The End's Intent

Chapter 6

Draco felt like an idiot. Sunday morning after patrolling with Hermione, he'd gone to find Blaise in an attempt to explain what had happened in the court yard. He'd felt ridiculous trying to figure out why he felt so confused even after Hermione told him he had all that he needed. Part of him wondered if someone had cast a confusion charm on him to sneak past, but even that didn't seem right. Blaise—ever the good friend—had just laughed and called him an idiot before reminding him they had homework to complete.

When Draco returned to the heads' dorm late that night, Hermione was curled up in the common room with a book. He paused at the bottom of the stairs before deciding to join her on the sofa. As he sat down beside her, she looked up from her book and smiled.

"Good day?" she asked. Draco shrugged and nodded and Hermione smiled. "Good."

They sat in silence for a while as Hermione continued her book and Draco stared into the fireplace. He'd gotten a letter at lunch that day from his father and as much as he wanted to talk to somebody about it, he wasn't sure if Hermione was the right person to discuss it with. Granted, she was really the only person he trusted and the only one he actually wanted to tell, but he wasn't sure how to even bring it up.

"Something's on your mind," Hermione said, setting aside her book and twisting so she was facing Draco. As she pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them to look at him, Draco smiled. Apparently he wouldn't have to worry about bringing it up.

"I got a letter from my father today," he said softly. He saw her tense even though she tried to hide the reaction. "On Wednesday, I'm to visit Hogsmeade with Snape. If anyone asks where I am, I'm sick and the headmaster himself has excused my classes."

Hermione stared at him, but Draco couldn't clarify any more than that. That's all his father had bothered to write in the letter, but Draco knew what was meant by it.

"Voldemort?" Hermione asked after a minute. Draco nodded solemnly and she looked at the fire to her right. "You shouldn't have to go."

"Hermione," Draco sighed. With the dark mark now on his left arm, he really didn't have a choice. To not go when he was called could mean death or worse. "If I disobey the Dark Lord's wishes, it'll only make things worse."

"But that shouldn't be the case," she said, glaring at the fire and avoiding Draco's face. "He shouldn't force you to do things like that."

Draco wasn't going to argue with her. It would get them nowhere and as it was, Hermione didn't tend to change her mind very easily. Instead, he shifted closer to her and nudged her foot with his knees. She turned her head to look at him and dropped her chin back to her knees.

"I'll be okay," he promised. He was a skilled duelist and Hermione knew as much. There was little chance he'd be injured. "I might not be back until Thursday, but I'll be okay."

"I'll kill you if you get hurt," she warned. Draco smiled as she glared at him. "I'm serious. If you return with a bruise or a cut or a—a—I don't know! Anything!" She threw her hands up in the air to emphasize her point before pointing at him accusingly. "I'll kill you."

"Understood," Draco replied. Hermione glared at him for a moment longer before sighing and letting go of her knees. She grabbed his left arm and Draco jerked away before letting her run her fingers over the sleeve covering his dark mark.

"Please don't die," she muttered.

"I'll try not to," he promised.

* * * * *

Draco wouldn't have cared if Montague had picked on literally anyone else in the room, but it was Hermione he'd just called out and Hermione who had been the punchline to his joke. And really, who would Draco be if he wasn't watching his friends' backs?

"Take that back, Graham," Draco said lowly, trying not to catch Professor Binns' attention. Beside him, Hermione was trying to get him to stop, but Draco wasn't having it.

"Don't think I will," Montague said, smirking at Draco and Hermione as he leaned back in his chair. He crossed his arms as he asked, "Why do you care anyway? Nobody in the Dark Lord's inner circle cares about Mudbloods."

"Draco," Hermione hissed, tugging on his sleeve with one hand and discreetly wiping her face with the other.

Draco probably would have listened to her and stopped if he hadn't seen her swipe under her eyes, but knowing Montague had clearly hit Hermione where it hurt made him twist in his seat so he could face the table behind them. In one smooth motion, he'd stood up and punched Montague so hard he tumbled out of his chair. The loud clatter drew the attention of those not already watching the scene as well as Professor Binns.

"What's going on back there?" he asked, peering up from his history book to look at Draco, Hermione, Avery, and Montague.

On the floor, Montague was cupping his jaw and glaring up at Draco who was not remorseful in the slightest.

"Malfoy punched Montague!" Avery said, pointing at Draco with a smirk. "We were trying to listen when he turned around and punched him in the face."

"I was prevoked," Draco said drily, giving Avery an irritated look. Everyone around them would know Montague had been asking for it, but unfortunately for Draco, they were unlikely to come to his aid. "He was bullying Granger so I stopped him."

Professor Binns looked from Draco to Montague for several seconds before his eyes settled on Hermione.

"Miss Granger?" he asked. Hermione glanced at Draco then up to Professor Binns.

"Malfoy's correct, sir," she said. Professor Binns hummed and nodded.

"One hour of detention for Mr. Malfoy and three hours for Mr. Montague," he announced, returning to his history book. Montague scowled at him as he climbed back onto his chair, but Professor Binns was unfazed. "Now, if you'll stop fighting in my class, I'll return to the lesson."

As soon as Professor Binns was no longer focused on them, Montague leaned forward and yanked on Draco's collar. Draco sputtered, but cast a silent shocking spell that had Montague releasing him quickly. Nevertheless, Draco turned slightly to glare at Montague who just glared right back.

"You better watch it, Malfoy," he hissed. He jerked his head towards Hermione and sneered, "Someone might hurt her when you're not around."