Gone Wrong | By : BranowynIvy Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 3077 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. |
"You cannot be serious."
Ginny shifted her stance from one foot to the other, suddenly uncomfortable. "You know Harry…"
Hermione's frown deepened, "You want to see my discharge papers?" She repeated the words Ginny had just spewed at her, indignant all at once.
Ginny shook her head. "No. I don't…Harry and Ron do." She made sure to put emphasis on her alleged innocence in the mater but Hermione was not convinced. The stubborn red head would not have agreed to the task if she had any qualms about it. No, this was a team effort.
"What? No trust?"
"Of course they do, it's just-"
Hermione held her hand up, "Stop. They are on the counter. Feel free to make copies." Was she being snarky? Hell yes she was. She was a grown woman now. Since when did adults have to provide a Doctor's note?
"Mione, you know they are just worried." Ginny called back over her shoulder as she left the room, searching out the documents in question.
Hermione heard the rustle of paper, a flush spreading across her cheeks as she realized that Ginny was actually sifting through them slowly. "Right and that gives you all permission to be meddling gits?"
Ginny peaked around the corner, the fact that Hermione had included her not unnoticed. She smiled sweetly, "You would be the same way."
Hermione harrumphed and sat down, sinking into her favorite oversized chair with a soft sound. She crossed her arms. "Would not." She muttered.
"Liar." Ginny returned to the living room, eyeing her friend with an amused expression.
Hermione smiled wearily and made a show of rolling her eyes. "Maybe but you cannot prove it now can you?"
"We mean well."
"I know."
Ginny motioned for Hermione to make room and they laughed as she plopped down beside her, wiggling until she had made suitable room to relax.
"Comfy?" Hermione asked, her eyebrow arched in question.
Ginny leaned her head back and sighed contentedly. "Very, thank you."
"Cheeky wench."
The red head grinned broadly, nudging her friend gently. "Now now, no need for flattery." Her smile faltered slightly at the grimace Hermione was unable to hide. "Sorry."
"It's alright, I am fine."
"Are you? You know you can always talk to me right?"
"I do but honestly Gin, I am ok. Just a bit sore here and there."
"Swear?"
Hermione laughed, nodding as she replied. "I swear."
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Just knock….
Lift your hand, close your fist and tap your knuckles against the wood….
You look like an idiot, standing here staring at the door. KNOCK!
Draco exhaled sharply, stunned at his uncharacteristic hesitance. His brow creased as he shook himself mentally. Finally he forced himself to lift his arm and knock on the door.
How hard was that?
Ninny…
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"Oh! Were you expecting someone?"
Hermione frowned, "No…" She pushed herself up and strode across the room, her hand slipping around the handle as she raised herself onto her tip toes to look through the peep hole.
Draco!
Her eyes widened, her free hand flying to her mouth.
"Who is it?"
Hermione ignored the question as she fumbled with her top, smoothing it down and fidgeting with her stubborn and unruly curls. There was no hope for it; she did not have time to fix it. She took a deep breath and twisted the handle until it swung open slightly. "Draco." Steady, she smiled at the triumph. There was no reason to be nervous. He didn't know about her inappropriate thoughts…She was being silly.
"Hello Granger. I was just stopping by to-"
"Malfoy?"
Hermione visibly cringed as the red headed woman appeared her side, her stare incredulous.
Draco held it together admirably as usual. He ducked his head in greeting, "Ginny, good to see you again."
She snorted unattractively, "Likewise." Ginny twisted, wrapping an arm around Hermione's rigid shoulders, "Aren't you going to invite him in?"
Hermione glared at her friend while maintaining her slight smile, "I am actually." She shrugged off the touch. "Would you like to come in, Draco?"
Ginny stumbled as Hermione stepped aside, swinging the door wide in invitation.
Draco's lips twisted with a smirk, "Love to, thank you."
Hermione led him into her flat, each step she took harder than the last. Her feet felt like lead. As if to add to her discomfort, Ginny's heated glare was creating the most unpleasant tingle at the base of her neck.
Finally she came to a halt and turned round, motioning at their surroundings. "Please, sit."
Draco scanned the room and chose an overstuffed chair, perching gracefully on the edge.
"I think I am going to go, Mione."
Hermione nodded, casting her friend a small smile. "See you tomorrow?"
Ginny sighed, shaking her head but unable to hide the small quirk of her mouth, "Tomorrow." She glanced briefly at Malfoy before spinning on her heel and taking her leave the old fashioned way.
"Did I interrupt something?"
Hermione faced him once more, hoping that she could keep the blush she felt rising from her cheeks. "No, she was just checking in." A frown fluttered across her features, "Is everything alright?"
"Yes…why wouldn't it be?"
"It's just- you've never…"
Draco chuckled, his tension easing, "Dropped by?"
"Yes."
"Seems I had the same idea as Weasley there. I felt the need to check in on you."
"Oh-"She sat down on the couch across the room, "You didn't need to. I am fine."
"I am sure you have been told this a hundred times over but if you need to talk…"
Hermione watched him, her gaze glued to his. She had been told that, again and again by close friends and colleagues. She had never given it any thought. It was just something someone said. Like the required- We should do this again soon! To someone you had no intention of seeing again anytime soon but polite society demanded a little white lie to end the conversation pleasantly. So she had not thought about it. Did she need to talk?
Her body stiffened as she allowed herself to go back. She had not been able to forget and she had proven this afternoon that she could not banish the thoughts easily.
"Look at me." The voice shocked her, its clarity disturbing. Her fingers dug into the arm rest. "Where is the other? There were two of you." Haunting, just as she knew it would be…"If you make me work for it, I will beat you, I will hurt you, I will rape you and when you finally utter the words, when you finally break into pieces at my feet I will kill you. Do understand me?"
"Hermione?"
"I-"Her jaw worked but she could not find her voice.
Draco stood abruptly and came to her side, resettling next to her. "Hermione, talk to me."
A small derisive laugh escaped her at his phrasing. "I am being ridiculous."
His brow creased. "What do you mean?"
"I can hear him. It is so clear…" She closed her eyes briefly, rubbing her face with an open palm. "He is dead. The idea that I still think of him is absurd."
"It's not."
"I just cannot help it. When I close my eyes, I am back in that room. I can feel the pain and the fear. He is hurting me and then-"
Draco tentatively touched her knee; he kept it light and comforting.
Hermione's lips twitched at the gesture and she swallowed hard. She should say it out loud. He had been there. She would not have to go into detail to explain. He knew what happened. He was with her at the hospital before she woke. He saw the extent of her injuries. He would understand…Maybe it would help. "I have been through a lot, Draco. I spent 7 years of my life living in a constant state of fear. I thought that- I thought that I was strong." She scoffed, "But then he was on top of me and suddenly, I was defenseless. I couldn't move and I could barely breathe. It was just different than anything I had experienced before. Worse even. I can handle fear and pain and I can even face my own mortality but that…there are no words." She leaned into him lightly, the warmth of his closeness a comfort. "I feel like I should have fought harder."
"Don't say that. I have worked with you long enough to know that you gave it your all."
"It wasn't enough."
"It was. You knew I was coming back for you. You just had to hold on. You did what you had to Hermione."
She caught his gaze, relaxing slightly as she lost herself within them. Her tension eased. She did know that he was coming for her. Despite the danger and foolhardiness of the action, she had known that he would try. "You are right."
"Of course I am."
She cracked a smile, "Ah yes, so nice to see you again Malfoy."
Draco chuckled, his fingers tightening on her knee. "He is dead. Try to remember that. He cannot make you feel that way again."
Hermione nodded once, her features hardening.
"And as for the rest of them." His eyes glinted, flashing emotion. "You will not have to worry about them for long." The regret was instantaneous. He should not have said that.
She frowned and twisted her body to better face him, trying to ignore their proximity. "What does that mean?"
He pulled back, creating distance between them. "That means that I am going after them."
Her eyes widened, the anger that filled them bright. "The hell you are!"
He took a calming breath, inhaling slowly. "This is not a discussion."
"I am going with-"
He interrupted her, his tone firm and maddening. "No."
"I am your partner!"
"Your role in this is done." He shook his head, holding on to his composure.
"If anyone has a right to fight this battle it is me!" She stood, hovering above him with her hands fisted at her sides.
"You're hurt."
"I've been worse." She countered harshly.
His voice rose, his own ire flashing in his chaotic eyes. He could not let her do this. He should not have said anything. She was too stubborn to let it go. "Granger, no. You haven't been assigned."
"What? Are you telling me Kingsley has approved this?" Her tone was shrill, her emotions boiling beneath the surface.
"Yes."
"The team?"
Draco sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. "Myself and a few others."
"Who?"
"Hermione-"
"Who!" She demanded again. He would answer her.
His carefully cultivated cool cracked, shattering around him as he stood. His height dwarfed her, canceling out any advantage she might have had. "It doesn't matter!"
Hermione took an involuntary step back. His presence was overwhelming. "You are right, Malfoy. It doesn't matter because I will find out soon enough. I am going."
"No you're-"
She pinned him with her glare. ".Going. Try to stop me."
His anger wilted slightly. "We have to go back there…"
She remained firm, ignoring the small shiver of fear that raced through her. To go back meant she would have to face everything undiluted by her imperfect memory. She would have to see the halls, breathe the air. "I can handle it."
The tempest in his gaze stilled. "You shouldn't have to…you don't have to!"
She couldn't back down, not now. He was giving in…"I want to! I am not going to let you go back there without me. We go together or not at all."
Draco rubbed his temples, trying in vain to ease the sudden pain there. "Kingsley will not allow it."
"So don't tell him."
He nodded, his jaw ticking. He stepped closer to her, invading her space. "And if something happens to you? If it goes wrong again?"
Hermione shook her head adamantly. "It won't."
"It might!" He insisted, the vision of her broken and bloody invading his thoughts.
She did not see the real fear in him nor did she see his resolve harden in response. "Draco, it won't. It was a fluke. How many missions have we gone on?"
He forced his tone to be softer than before. "Maybe."
"Malfoy-"She began again. He could see the argument, he could hear it. He knew what she would say.
His nostrils flared. "I said maybe! I will think about it."
She growled at him, throwing her hands in the air. "I do not need your permission!"
He allowed his familiar smirk to steal over his lips. Allowed himself to be haughty, aloof. Protected. "Maybe not but you do need a day and time. So like I said before, I will think about it."
"It is not up to you!" She cried angrily, her cheeks mottled with it.
"It is! Unless you want to try your luck with the Order?" Draco ground out each word, his patience running thin.
Her breath caught in her throat. Second passed, long and heated. Finally she spoke. Softly, calmly. "Get out."
Draco clenched his teeth, cutting off his retort as his anger flared anew. Fine. He pulled his wand from his pocket and apparated without another word.
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Hermione collapsed into her favorite chair, regretting immediately the scent that teased her nose. His scent. How could he be so infuriating? So stubborn and uncaring…
She sighed aloud. Not uncaring. He did not want her to go because he feared for her. Stupid. Irritating. Pompous…She shook her head, sinking lower. Damn it.
Now she would have to go to him. Apologize for being irrational and hot tempered. Did she still want to go? Of course but perhaps she could go about it another way. Obviously he did not respond well to bullying.
She would go in a few days, let him cool off.
Hermione frowned and glanced at the clock.
Maybe tomorrow instead. Surely a nights rest would be enough?
She stood, turning to go back up stairs. Maybe she would go in the morning, bright and early….
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