After The War - FORSAKEN MAGIC (HP8)

Chapter 50 - Wounded Heart

The next day the whole school was buzzing about the attack on Ron in the Gryffindor tower. But while the whole school talked about the attack, Pansy Parkinson brought different news.

"I heard your girlfriend is leaving Hogwarts today." Pansy Parkinson hissed into Malfoy's ear at breakfast the next day.

"I don't know who you are talking about." Malfoy said coldly, his eyes snapped at Hermione, who  was having her breakfast silently between Harry and Ron, for a split second before turning his focus on his breakfast again.

"Everyone else is talking about it, The golden trio are joining the ministry. The cowards are seeking protection from the ministry." Pansy said stealing a sausage from Malfoy's plate.

Malfoy choked on his juice. He found it difficult to swallow his food as he wondered if this was true. For the first time he was relieved that Pansy continued to talk about this new development. Things between them seemed to have improved since his return from London.

"Apparently Weasley and Granger were shagging up in the boys dormitory when he was attacked. If the attacker had arrived when he was alone there was a better chance of his demise."

Malfoy gulped. He didn't like the way Pansy was telling the story. Surely they weren't shagging up- or maybe they were, after all they were together for more than a year, that however didn't stop his stomach from squirming at the thought of them together.

"So, They are leaving?" Malfoy asked trying not to sound too curious.

"So I heard. Will you miss her?" Pansy asked looking at him closely. Malfoy was taken aback. "What do you mean? Why would I?"

Pansy wasn't satisfied with this response and simply said "We have a meeting tonight, down in the dungeons. Don't be late."

Malfoy nodded nervously. This was not his first meeting since he returned from London. Almost every week the handful of Flamel's followers gathered in the dungeons to talk about their plan.

Their mission was to track down and capture or kill all the Weasleys. If Harry, Ron and Hermione were indeed leaving Hogwarts, their mission would become harder. So far they couldn't touch Ron because the DA members were always around him and if he joins the ministry, then he will have Aurors around him making him untouchable.

"Would we have to leave Hogwarts too?" Malfoy asked.

"Perhaps. Maybe if the attacker did what he was supposed to have done, we could have stayed." Pansy said with a sigh.

Malfoy gulped, turning his attention back to Hermione who was now leaving the Great Hall alone.

Malfoy made a decision immediately, pretending to grab his Potions notes from the dungeons, he quickly followed Hermione out of the great hall. His heart was thumping furiously but if Pansy was right and Hermione was leaving Hogwarts for good, then he had to just one chance to tell Hermione how he felt about her.

"Hermione!"

Hermione quickly turned around to see who called her. It was Draco Malfoy. It was still so strange to seem him talk to her like they were friends, yet she didn't even know if they were friends yet.

After their argument in the library, she avoided staying in a room with him longer than she needed to. She would often feel his eyes on her when they dine at the great hall but she would ignore it, but he didn't attempt to speak to her, until now.