The Serpent's Curse

Veil of Deception

The next morning, Draco woke up with a sense of dread. The memory of his encounter with Granger lingered, a strange mix of curiosity and anxiety about what her and her friends might be up to. He knew he had to be careful, more so now than ever. As he made his way through the Slytherin common room, he spotted Theodore and Blaise. They were deep in conversation, and Draco didn't want to be part of it. They'd quickly grown tired of this new version of Draco, cold and distant. Every time they see him, they give him glances of pity and Draco couldn't stand it. He quickly ducked out of sight, slipping through the corridors with practiced ease.

He had a task to complete today, one that made his skin crawl. The cursed necklace had to be placed in the bathroom at the Three Broomsticks. It was a dangerous object, and the thought of using it made his stomach twist. But he had no choice.

As he entered the bustling pub, he kept his head down, making his way to the back. He was almost to the bathroom when he heard familiar voices. Hermione, Harry, and Ron were seated at a table, deep in conversation. Draco cursed under his breath, hoping they wouldn't notice him. But as he slipped into the bathroom, he heard footsteps behind him.

"Malfoy," Hermione's voice called out, and he felt a surge of irritation.

"What do you want, Granger?" he snapped, turning to face her. Her friends were nowhere in sight, and he wondered if she had followed him alone.

"I just wanted to talk," she said, her eyes searching his. "I know something's going on, and I want to help."

"I don't need your help," he hissed, feeling the weight of the cursed necklace in his pocket. "Just leave me alone."

But Hermione didn't back down. "I can't do that. I know you're in trouble, and I can't just stand by and watch."

Draco felt a flash of anger. "You don't understand, Granger. This is dangerous. You need to stay out of it."

"Maybe I don't understand everything, but I know you're not a bad person, Malfoy. You don't have to do this."

Her words struck a chord, but he couldn't afford to let his guard down. "Just go back to your friends and leave me alone," he said, turning away from her.

But Hermione reached out, grabbing his arm. "I'm not going anywhere until you talk to me."

Draco sighed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "Fine," he said, his voice low. "But not here. Meet me at the Shrieking Shack tonight. We can talk then."

Hermione nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "I'll be there."

As she left, Draco felt a mix of relief and frustration. He had to complete his task, but the thought of meeting Granger later gave him a strange feeling that he didn't like.

He'd never ever admit it, but he'd always had a little thing for her. After he'd called her a mudblood in the second year, he'd regretted it and tried to reach out to her. They had struck up a sort of secret friendship, both acting like they couldn't stand each other in public and then confiding in each other in private, late at night. Their friendship had quickly died however, after the events of last year, when his father was sent to Azkaban because of her and her gang of idiots.

The rest of the day passed in a blur for Draco. He managed to place the cursed necklace without further incident, but his mind kept returning to his upcoming meeting with Granger. As night fell, he made his way to the Shrieking Shack, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and anticipation.

The old, decrepit building loomed ahead, its windows dark and foreboding. Draco slipped inside, the creaking floorboards echoing his every step. He found a corner and waited, the silence pressing down on him.

A few minutes later, the door creaked open, and Hermione stepped inside. She looked around, her eyes scanning the shadows until they landed on Draco. She approached him cautiously, her expression a mix of concern and determination.

"You came," Draco said, his voice cold and detached.

"I said I would," Hermione replied, keeping her distance. "Now, tell me what's going on."

Draco's eyes narrowed, his posture rigid. "I can't tell you everything, but you need to know that I'm in danger. I've been forced to do things... terrible things."

Hermione's eyes flickered with a mix of fear and resolve, and she took a hesitant step closer. "You don't have to do this alone, Draco. We can find a way to help you."

Draco scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "Help? From you? Don't be ridiculous, Granger. This isn't some school project you can fix with a few spells and clever thinking."

"Then let us help you," Hermione insisted, her voice wavering slightly. "Harry, Ron, and I—we can figure something out. We've faced danger before."

Draco's gaze hardened, a sneer forming on his lips. "You don't know what you're getting into," he said, his voice icy. "This is bigger than anything you've faced."

"Maybe," Hermione said softly, her caution evident in her tone, "but that doesn't mean we can't try. You're not alone, Malfoy. You don't have to carry this burden by yourself."

"For Merlin's sake, Granger, stop it!" Draco snapped, his voice filled with anger and frustration. "I don't need your help. I don't want it. Just stay away from me."

Hermione flinched at his harsh words, but she didn't back down. "I'm not going anywhere, Draco. We'll figure this out together."

Draco's eyes blazed with fury, but beneath it, a strange tension simmered. He hated that she was getting under his skin, hated the flicker of something unidentifiable that stirred within him. "You don't understand," he growled. "If you get involved, you'll only make things worse. Just leave me alone."

Hermione reached out, her hand hovering in the air before she let it drop. "I can't do that," she said quietly, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination.

Draco clenched his fists, his knuckles white. "You're a fool, Granger. A stubborn, insufferable fool. But if you get hurt because of this..."

"I won't," Hermione interrupted, her eyes locking onto his. "I promise."

Draco turned away, his jaw clenched in anger. "Fine. Do what you want. But don't expect me to save you when things go wrong."

As he stormed out of the Shrieking Shack, Draco's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He despised the strange tension that had arisen between them, and he was furious with himself for letting her get under his skin. But for the first time in a long while, he couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't entirely alone.