What a Terrible Mess

Chapter 13

"NO! I'll not let him bond with me out of pity- or just to keep me alive. A life, for me, Hermione- is nothing. NOTHING- without the real love of my bondmate." Draco was angry, slamming his fist into the table, "and you won't tell him either. You owe me. He doesn't need any more stress."

"Draco, I can't keep this kind of secret from Harry, please- don't make me do this. There's got to be a way around it."

"No. No way. Just know Granger, that as long as I am breathing, as long as I can I will be close. You won't always see me, but I'll never be far from him. I *will* protect him, I will be there until I die. You won't see me then either."

Hermione nodded, biting her lip.

"And if I can figure out a way to tell him, a way that he can know- so that you know he's not just pitying you or just... being Harry, I guess, what then?"

"If you can do that Hermione, I will praise your name for the rest of my days. If you could just give me a chance, tell me what to do- say my name and I'm there. I've done nothing but think about it since I realized he was mine."

"You really love him don't you? You're willing to die- probably painfully- just to keep him happy and unknowing?"

"I'd give him anything."

"I *will* figure this out Draco. Harry needs someone willing to stand beside him through all this mess- he needs someone more than Ron and I... I know he has to be lonely, though we all do our best. I will always look out for Harry too Draco, as will the people that really know him." Hermione chose this moment to stand, gathering her books and papers, holding out her free hand she added, "welcome to the ranks, Draco Black. We can use everyone we get."

Draco never thought he'd be so happy (and flattered) to reach out and shake Hermione Granger's hand.

"Hey! It's almost time for supper. Let's go get something to eat, shall we?" holding her arm out for the blonde to take. Draco latched his arm in hers, and grinned,

"what a lovely idea Ms. Granger, I gladly accept!"

"You know, Draco," Hermione whispered conspiratorially as they walked along, "if you and Harry bond, we should really start trying to all get along." Draco hummed in agreement, keeping his senses open for anyone who might hear them. "It might also be best for you to try to make up for stuff you've done in the past..." he nodded again.

"Any ideas on that?" he asked

"Not just yet- though I'll let you know."

When they entered the Great Hall, Draco chose to sit across from Hermione. Everyone was there except for Harry. Hermione looked around.

"Anyone seen Harry?"

"I went to check on him, still in McGonagall's office I suppose." Ron said, eyeing Draco suspiciously. Hermione looked hard at Draco, who just smiled and turned to look at the doors. Hermione shifted her glance as well- just in time to see Harry walk through. Hermione turned to look back at Draco and she smiled.

"Well? Did you find out anything new?" Hermione asked as Harry approached. It was that moment that Draco realized that the only place to sit, near his friends, was beside him. He jerked his head to look down at his plate, up at Hermione who was smiling sugarly sweet at Harry, then back to his plate.

"No sign of those things yet- I really want to know what they were. She seems to be in a really good mood though. Which is weird, because she thinks she's definitely going to have to send everyone home," at that, all of Harry's friends turned to stare at him, mouths gaping. Harry nodded, "there really aren't enough students here to do what they need to. Death Eaters are attacking in so many places- the Ministry keeps making more and more excuses. Lots of other schools are shutting down. Durmstrang caught fire even. She's considering calling it an elongated fall break. We'd all be invited back, next semester."

"Where would you go Harry?" Hermione asked worriedly. This peaked Draco's interest greatly.

"Well I guess I'd stay here with McGonagall-" Ron spluttered and interupted Harry quickly,

"nonsense mate, you're always welcome at the burrow!" Harry smiled back at Ron, pushing his food around his plate. He glanced up at Hermione, then back to Ron and to Draco and Blaise.

"I've been invited to go home, to my home. My birthday will be this fall you know... I'll be of age."

"And you'll inherit...?" Hermione stopped, leaving the question open. Draco was confused, he looked from a very sad Hermione to an about to cry Harry. What was going on? He glanced at Blaise for a hint but he just shrugged. Harry pushed his plate back with a sigh.

"I... I just need to go get some fresh air. I'll see you in the common room tonight." Hermione nodded understandingly. Draco stared at her, boring his eyes into hers- trying to figure out what was happening. Harry stood, and paused, looking down at Draco, "Draco... McGonagall asked me to talk to you. You can come with me or I can find you tomorrow if you'd like? You must be tired."

"No. I am exhausted, but I'll come with you. There aren't a lot of Slytherins down there tonight, you may need someone else anyway." Draco said, glancing over his shoulder at the other end of the single table in the great hall.

Hermione pulled a book from her bag, holding it out toward Draco,

"In case I don't see you again tonight- here's the book you check out Draco. Take it." Not wanting to set off any suspicion, Draco sneered, took the book and nodded,

"why thank you Hermione. I hadn't realized I left it."

As they walked out of the Great Hall, Draco took advantage of Harry's bad mood to peer at the book, 'A History Of Veelas'. There was a small piece of parchment bookmarking... the first page? That's unusual, Draco thought, slipping the ragged piece of parchment from between the pages and putting the book in his robe. Unfolding it he found that, as he suspected, it was a note. Had she wrote that sitting at the table? She really should have been in Slytherin- he hadn't noticed a thing. Draco smirked to himself and opened the parchment only to read Hermione's neat scrawl appear slowly and then disappear- what if he didn't know you were going to die? Draco stopped, waiting for more to appear. There was nothing else. He stood there, rooted in place- just staring at the parchment. He was doing his best to keep from running back to the great hall to hug Hermione. She truly was a genius and he never thought that would cross his mind. Why hadn't he thought of that?

"Draco? What's that you've got there?" Harry asked, having noticed Draco had stopped he'd returned to make sure he was okay.