Love is a Dagger to Destroy: A Dramione Story

Chapter Five

Hermione's POV

I barely paid any attention to where I was going. My anger fueled my movements, leading me around the castle. Before I knew it, I was in a corridor I knew very well. The one where Fred died.

It had been rebuilt of course, but I could still see his lifeless body in front of me. I could see Ron dying to kill Death Eaters, to make them pay for Fred's death. That was another one of the dreams that visited often. 

I sighed and sat against the wall, letting my head drop into my hands. "Hermione?" I looked up to see Luna heading towards me. 

"Hey Luna." I pasted on a smile and stood to greet her. 

"Are you OK? I noticed you leaving after talking to Ron."

"I'm fine," I quickly assured her. "Ron's...Ron."

"Ron cheated on you," Luna said as if we were discussing the weather. I looked to her in surprise.

"I know. How did you find out?"

"I noticed it whenever I would hang out with you guys over summer. He looked at Lavender in a different way. You, too. I don't think he loves you anymore."

My heart broke even more with her words. I don't think he loves you anymore. I knew that Ron didn't love me anymore, that he had cheated on me, but I didn't know that it was with Lavender.

I felt the tears threaten to spill. "I'll see you around Luna," I told her just as the bell rang. Without another word, I ran to Transfiguration.

***

Later that night, I sat on the roof of Hogwarts, looking out over the lake. I'm technically breaking curfew, but I really don't care at this point. I spent all day avoiding Ginny, Harry and Ron. I skipped lunch and dinner, so my stomach ached with hunger pangs. 

It started raining lightly around midnight, but I stayed where I was, too miserable and too hurt to move.

"Granger! Granger!" I went to the edge of the roof and looked down. Malfoy was sticking his head out my open window. 

"Up here!" I called down to him. He looked up. It was raining really hard now and the water dripped steadily on his worried face. 

"Granger, don't move. This is not the answer." I looked at him confused.

"What are you talking about?" I asked him.

"Don't jump."

"Jump?" I started to laugh and nearly fell off the roof in my amusement.

"Careful," Malfoy warned.

"Aw, Malfoy, do you actually care what happens to me?"

"Just get down here before Potter and Weasley blame me for your death."

I laughed lightly and grabbed onto the edge of the roof, letting my feet dangle to find the windowsill. However, the roof was very wet and my fingers were slipping. 

"I'm gonna fall," I said, surprisingly calm, to Malfoy. 

"Let go, Granger, I'll catch you."

"Seriously? That's your plan."

"Hermione."

I turned to look at him. "I won't let you fall."

I took a deep breath and let go. I experienced a moment of weightlessness before Malfoy's hands wrapped around my wrists.

I felt the muscles in his arm tense as he pulled me back into my room.

"Thanks," I said a little breathlessly.

"No problem. Do me a favor and don't tell Potter and Weasley about this. They'll find some way to blame this on me."

"I honestly don't think either of them will care."

"Really?" He sounded surprised and I realized that he had no idea what I was talking about.

"Weren't you at breakfast this morning?"

"No, why?"

I explained everything that had happened at breakfast. "I avoided them all day," I finished.

Just then my stomach gave a loud growl. "I'm guessing you skipped dinner?"

"No," I said unconvincingly. "I'm gonna go to bed. Goodnight."

My stomach growled again. "Nice try Granger. Come on."

I reluctantly followed him into the sitting room. He went into the mini kitchen and pulled something out of the fridge. 

"Sit," he snapped at me. I glared at him, but he was busy making whatever he was making. 

Ten minutes later he handed me a plate with a sandwich on it. "Eat."

I was tempted to argue, but his glare cut me off. I ate without any more complaint. 

Malfoy's POV

I watched Hermione eat, barely managing to keep my anger in check. Of all the stupid things to do, she decided to hang out on the roof. And she was supposedly the brightest witch of her age. 

When she finished her sandwich, I took the plate and made it disappear. "Bedtime, Granger." 

"What, are you in charge of me now? Last time I checked, you don't control anything I do."

"Don't test me Granger. I'm not very happy right now."

 She smirked. "I would win if I tested you Malfoy."

I pulled out my wand and held it threateningly in front of her. "I would think twice about that."

I took a step forward and she stepped back. She didn't even have her wand! We continued this until she was backed up against the wall.

I smirked. "Not so tough now, huh Granger?"

Her breathing came out rapid. "What's your goal here Malfoy? To seem like the Slytherin you are? Because it's working."

I was so shocked that I let my wand drop a little. I then backed up a few steps, regaining my senses.

"Malfoy I'm sorry, I-" I held up my hand to stop her speaking. I sat on the couch and she stood awkwardly. 

"Malfoy? You know the nightmare I had last night?"

"Yeah," I said wondering where she was going with this.

"Well.. it- it was about Bellatrix." I turned around to see her staring off into space, her eyes glassy. "We were back at Malfoy Manor. She was hurting me again. Torturing me." Her voice broke and tears streamed down her cheeks. Before I knew what I was doing, she was enfolded in my embrace her cheeks pressed against my shoulder. 

"Anyway," she continued, "when you were threatening me a few minutes ago, it reminded me of that. Of our search for the Horcruxes."

"I'm sorry, Hermione." I murmured to her. She pulled back and looked into my eyes.

"I'm so scared sometimes."

"Nothing can hurt you now," I told her and we kissed, our lips moving gently together. At first she seemed surprised, but then she began to move with me. Our kiss deepened before I pulled back, breathing heavily.

"Weasley," I said softly.

"Why would you say that at a time like this?" Hermione's cheeks were flushed, but her eyes shone brightly.

"You're dating him Hermione. You can't cheat."

"Why not? He cheated on me."

Oh. That explained what happened this morning. I pulled her in for another hug. We stood there for a long time and at that moment, nothing else mattered.