Accepted (Drarry/Pansmione/Linny)

Chapter Thirteen - Draco

Draco looked up from his homework and examined Hermione. She was busy flipping through her Transfiguration textbook to find the answer to a question that had her stumped, which she was not happy about. Harry and Ron were sitting at the table too, but not really doing their homework. Draco was focused on Hermione though. There was something she wasn't telling him. He had guessed it when she didn't act surprised at all when informed that Pansy had been talking to Ron's sister. He wasn't sure what it was about, but as Hermione's best friend, he was going to find out.

After they all finished their homework, Draco asked Hermione to go on a walk with him.

"It's almost curfew," Hermione protested. "I have to get to my room."

"We won't be gone long," Draco assured her, "I'll just drop you off and walk back."

Hermione frowned but allowed him to lead her out of the Gryffindor Common Room. They walked through the nearly empty halls as Hermione eyed him.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Hermione guessed.

"You're hiding something," Draco said.

Hermione gulped. "No I'm not."

"Why was Pansy talking to Ginny?"

"I don't know."

"Does it have anything to do with the time I caught Ginny sneaking out of the Common Room past curfew? Or the times that she's never even shown up?"

Hermione bit her lip. "It might."

Draco sighed. "Please just tell me. I can keep a secret, you know that."

Hermione stopped walking and looked around to make sure no one was near.

"You know Ginny's friend, Luna?"

"What about her?"

"She's... like Pansy."

"So?"

"Ginny's like me," Hermione said slowly.

Draco's eyes widened. Ginny was a half mermaid's mate? But that meant -

"She's going to die?!" Draco exclaimed.

"Shhh!" Hermione warned. "Don't let anyone hear you! We can't tell Ron! He'll kill Luna."

"Why would he? He hasn't killed Pansy even though you're going to die."

"I'm not his baby sister," Hermione said. "What are we going to do? Any of Ginny's brothers will freak out!"

Draco shrugged. "I don't know. I guess she'll just have to tell them at some point. How did it go when you told your parents?"

"I... um..."

"Hermione?"

"I didn't tell them that I was going to die," Hermione mumbled.

Draco's mouth fell open. "You didn't tell them?! Hermione!"

"I know, okay? I know! I know I need to tell them but I don't know how." Hermione looked up at the portrait of two dragon ladies. It must be the entrance to her rooms. "Sanguis Caput."

"Blood of the head?" Draco asked. The ladies looked down at him as they opened. Clearly, they didn't want him to enter.

"Pansy picked it," Hermione said nervously. "Look, don't tell Ron, okay? It's Ginny's secret to tell."

"I won't tell Ron," Draco promised. "As long as you don't keep any more secrets from me."

Hermione groaned. "I won't, okay? I'm sorry. Goodnight."