The Right Choice

Chapter Eight

Hermione could hardly believe what had happened yesterday. Today, she was skiving off lessons, sitting in front of the fireplace. She would tell her professors she was simply too ill to leave her bed, and had asked Parvati to cover for her this morning. Her professors would not believe anything less, and would pass on their well wishes.

She just couldn't face Draco, not after he had kissed her. Not that she hadn't liked it, but that didn't make it okay. This was the boy that had brought her to tears many times over the past five years, the boy that taunted her best friends. He had called her a mudbloood on countless occasions, and yet here he was, kissing her. She just couldn't wrap her head around it. And how was she possibly funny when she was angry? She imagined she looked like a raving banshee.

The more she thought about it, the more she came to the conclusion that she could no longer deny. She had feelings for Draco Malfoy. She dropped her head in her hands and rocked back and forth. She didn't even notice when someone walked in until she heard a voice.

"Harry said you were sick, I wanted to check on you." Ginny said.

"Ginny, aren't you supposed to be in class?" Hermione asked.

"Aren't you? You don't look sick to me." Ginny remarked.

"I needed a mental health day."

"What's going on Hermione? Harry said you were sitting with Malfoy one night, and now you're skipping classes. Did he do something to you? I swear I'll hex him to hell and back."

Hermione smiled at her ferocity, she looked just like her mother when she did that. She decided to confide in her closest female friend.

"Ginny, I'm going to tell you something. But only if you swear to me that you won't tell Harry or your brother, any of them." she said in a serious tone.

Ginny had a curious look about her, but agreed nonetheless.

"Draco kissed me."

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "Oh."

Hermione stared at her feet as she went on. "We've been partners in class for a while now, and he found me about a week ago in a less than happy state. Until then it had been a relationship based only on classwork, but he comforted me."

"What were you so unhappy about that he of all people decided to comfort you?" Ginny asked.

Hermione sighed, "Harry probably told you, but I had developed feelings for Ron."

Ginny made a face, but Hermione continued. "He's a thick git. He can't take the most obvious hint. After the quidditch match, he and Lavender ran off together. I hid myself until it passed but Draco found me and actually was sincere. After that we were friends, and I guess I noticed we were getting closer but I didn't want to believe it. And yesterday it happened. I had tea with Harry at Hagrid's. Harry went to quidditch practice and I came back up to the castle. It started to rain and I slipped by the owlery, luckily Draco was there and caught me. We walked back to the castle together and I slipped again on the steps, he caught me and actually seemed angry about having to catch me so I became angry too. Then, of all things, he smiled. He thinks I'm funny when I'm angry so I became even more enraged with him. It was then that he grabbed my hand and kissed me."

There were a few moments of silence before Ginny spoke. "And you liked it?"

Hermione nodded, and so Ginny continued. "Well, Hermione, no one can tell you how to feel. But you should be cautious."

Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing, Ginny was actually accepting what happened without launching into a tirade like Hermione had expected.

"You must be careful, please. Don't let yourself get in too deep." Ginny said.

Hermione wanted to tell her friend about the incident where Draco had been crying, she wanted to let it out so badly but she swore to Draco that she wouldn't.

Ginny stood up. "I'm going to lunch. I'll sneak you some food, and if anyone asks-"

"I'm sick." Hermione said with a smile. "Thanks, Ginny. I really needed someone to listen to me."

Ginny smiled back at her, "Well Harry's not going to, and my brother would have blown up already."

And with that, she left Hermione alone with her thoughts.
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Draco noticed Hermione's absence from lessons right away. He immediately searched for her as he entered the dungeon for potions. He wanted to gauge her reaction to seeing him. But she wasn't in her seat. It wasn't until lunch that he overheard her name coming from the Gryffindor table.

"Ginny went to check up on Hermione, apparently she's too sick to leave her bed." Weasel said.

Right, of course she's sick today. How convenient. Draco thought to himself. If she really were, she would be in the hospital wing, not in her room.

He didn't regret the kiss for a second. After all, it was he who had instigated it. Being attracted to Hermione went against everything he believed in, his father would likely drop dead should he find out. But it didn't matter, and Draco couldn't explain why.

Why was he suddenly burning to be with someone he had detested for years? Then again, he was older now, much more mature. He had been forced to grow up fast. At sixteen, Draco was in a position to decide what he wanted in his life. He had to choose a path much sooner than most his age. And it was looking like Draco would follow his heart.

Suddenly, his eagle owl landed in front of him with a letter tied to his leg. Draco shooed the owl away and read it. It was from his mother.

Draco's heart dropped to his stomach. Voldemort had been pressuring him, of course. But now his mother's life was at stake. The sick bastard knew that love was weakness, and he knew how to force anyone into doing his bidding.

His mother wrote a very distressed letter, the Dark Lord had implied that should Draco fail, what was dear to him might be lost. Draco only had one person in his life who he would commit murder for, the one person who had shown him affection in his life, and that was his mother.

He let out a sigh, there was no way around it, Draco would have to follow through with his orders, or there wouldn't be a reason to live.

But how could he keep pursuing Hermione in this state? He wanted to see what his newfound feelings for Hermione would lead to. Draco just wanted to be around her, he couldn't explain why. Even if she would only take him as a friend, he would stay just to be the way they are.

After several minutes of thought, he came to a resolve. He would go after her, he wouldn't tell her of his plans. She would have to understand eventually, Draco was at risk of losing his mother. If not for her, he would abandon the scheme.

Yes, Hermione would have to forgive him of his treachery. By the time she would find out, she would be in far too deep.