Fascination|𝐴 𝐷𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 (𝚈𝚎𝚊𝚛 3, 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 1)

Chapter Twenty-Five | Livin On A Prayer

Livin' on a Prayer, Bon Jovi

Draco made his way down the hall, hurrying to the Gryffindor Tower. His alarm hadn't gone off this morning and he was running late. Hermione would be furious if he made her late to class, and was never a good thing when she was mad. He didn't understand it though. Even when his alarm didn't go off, Draco was usually able to wake relatively early. Early enough to make it to breakfast at the least. Nothing seemed to add up. Draco stifled a yawn. His roommates hadn't woken him either. Though they were not exactly on friendly terms, Blaise or Goyle usually had enough decency to wake him if his alarm didn't.

   Something was a bit off. Aside from that, Draco hadn't been able to find his robes this morning and when he went to shower the water had been stone cold. He liked a cold shower but not quite that cold. Though those were all minor things, when his wand had been missing from his nightstand Draco knew something was up. He couldn't find his wand for another ten minutes, somehow it had ended up under his bed. Draco could see it falling off the nightstand, but rolling all the way under his bed? An odd feeling settled in the pit of his stomach and Draco couldn't shake the feeling that all the mishaps weren't an accident.

When Draco reached he Gryffindor Tower Hermione wasn't there. He moaned. She must've left for class already. He should've known she wouldn't wait for him and be late for her Charms lesson. With a sigh, Draco shook his head and rounded the corner only to walk smack-dab into Ginny Weasley. Draco took a few steps back as she regained her balance and pulled the strap of his book bag higher over his shoulder. "Sorry, Gin..." He paused in the middle of her name, noticing she looked disturbed and almost upset. "Is something wrong?"

Ginny frowned. "Actually, I was just coming to find you. Hermione's in a horrid state." Draco's eyes widened and she quickly clarified. "She's alright. She just had a bit of an encounter and it's upset her."

"What do you mean she had an encounter? Not Black?!"

Ginny shook her head frantically. "No, no! Here, I'll let her explain it. Come with me."

Draco's eyebrows snapped downward. "Where are we going?"

"The Gryffindor Tower."

   Draco hesitated. He was certain that no Gryffindor wanted to see a Slytherin in their common room. He wasn't even certain if it was allowed, but didn't really matter what the Gryffindors thought of him being in their common room. If Hermione needed him, he was going to go to her. Draco nodded and took a deep breath. "Lead the way."

When they reached the portrait of the fat lady Gunny turned to Draco and frowned. "Could you cover your ears? We aren't supposed to share the password with any students from other houses." Draco nodded and lifted his hands and she bit her lip. "Could you also uh..." She made a circle motion with her finger. "Just so you can't read my lips. I don't think you'd try but I don't want to get in any trouble."

   Draco smiled slightly and obliged, wanting her to hurry so that he could see Hermione. Within a few seconds the portrait door swung open and Draco and Ginny entered. There were few students in the common room but he received glares from each and every one of them. Naturally, he was used to it and ignored the stares. He was fairly certain one of them would have hexed him by now, had he not been with Ginny.

When Draco saw Hermione she was sitting on a maroon couch hugging herself with her head on her hands. Weaselbee was sitting beside her and had an arm around her back. Draco's blood boiled and anger swelled in his chest. How dare that weasel touch his girlfriend! Draco almost pulled out his wand to hex him but swallowed back his anger and approached Hermione. "Get you paws off my girlfriend Weaselbee." He sneered and Hermione looked up. Draco noticed that her cheeks were tear stained and her breath was ragged and shallow.