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Fragments Of A Malfoy	By : SchuylerD Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 4100 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, and I do not make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
Chapter Nine: Reap
Two full days passed without Draco seeing Hermione anywhere on the school grounds even though he looked for her high and low. He couldn't get the memory of her out of his thoughts; they drove him to distraction. Only hours before he'd almost snipped the tip of his finger off while cutting leaves in the greenhouse. Professor Sprout was not amused and banished him from the greenhouse for the remainder of the day lest he damage any delicate plants. Now he wandered into the Great Hall, hoping to see the familiar head of bushy brown hair at the Gryffindor table. It was empty. Draco spun on his heel and exited the hall with a dramatic swish of his robes. He'd had to wear his spare robes since he'd let Hermione hold onto the one's she'd taken. He made sure to take his wand back, though. She wouldn't need that. In return for the robes, Hermione had bestowed upon him one of her golden earrings. He didn't have pierced ears so he kept it in his pocket, fingering the stud from time to time.

Everything felt different; Draco was calmer than he'd been in months. He wasn't feeling inclined to start fights or hurt anyone. And those thoughts of Lucius had failed to plague Draco's mind for at least a full day now. However, all was not well. A new fear had crept into Draco's soul - the fear that he would revert to his old ways. He had only just begun to regret some of the evil he'd done in his life and was now afraid that whatever had him in its grip before would mourn the loss and hunt him down. Was he truly free? Could one night - no, a few days of flirting with Granger cure him of his ills? He knew it could never be that simple but was more than happy to push away bad feelings and memories to live in the moment. And the moment was fine, for as long as it lasted.

Presently, Professor McGonagall caught up with Draco in the hallway outside her office as he hurried past. He heard her voice and stopped.

"Mr. Malfoy, I wanted to know if you'd seen Miss Granger anywhere?"

"No, Professor," he said. "I was er...just looking for her, myself."

"We had an appointment and she missed it. It's very unlike her." McGonagall sounded very worried. Draco watched the older woman wring her hands as he took in the depth of the situation. Hermione would never miss a meeting with a teacher - there was no way. Concern rose in Draco's heart.

"Is there anything I can do, Professor?" he asked sincerely.

"If you do see her, please let her know that I would like to see her immediately."

McGonagall rushed off down the hall as Draco thought about where he could look for Hermione that he had not already tried. He hoped she wasn't angry with him for what had happened. Maybe she was too ashamed to face anyone.

Draco visited every area he could think of that afternoon: the library, the Great Hall, all of the classrooms, the alcove - even the Lost Property room. There was no sign of Hermione anywhere. She could be in her room, Draco thought, and dashed off to the Gryffindor portrait hole.

"Do you know if Hermione Granger's inside?" he asked the Fat Lady in as cordial a voice as possible.

"Hermione Granger?"

"Yes, Hermione. She's the only female Gryffindor staying here right now, surely you must have noticed whether she came in or out."

"No need to get snippy, young man. I've seen her."

"Where is she?"

"She's not inside, that's all I can tell you. Do you think I'm lax in my duties? Do you think I sleep all day? That's what I've heard - rumours about the students and faculty complaining about me...I watch every single student, I do!" The Fat Lady's voice rose in indignation.

Draco spun on his heel and left the Fat Lady complaining to herself about not being appreciated. He headed to the greenhouse to see if Hermione had spoken to Professor Sprout. He was about to open the door to leave the school when a voice laced with viciousness echoed in the vestibule.

"Draco."

Draco's blood ran cold. He stopped in his tracks, suddenly rooted to the spot.

"So good of you to come down to meet me, Draco. I thought we might have to send for you. Your mother and I have come to bring you back to the Manor. I was about to see Dumbledore but now that you're here, I don't think that will be necessary."

Lucius's voice wreaked havoc on Draco's emotions. That tone, the same persuasive, almost seductive tone that could make murder seem sweet poured over Draco like ice cold water. He turned to face his father.

"Father," he managed against a throat that felt filled with cotton and a mouth that wouldn't quite form the words. "What are you doing here?"

"Why, I just told you, silly boy. I've come to take you home. I've got some surprises waiting for you that I'm sure you will enjoy. Rather, we will enjoy."

"I--can't go home," Draco stammered, inching toward the door. His father stood only a few feet away and Draco was sure if he bolted for it that Lucius could catch him in one stride.

An evil laugh emerged from Lucius. "Of course you're coming home; we've missed you."

Father and son locked eyes and Draco was frightened by what he saw in the grey steel of his father's gaze. "I-I-I'm not done with my project yet," he said. "Dumbledore won't want me to go yet...I have to make up for my classes..."

Lucius sighed and removed the black gloves that covered his hands. "Very well, if you must make such a fuss, I will see the Headmaster." Lucius turned to go, then noticed Draco hadn't followed him. He looked back and ordered his son to come along. Draco stepped tentatively away from the door, the thought of Hermione in the back of his mind now. He followed Lucius at a length all the way to Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore granted them entrance and eyed Draco as the two Malfoy's entered. Draco swallowed hard.

"Headmaster Dumbledore." Lucius greeted the old wizard with a flourish and bow.

"Mr. Malfoy," said Dumbledore. "What brings you to Hogwarts?"

"It is my son of course. His mother and I wish him to come home now. Our obligations are fulfilled and we have time to devote to him."

"You understand that Draco has been catching up on failed classes and that if he leaves without completing his work he will have to repeat his sixth year, do you not, Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco marveled at how calmly Dumbledore spoke to Lucius. He made sure to stand as far from his father as possible to show Dumbledore that he did not want to go home with him.

Lucius rolled his eyes. "Can't we come to an agreement on that count, Dumbledore? After all, Draco is a gifted student; I'm sure he can make up those classes once the new year begins."

"I have already placed him with Professors who are on hand here over the summer and he has been working hard on his studies. I do not wish to interrupt his progress at this time, Mr. Malfoy. Surely you can see where this would impair his abilities in the coming year, especially--" Dumbledore paused, and Draco looked up at him. "--since his success with these courses will earn him the status of Head Boy. I am sure you would not want to hinder that progression. It is a very high honor."

Lucius was silent for a full minute and appeared to be chewing on his tongue. "Very well," he finally hissed through clenched teeth. He looked over at Draco with intense hatred. "The boy will complete his studies."

Draco realized he'd been holding his breath. As Lucius stalked past him he leaned down to Draco and whispered, "Once you are Head Boy, we will have our own little celebration, won't we, Draco?" Then he left the room without so much as a goodbye to either of its occupants.

Dumbledore's voice broke Draco from his reverie. "You are dismissed, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco looked up at the Headmaster and Dumbledore nodded his head slightly at the boy. Draco nodded back and left the room, careful not to follow to quickly lest he run into his father again. He was safe for the time being, but once he was done with his studies - it wouldn't take a whole summer to complete the few courses he needed to make up. What would he do in those few weeks in between the extra courses and the beginning of seventh year?

With Lucius gone, Draco's thoughts settled once again on Hermione. Where was she? He ran to the greenhouse and scared Professor Sprout nearly out of her wits upon entering.

"Mister Malfoy! What do you mean coming in here like that? I could have been repotting the Mandrakes and you'd be stone dead right now! You know better than to--"

"I'm sorry Professor," Draco said breathlessly, "but Professor McGonagall has asked me to inquire about Hermione Granger. Have you seen her?"

"I daresay I haven't. Is she ill?"

"We can't find her."

"Oh my," said Professor Sprout with a worried look. "How long has she been missing?"

"She was supposed to see Professor McGonagall today. I haven't seen her in two days, myself."

Professor Sprout paced up and down the greenhouse in front of Draco, deep in thought. "It may be that she's in the Forbidden Forest, though I warned her not to go there without someone accompanying her. I'd have gone with her myself but I had work to finish. She is such a smart girl but too impulsive."

"What would she be doing in the Forest?" A sinking feeling washed over Draco and he thought about the mysterious and dangerous creatures that inhabited the wood on the edge of Hogwarts.

"It's that project she's been working on."

"What's the project involve? She wouldn't tell me."

"Only Minerva - Professor McGonagall knows the details of it but Miss Granger did come to me with questions that other day. I didn't think anything of it but then I remembered that she was--" She paused and eyed Draco as if sizing him up and deciding whether he was worthy of trust.

"She was what?" Draco was becoming annoyed at Sprout's hedging and hawing.

"She was going to go to the forest. I didn't think she would dare it on her own; she too smart for such stupidity."

Draco turned and left the greenhouse in an angry huff. He didn't care to listen to Sprout's flustered excuses. Hermione missing, the Forbidden Forest, alone. Not a good combination. Immediately Draco ran to his room and grabbed his Firebolt. In a heartbeat he was flying over the forest looking down at the treetops, looking for any signs of movement. He caught a glimpse of a centaur here or there but could not see well enough through the leaves to identify Hermione even if she was down there somewhere. Without the slightest hesitance, Draco flew toward Hagrid's hut on the edge of the wood and advanced over the trees from that point. If she came out here, he thought, she probably went to Hagrid's first.

He landed just a ways into the forest, keeping his grey eyes opened widely and his ears alert to any sounds. All he heard was the soft cooing of birds and the gentle rustle of the swaying branches and leaves as a mild breeze passed through the trees. He wanted to shout Hermione's name but it was caught in his throat for fear of arousing any sleeping beasts. Annoyed with himself for leaving so impulsive, Draco tried to ascertain just what Hermione would want to come into the wood to gather or observe. He stepped carefully over dried twigs and dead leaves but still made a soft crunching sound with each footfall.

Suddenly Draco felt himself being dragged backwards. He lost his balance and fell into the thing that had grabbed him. A hand came up over his mouth to stifle his cry and he twisted in its grip to identify the attacker.

"Shhh!" she hissed.

"Hermione!" he said against her hand. They were both on the floor of the forest now and Hermione pulled him over to hide under an overhanging rock. "What's this?" he asked once she'd freed him.

"Be quiet!" she said again, her brow furrowed with worry.

"What are you doing here?" he whispered angrily. Here he was rescuing her and all she could do was tell him to shut it? That was gratitude.

"Hiding, what do you think?" she answered testily.

"From WHAT?"

"That!" Hermione pointed toward a looming figure a few feet away.

"What is it?"

"I don't know."

Draco grabbed his wand and cast Rictusempra on the creature, leaving it writhing on the ground in a fit of giggles. He grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her out from under the rock.

"Wait! My wand! I dropped it over there..." Hermione lunged back and grabbed her wand as Draco followed her, ushering her towards his broom.

"Come on, let's get out of here."

They boarded the broom and Draco flew them up and out of the forest, clearing the trees and heading back to Hagrid's hut. Once safely there, Draco landed and proceeded to lash out at Hermione for her stupidity.

"For someone so intelligent you sure can be stupid, Granger. You could have been killed in there. What were you thinking?"

"I had to get something for my experiment. In fact, I have to go back in because I need a specific plant cutting and--"

"I'm not letting you go back in there," Draco said forcefully. After all he'd done to get her out, she was going to prance back IN? No way.

"I have to get it today, Malfoy."

"Oh so it's 'Malfoy' now, is it?" Draco disguised his hurt with a nasty tone. He chastised himself for having trusted a Mudblood. Of course she wasn't on his side - she didn't really love him. What had he been thinking? It was all just a game. Why she slept with him was a mystery but he had a feeling it had something to do with her little experiment. "What are you playing at, Granger?" He made sure to enunciate her last name quite clearly.

"I'm not playing at anything; I just need to get a cutting for a potion I'm making--"

"What's the potion for?"

"It's a calming potion."

Draco immediately grew suspicious. Professor Snape had dozens of relaxation and calming potions - why wouldn't she just go to him for one? "And you couldn't go to Snape because?"

"It's not the same as the ones he has. This one has other properties - the major one is having a calming effect on the subject."

"Who's your subject?" He drew closer to the truth and could tell by the way she bristled that she didn't want to answer. He could suspect why. "Come on, you can tell me. After all, we've been intimate." Draco wiggled his eyebrows suggestively but sneered at Hermione as usual. "Or was that just part of your little experiment as well?"

Hermione turned away but not before Draco saw the hurt _expression on her face. He'd said the wrong thing.

"How could you think that?" she asked, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

Instead of feeling sympathetic, Draco became incensed at himself for making her cry and angry with her for not confiding in him what she'd been working on. If she'd have just told me, I wouldn't have said anything, he thought. Lashing out at Hermione came so naturally Draco didn't even think to stop himself. "Think what? That you're using me somehow? That's what it is, isn't it? You slept with me for some sick and twisted experiment!" He grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her to face him, tears streaming down her cheeks. Draco forced her to look at him. "What do you know, Granger? Spit it out. It's written all over your face."

"What is?" she sobbed, shaking.

"You know about my father, don't you." It wasn't even a question - Draco was sure Dumbledore or someone else had told this Mudblood what had happened to him. The shame he'd suppressed rose to the surface and washed through him like a tidal wave. He felt his face grow hotter and could tell by the look in Hermione's eyes that his own gaze frightened her. He hadn't meant to be so harsh but he was a Malfoy. He couldn't always control himself - she'd seen that when he bedded her, hadn't she? Shouldn't she -- the girl at the top of every class - have known better than to get involved with him? It was too easy to place the blame on Hermione, and that is exactly what Draco did as he stood there grasping her arms so hard that she whimpered that he was hurting her. He eased his grip but didn't let her go. He wasn't finished yet.

"Your father?" Hermione choked through her tears. "I don't understand, Draco. What do you mean?"

"Don't play dumb, Granger," he spat. "You know what I'm talking about."

"I swear I don't!"

"You're using me just like him. All of you - Snape, McGonagall - Dumbledore. You're all in it together, aren't you? I don't know why Dumbledore even let me stay here since he's so intent on ruining my life anyway. It doesn't matter what grades I get or what classes I make up - I still have to go home to him, don't I? And you know what will happen then, don't you you little bitch?"

Hermione looked as if he'd slapped her across the face and for a brief second Draco regretted ever saying anything about it. In that moment, he doubted she really did know what had been going on at Malfoy Mansion or about his birthday "present". "Draco..." she began. Her brown eyes were wide open and Draco felt he might drown in the worry he saw in them. Maybe she wasn't playing. "Does your father hit you?"

"Hit me?" He laughed out loud at the suggestion. "I wish he did, Granger. Oh no, it's much worse than that. I'd rather be beaten bloody, believe me. Stop acting like you don't know and do us both a favour. I'm sick of these games."

"I'm not playing a game, Draco!"

"And stop calling me Draco as if you know me. You don't know me at all. I'm a nightmare, little girl. I'm no prince on a white horse come to rescue you - I'm the dragon." He dug his nails into her arms until she winced with pain. "I'm the one you need to be rescued from. I'm disgusting, don't you see it? I can't ever get clean - I can't ever--" Draco choked back a sob that started in his chest and made its way to his throat. It took every bit of willpower to hold it down. Suddenly he let Hermione go and pushed her away towards the school. "Get out of here, Granger. I don't want to see you and I'm sure you don't want to see me. I'll be going home soon anyway. It was all a fucking lie - just leave me alone."

Draco watched Hermione as she stared at him in complete shock.

"Are you deaf? I said get the hell out of here, Granger!"

He expected she'd turn and run to the school in a fit of tears but Hermione Granger did something Draco never thought she'd do. She looked to the forest and broke into a dead run, flitting past him like a gazelle, much too quick to reach out and catch. She ran as if the devil were after her.

Draco broke out of his own shock and with a muttered curse, followed her into the dark wood.
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Fragments Of A Malfoy