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I Understand	By : LMG67 Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 9627 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Author Notes
- 2-Revelation
- 3-Grief
- 4-Horror
- 5-Thoughts
- 6-Anger
- 7-Training
- 8-Explanation
- 9-Expressions
- 10-Thinking
- 11-Tower
- 12-Pain
- 13-Seperate
- 14-Questions
- 15-Tears
- 16-In their own words
- 17-Tantrum
- 18-Sorrow
- 19-Darkness
- 20-Light
- 21-Passion
- 22-Breath
- 23-Suspicions
- 24-Iggy
- 25-Fear
- 26-Decisions
- 27-Understanding
- 28-Draco
- 29-Harry
- 30-Fallout
- 31-Accidents...
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UNDERSTANDING

The silence in the room became oppressive once the door had clicked quietly shut after Harry’s
retreating form. Hermione sighed and wiped the tears from her face. Vince and Greg let go of
Pansy’s arms and she wrapped them tightly around her middle. She glared at the three Gryffindors
trying to figure out what was the first thing that needed to be said. Fortunately Greg beat her to it.

“What just happened here?” He asked softly in that deep clear voice of his.

Ron shook his head, “I...Harry,” he sighed, “damn he’s such an idiot.”

Pansy snorted an unladylike snort but said nothing. Neville grimaced and said bluntly, “They love
each other right?” No one responded to his question they just stared at him as if he had suddenly
grown three heads, Neville wasn’t known for his humor.

“Come on you guys. We have the finest from Slytherin and Gryffindor here. Are you telling me we
can’t come up with something that will get them together?” Neville smirked. It didn’t look right on
the sweet Gryffindors face and that made it more real.

Hermione said hesitantly, “I already had a plan. I knew Harry was going to do this. He is so
stubborn and...”

“Why does he need too?” Pansy asked sharply.

Hermione, Neville and Ron glanced fearfully at each other and then watched the furious girl
carefully. “What do you mean?” She asked.

“You said that Draco had a right to know that Harry does what he does because he needs too. What
did you mean?”

Ron shifted and tried to look calm but the fear that he was going to have to betray his best friend
slowly showing on his face. He looked at Hermione beseechingly. “Harry-”

“Ron,” Hermione said warningly.

“For God’s sake Hermione. What will it hurt to tell them?” he demanded.

“It is not our place Ronald Weasley and you know it!” Hermione barked.

“As if he is going to say anything. You know he won’t. I am sick of this Hermione. Do you hear me!
Sick of it! He keeps everything inside and we only find out when he breaks and can’t handle it by
himself anymore. I am sick of seeing my best friend broken. One of these days we won’t be able to
put him back together!” Ron shouted.

“Ron, it is still not our place.” She argued.

“Like it wasn’t your place to tell Draco about the bonds Hermione?” Ron sneered.

Hermione flinched but did not back down, “He needed to know and Harry...damn it Ron...that is
beside the point. You know what is going on and you can’t stand there and tell me that you would
not have done the same thing.”

“I would have done the same thing. And I did try to talk to Harry about it but he wouldn’t listen to
me” Ron admitted.

“We can’t...” Hermione started to say.

“I can. I can and I will because I am tired of all this sneaking around. I am tired of you always
thinking that you know what is best. You are just as wrong as Harry is by keeping this from them.”
Ron snapped his face red.

“Would someone please tell us what the hell is going on!” Pansy screeched.

Ron turned to Hermione and told her gently, “I am telling them. Everything. You can either help me
or leave but they have a right to know...especially Pansy.”

Hermione said nothing she just nodded her head in agreement the silent tears coursing down her
cheeks at the betrayal she was about to do to a very good friend.

“May he forgive us.” She murmured.

Ron laid a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. Neville came to stand behind her and they
turned to show a united front to the Slytherins in the room and this action did not go unnoticed by
them.

“Harry fears,” Ron started but stopped when the words wouldn’t come. He sighed, “He just fears.
You can see it in his eyes if you look close enough. If he lets you close enough. The deadness, the
coldness, it is all a part of his fear. He takes that fear and wraps it around himself. He is brave and
powerful and kind but he fears like no one I have ever met. All he wants is to have a life but he fears
to live. He does what he does because he needs to have that feeling. He needs that fear.”

“And that gives him more power than he can manage. With that fear Harry has been able to meet
and overcome anything that You-Know-Who has thrown at him. Until now.”

“Why now?” Pansy asked and then her head shot up as she answered her own question. “Draco?
Because of Draco?”

Hermione nodded her head yes. “Harry does what he does because he feels he needs too. No other
thing than that Harry needs to save people, he needs to fight, to feel that fear, so he does. He can
handle being cold and withdrawn from everyone. That is how he manages until it becomes too much
for him to bear and then he breaks.”

“We,” she indicated the other two Gryffindors with one hand, “have been there to pick up the pieces.
This time he is not even letting us in. We can’t get in anymore, only Draco can. Have you not
noticed it, the little touches as they walk by each other in the hall?” She looked at all the nodding
heads before she continued. “Draco grounds Harry and gives Harry what he has been missing. Harry
will go until he breaks and this time, without Draco there, he may not come back.”

Greg nodded slowly, “Ron last night do you remember what you said about Harry? How he is
slowly dying inside and how now he has something to fight for? It’s the same for Draco. Every time
he came back he was colder, more withdrawn. Sometimes it would take days for that dead look to
leave his eyes. I have actually seen a real smile on his face this week.”

“We didn’t know about that until two weeks ago. We had no idea about any of you and I am so
sorry for everything.” Neville said tears forming in the kind boys’ eyes.

Vince shook his head, “There is no need for that now. We have each come a long way in the last two
weeks. Apologies are no longer necessary. But explanations are so tell us what we need to know to
help. Hermione you said you had a plan?”

Hermione nodded. “When I figured it out I knew that Draco would fight it. I never thought that
Harry would. I knew, no I thought, Harry wanted this. I didn’t know he would react that way. I
never would have told him if I had known.”

“We know.” Greg said.

“The night Draco was hurt, I knew then. Lucius Malfoy will not accept this bond between Harry and
Draco. We all know it. That is why it has to be completed before he goes to the next Revel.“
Hermione voice lowered and she whispered more to herself than anyone else, “It has to be.“ She
raised her voice again, “that night I came up with a plan that would force them to realize exactly
how much the other meant to them. But after last night and now today, I don’t think it will work.”
Hermione admitted.

“Why not?” Neville asked.

“Believe it or not they do know how the other feels. It is the nature of the bonds that they have. The
problem is they are not listening to the bond. If they were we wouldn’t be in this mess. I have never
met two more stubborn people than Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter. I swear they were made for
each other.” She quipped.

The others grinned, but then she went on and it turned serious again, “Harry will not listen to reason
he is more of an action person. So I thought action is what he will listen to and action he will get.”
Hermione smirked.

Ron glanced fearfully at her, “Er, Mione what exactly were you planning?”

“Just a few hexes, a couple of curses, possibly a head injury or too. Nothing too bad.” Hermione
said blithely.

Ron choked, Neville went pale and the Slytherins chuckled. “What?” Hermione asked innocently.

“You, my girl, are scary. Glad to know you are on our side.” Vince said appreciatively.

“Glad to hear that Vince. Cause you are who I had in mind.” Came the smirking voice of the Head
Girl.

“Oh no,” Vince said backing away, “not me.”

“But Vince you are perfect. No one else but Harry can withstand as many curses as you can. And
out of all of us only Draco is more powerful. It has to be you.” Pansy said sweetly. “Besides you
spar with him everyday. It would look like an accident.”

“Exactly,” Hermione said eagerly, “we could set it up that he hit Harry with something really foul
and then we tell Draco that Harry is hurt and sit back and watch the drama.”

“That nancy boy will throw a fit,” Ron chuckled.

“Hey,” Neville complained and hit him on the arm, “and just what is wrong with nancy boys?”

Ron shook his head and grinned at the affronted look on his friend’s face, “Not a thing Nev, not a
thing.”

Pansy laughed evilly, “I can see it now, Draco running into the room with Harry lying on the bed
and then on with the show.” She stopped and threw a look at Vince, “Oh Vince I will just apologize
now for what he’s going to do to you.”

Vince paled and gulped, “No, no, I refuse to be a part of this. He’ll kill me.”

“No, he won’t,” Hermione said irritably, “He’ll be far to wrapped up in Harry to care what really
happened.”

Greg looked at her strangely, “No, sorry Granger but he’ll kill Vince.”

Pansy nodded in agreement, “at the most hex him into next week.”

“Painful boils.” Neville added with a grin.

“Warts.” Ron said helpfully.

“UUMMM HELLO,” Vince called out, “standing right here. Still standing right here.”

They all laughed at the look on his face. “Come on Vince, where’s your team spirit?” Hermione
asked.

She ignored the look of confusion the others gave her and went on, “Draco may be mad yes but just
think how happy he will be when he gets Harry. He’ll forgive you.”

Pansy chuckled and shaking her head turned to Vince, “hey, can I have your new Exploding Snap
cards. You won’t need them where you are going.” Neville grinned and walking up to him slapped
him on the back, “Cheer up mate. At least you’ll get plenty of rest while you are laid up in the
infirmary.”

Vince growled and they all laughed again. He desperately needed to change the subject and quick.
“As fun as this is for me, didn’t you have something to tell us?”

The laughter died quickly from the faces of the Gryffindors and Hermione shivered. She was going
to betray a confidence. She was going to tell something that she had promised she wouldn’t. She
sighed deeply with regret. They did have a right to know.

Hermione turned to Pansy and asked gently, “Pansy why are you getting the Dark Mark?”

Pansy looked confused for a moment but then replied, “Because the Dark Lord wants someone at
Hogwarts.”

“And were you the first choice?” Ron asked next.

Pansy shook her head no, “Draco was the first choice but then it was decided that he was too visible
and that it should be someone less noticeable.”

“And who told you that was the reason why?” Neville asked.

“Draco did.”

Ron walked up to the girl who had taken over the dead place in his heart that Hermione had left and
watched her carefully as he spoke. “Draco lied.”

Pansy reeled in shock. “What!” She gasped out.

Vince and Greg shared a look and that told the others that they knew what Ron was going to say
next. They each took a step closer to stand right behind the now shaken girl. Ron caught each of
their eyes in turn and received a small nod as the go ahead. He acknowledged their agreement and
turned his attention to the girl in front of him. He took her hand in his and looked deep into her blue
eyes.

Ron’s voice was low and controlled as he explained, “It was not decided that Draco not get the Dark
Mark, he refused.”

“B..But,” she sputtered, “Lucius would kill him.”

Ron nodded. “He was going too. Instead he holds Narcissa hostage and uses her to control Draco.
He still punishes him every time he refuses. He makes him watch as his mother is raped and then
they torture him.”

“But I don’t understand if he refused why haven’t they killed him?” Pansy asked flatly. She had
some how turned off her emotions. It was as if she was running on autopilot now.

“Because he is needed for something else. Something I don’t think even Vince and Greg know about
because we are sure that Draco doesn’t.” Hermione said.

“What?” Pansy asked fearfully. The three Gryffindors hesitated to say what they knew. They looked
at each other in trepidation.

“What damn it!” Pansy demanded.

Ron took her in his arms and holding her close he eyed the other two, “He is to be Voldemort’s
consort and bear his heir. They have already started the process on him. It will happen the night you
get your Mark.” Ron said bleakly.

Pansy stiffened in his arms and he felt the shivers start to shake her body. He watched as the
realization of what he had said hit Vince and Greg. Their faces paled and they stepped back before
instinctively turning to each other for comfort. He saw out of the corner of his eye Neville walk to
them and put his arms around both of the Slytherin boys.

Pansy moaned and went limp in his arms. He gently lowered the unconscious girl to the mat and
sitting beside her gathered her into his arms. Hermione looked to the two and catching Ron’s eye
and his shift to the door she left to go inform the Headmaster of the morning’s events.

Neville could feel the grief from both boys in his arms and he realized how right it felt for him to be
standing there with two boys in his arms and the flashes of what he wanted to do to said boys made a
certain part of his anatomy awaken. Greg shifted in the embrace and as he did his leg brushed
against the evidence that Neville was trying to hide. His head shot up and his eyes met the guilty
ones of the black haired boy in his arms. Neville felt his face flush as he stepped back and
murmuring something that nobody understood ran from the room.

~`*`~

Hermione walked briskly down the hall towards the Headmaster’s office contemplating what had
just happened. She prayed that Harry forgave them. Hearing voices she looked up and saw Sirius,
Remus, and Professor Snape walking down the corridor arguing amongst themselves.

“Sirs,” she said and then flinched as the angry eyes of her secret love flashed over her before moving
to settle on a spot behind her.

“Ms. Granger, can we help you?” he asked coldly.

“We have a problem Professor,” she said trying to keep the politeness in her voice.

“Do we Ms. Granger? Tell me what has the esteemed Mr. Potter done now?” Snape demanded
tersely.

She glanced quickly at the other two men and then back to her Professor, she raised an eyebrow in
question. Sirius chuckled, “I have already talked to Harry this morning Hermione. And I know
everything.”

“I doubt that Sir,” Hermione retorted. She ignored the slight look of surprise that flashed over their
faces at her tone. She didn’t have time to play games with them. “As Professor Snape has suggested
Harry has done something...stupid. I was just going to the Headmasters office to tell him. Would
you gentleman care to join me?”

Without waiting for them to answer she continued on her way. Besides she knew they would follow
her. Sirius because Harry was his Godson, Remus because of Sirius, and Snape just so that he had
more ammo to use against Harry. She missed the look of pride that crossed Snapes' face but the
other two men did not. Sirius gave Hermione a calculating look as he followed her down the hall.

She completely ignored the men following her. It was a good thing that they were behind her
because she didn’t have an answer as to why her face was flushed and her hands were trembling. She
knew she was taking out her anger on them but she couldn’t help it. They just mad her so mad and
added to everything else, she really began to fear exactly how many points she was going to lose and
if she was going to have to start chewing when she got to her knee.

Stopping in from of the Gargoyles she said “Gobstoppers” and stepped onto the revolving stair. The
Headmaster looked up when the four walked into his office.

“Well, lovely to see you all this morning. Anyone care for tea?” Dumbledore asked as the sat down.

They all declined and he asked with the customary twinkle in his eye. Hermione had an inkling he
knew why they were here. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

Before Hermione could say anything Snape supplied the reason, “Ms. Granger informed us that Mr.
Potter has once again done brilliantly this morning.”

“I see.” Dumbledore said lightly. “And what might he have done now Ms. Granger?”

She explained the mornings events and ended softly. “He won’t listen to us, Professor, so we have
come up with a plan to get Harry to see reason.”

“And this plan involves what?”

“Vince is going to hex Harry.” Hermione said baldly.

“What!” Sirius exclaimed, “have you lost your mind?”

“No,” Hermione retorted, “I have not. Neither of them will listen, we think this is the only way.”

“I can not condone deliberately hurting another student.” Dumbledore warily said, “but I understand
your reason for wanting to make Harry listen.”

“Mr. Potter will not listen. But hexing him sounds like a good start.” Snape said lightly.

Hermione threw him a scowl. “He told me that he will not deny the bond but neither will he do
anything else. He thinks that Draco will survive if they do nothing else. He feels he is going to die.”

Hermione’s statement made a silence fall in the room as each of them thought about what she had
said.

“Well, Harry is right to do this then.” Sirius said.

“No, he is not.” Snape snapped. The others looked at him in surprise, “Mr. Potter is wrong. Draco
will not survive if Harry dies. Even you, with your limited intelligence Black, should be able to see
that.”

Sirius growled at him, “You don’t know what Harry is going through so shut up Snape.”

Hermione turned to glare at him. She didn’t know where she was getting the courage to act as she
had in the last few minutes but really they were grown men, did they have no sense? “And you do? I
think not.”

Remus’ voice was low in the harsh silence, “I do not think that Harry is right either Sirius.”

Sirius turned to stare at his friend in shock, “Remus?” he asked.

“Harry is stubborn. We all know that. He will not listen to any of us.” Remus said slowly and
calmly hoping to defuse the tense situation.

“And you think hurting him is right?” Sirius asked disbelievingly.

“Yes.” Snape said viciously.

“I should have known you would say that!” Sirius yelled.

“Yes, you should have.” Snape agreed in a hard voice. “Quit molly coddling the boy. It is time he
grew up.”

“Why you...” Sirius screamed out as he jumped up. Pulling his wand he went to aim it at the ex-Death Eater but before he could let lose with a curse he found his way blocked by Hermione’s body.

“Sit down,” she demanded coldly. Sirius stared at her for a few tense seconds before he lowered his
wand and sat. She had her back to Snape so she missed the stunned expression on his face. No one
had ever jumped in front of him like that before. His mind was swimming and he just could not
concentrate.

Her voice was hard, inexorable and it made shivers flow down the Potions Masters spine, “He is
right. We have left Harry alone to figure this out by himself for far too long. Harry doesn't need
someone to pat him on the back and tell him everything is all right. He needs a swift kick in the butt.
He needs to be told what will happen not just let believe that he is right. They WILL die if they can‘t
get past this.”

She stepped closer to Sirius and watched as he eyed her warily as she leaned down to him, “You will
never do that again will you?” She asked softly where only he could hear.

Sirius Black was a powerful wizard in his own right but no man could mistake the possessiveness in
her voice. He nodded once before she smiled slightly and turned to take her seat. She did not look at
Professor Snape, she couldn’t bear to see the pity she was sure to see on his face.

Dumbledore cleared his throat and that drew their attention back to him. “I am sorry Ms. Granger
but I still can not let you go ahead with your plan.”

“There is something else that you need to know.” Hermione said smoothly.

“Yes?”

“Draco lied.” With that she finally looked at Professor Snape. He had had enough time to get control
over his emotions and he sat there with his usual scowl on his face. “When he said that it was
decided that he would not get the Dark Mark he lied.”

His scowl deepened as he listened to what she was saying, “What do you mean?”

She smiled sadly at him, “Draco refused the Mark.”

Snape was stunned. He stared at her in disbelief. No one survived if they refused. So why was Draco
still alive? “Narcissa...” he breathed.

“Yes,” Hermione said softly confirming his fears, “she knows and that is why we think she stays.
She takes his punishment for him and he lives. As far as we know Draco doesn’t know that.”

“Ms. Granger, are you sure about this?” Dumbledore asked gruffly.

“Yes we are.”

“We?”

“How?”

“Harry saw it. He told me last week when he couldn’t handle everything anymore and finally broke.
Headmaster, we have to do this. Harry will not survive much longer. He needs Draco. Needs him
like he needs air to breathe. He will not survive Voldemort without him.” Hermione pleaded with
her eyes for him to understand.

“No, he won’t.” he agreed.

He sighed, “Ms. Granger let us try something and if that doesn’t work than we will go with your
plan. Now go back to your friends while we discuss what we need to do.”

Hermione got up and saying ‘goodbye’ left the room conscious of at least one pair of eyes following
her.

Dumbledore turned to Sirius and Remus, “Mr. Malfoy is being taken care of and Mr. Potter is on the
Astronomy Tower I believe. It might be best if you go and talk to him.” They nodded and saying
their goodbyes left to find Harry.

Dumbledore turned to his friend and asked, “Are you okay, Severus?”

Severus Snape looked at the kind, understanding face of the Headmaster and shook his head no. “No
one has ever stepped in front of a curse for me before.” he marveled.

“I thought that she would do.” Dumbledore smiled at him. “Gobstopper?”

Snape said no and left the office heading for his private workroom. He needed to think.

*************************************************************

Enjoy!

LMG
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I Understand