secret Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was the best thing that's ever happened to him.

Harry went to the next student when the room started to stir. Everyone stopped what they were doing. The chandelier shook. Patronus charms disappeared. The students stood around the mirror where the entrance was. They watched it crack and break into pieces. Fred and George raised their wands. Hermione's heart sank. She prayed it wasn't who she thought it was.

From the smallest hole in the stone wall, a shrill voice spoke through.

"Bombarda Maximum."

Harry dragged Colin Creevey out of the way as the wall exploded. A stout lady dressed in bubblegum pink stood at the entrance. She was surrounded by students from the Slytherin house. Hermione's stomach turned as she saw a blond-haired boy she knew too well. He had a grip on Cho Chang. She looked a mess and Draco wore a horrifying smile across his face. He threw Cho to the ground and left the group before they caught the students to bring to Umbridge's classroom. Hermione squeezed her way through the tall green robes and ran after Draco. She caught up to him and paced swiftly behind him.

"What the fuck, Draco?" She yelled at him down the hallway. He sped up and so did she.

"I trusted you!" Tears formed in her eyes. Draco came to a stop before the staircases.

"You shouldn't have." Hermione pushed him with all her might.

"You used me!" She hit him in the chest. "I fucking loved you." Draco grabbed her wrists and suppressed her.

"I told you not to fall in love with me." Anger built in his eyes.

"How could I not?"

"I set you up for betrayal. It's your fault for thinking I wouldn't do something like this." he let go of her wrists and started for the stairs again.

"Draco?" she called to him. He stopped halfway up the case. "Why didn't you interrogate me?" she demanded an answer.

"Don't act stupid, Granger." He didn't turn around. "We both know why I didn't."

"Draco," Hermione started. She was confused. If he didn't even like her then why not?

"If you had a little self-respect, you would leave." He started up the stairs again. "Stop trying to make this into something it's not."

Her confinement turned into irritation. How dare he accuse her of lacking self-respect when he was the one who had taken it away from her. She watched him stride up the stairs and fade into the darkness. Her face was hot and her fists were balled at her side.