Love is a Dagger to Destroy: A Dramione Story

Chapter Four

Harry's POV

Seamus, Dean, and Neville were still in the common room, so Ron and I had the dorm to ourselves.

"So what's up man?" I asked him. He shut the door before answering.

"I made a mistake," he admitted. His face went slightly red.

"Ron by mistake do you mean...?" He nodded slowly. 

"I didn't mean to, Harry, I swear."

"Who did you do it with?"

"Lavender," Ron said. "I saw her at Diagon Alley. I didn't mean to, I swear."

"Does Hermione know?" I was barely controlling my anger. Ron was my best mate, but Hermione was my friend too, and I hated people who cheat. 

"No, I don't think so. I hid it well." I started to pull out my pajamas, keeping my back to Ron. 

Finally, I said, "you should tell her."

"Are you serious? She'll kill me!"

"Well maybe that's what you deserve." The words slipped out of me. I turned around to see Ron looking shocked.

"What do you mean?" 

I felt the anger rise to the surface. "I mean, Hermione is an amazing girl and you cheated on her. It wasn't even once, was it?"

Ron looked ashamed. "No, I met with Lavender all summer."

I refused to talk to him for the rest of the night. Ron might hid his cheating well, but, one way or another, Hermione was going to find out.

Hermione's POV

I was back in Malfoy Manor with Bellatrix in front of me. Her wand was pressed up against my throat. A deranged, mad look contorted her features.

"Hello, Miss Mudblood," she cackled. She smiled evilly and shouted, "CRUCIO!"

Pain exploded across my body and I screamed. The pain did not stop or waver. It was constant. By the time she stopped I was on the ground. She knelt in front of me.

"Scream all you want mudblood. Your friends left you and you are completely alone. No one can hear you."

The pain started again and all I could hear was my screams and Bellatrix's laugh. 

"Hermione!"

Pain was all I knew, my screams mingled with laughter.

"Hermione!"

Someone was shaking me and I woke up screaming. "Hermione it's okay," a soft, gentle voice said. I felt tears streaming down my cheeks. 

"It's okay, you're okay," the voice repeated. I looked to the person and was surprised to see Malfoy.

"I'm okay," I finally said, wiping away my tears. "It was just a nightmare."

"Do you want to talk about it?" He sat on the edge of my bed. 

I hesitated then shook my head. "I'm fine now. Thanks for coming."

"Of course," Malfoy said. He got up and hesitated beside me. "You should get some sleep." He headed for the door.

"Draco?" I said so softly I thought he wouldn't hear. He turned back.

"Yes?"

"Can you stay with me?"

A small smile played on his lips. "Of course." 

I moved over to make room for him and he layed down beside me.

"Thank you," I whispered, already half asleep, "for staying."

I could have sworn I heard him say "always" just as darkness engulfed me.

Malfoy's POV

I woke up at 6:30 according to my watch. I had stayed with Hermione all night. 

I moved to get up but she started to stir, so I stopped. My arm had somehow ended up behind her neck. 

Watching her sleep, I noticed how small she looked. She was different asleep, not as big, not as confident. She seemed oddly breakable. 

I shifted my weight and she rolled to face me, her eyes now opened. "Good morning," I said softly. She blinked sleep out of her eyes.

"Hi," she yawned, pulling herself into a sitting position. "How did you sleep?"

"Fine, after a certain someone stopped screaming." I smiled and out of the corner of my eye I saw her roll her eyes.

"What time is it?"

I checked my watch. "Time to get ready. School awaits!"

She groaned loudly and fell back against her pillows. I turned to her with wide eyes. She smirked with her eyes closed.

"Hermione Granger doesn't want to go to school?"

"Yeah, yeah. Get out of my room." I walked sluggishly to the door with Hermione urging me on. 

I showered and dressed quickly, heading out into the sitting room to find Hermione rummaging through the pockets of her robes. She pulled out a piece of paper and stared at it. Her eyes filled with tears. I backed into my room, then came into the sitting room loudly.

Hermione quickly put the paper away and wiped away her tears. "What's up Granger?"

"Nothing," she said, quickly picking up her bag. "I'm gonna go get breakfast. See you soon."

Before I could say anything else, she left. Sighing, I sat heavily on the couch and stared at the fireplace. The only light came from lanterns that hung from the ceiling.

I didn't go down for breakfast. I sat and watched the empty fireplace until the first bell rang.

Hermione's POV

The Great Hall was filled with students, preparing for their first day at Hogwarts. 

The Gryffindor table was packed with students. I sat next to Ginny and another Gryffindor who's name I didn't know.

"Morning," Ginny said as she took a bite of bacon. "How was Malfoy?"

"Fine," I said, thinking of my nightmare and Malfoy's stay. Harry ate quietly on the other side of Ginny. His face was pale, highlighting the dark half circles under his eyes. 

"Harry are you alright?" 

He broke out of his trance and gave me a tense smile. "I'm okay. Just didn't get much sleep. Nightmares." 

"I know how that feels," I muttered, too quiet for Ginny and Harry to hear. I ate a piece of toast, and was reaching for another when Ron entered the hall, scanning the table. I picked up my bag and left, passing Ron on my way to the door.

I was hoping I could get by without making a scene, but Ron grabbed my arm. "Hermione what's up? I wanted to talk to you before classes start."

"I have to go," I told him coldly.

"Go? Go where?" His face was turning red, an obvious sign that he was getting angry. 

"I have to...." I quickly thought up a lie, "meet Malfoy."

"What? Why do you need to talk to the ferret?"

I felt anger and hurt rise to the surface. Every bad thought and feeling I had felt in the fast two days bubbled in my brain.

"Malfoy's not as bad as before," I snapped. "He was there when I needed it."

"Needed him? Why would you need him?"

"None of your business."

I stormed from the hall.

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