Chapter 7: part 7
The ring shopping had been rescheduled to the next weekened because of bad weather. So instead Saturday was used for studying. Sunday was a good day, they all worked and lazed around the common room. Draco was making more of an effort and Hermione did think they could work it out. Then Monday came. He woke up angry and remained angry. In Potions he exploded a cauldron but because he was Snape's favourite he got away with it. In Charms, he nearly blew up Blaise's head. He didn't bother attending History of Magic. Hermione didn't know what to do, especially in her free period when she found him sitting in the common room staring into space.
"Where have you been?" Hermione asked.
"Why do you care?" He snarled.
"I...What's wrong with you? I thought we were going to act civil at least!"
"Well it didn't work!"
"Why?"
"Because I realised I didn't want to marry a mudblood!"
This time it hurt Hermione, "I can't believe for a while I thought you might be a decent human underneath that exterior!"
"Well you were wrong weren't you?" Draco shouted getting up.
"MALFOY YOU'RE A SELFISH JERK!" Hermione shouted.
"THAT'S RICH COMING FROM THE LIKES OF YOU!" Draco shouted.
"WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?" Hermione yelled not noticing Blaise walking in and standing in the corner.
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING! YOU TIHNK YOUR SO SMART DON'T YOU GRANGER! BUT YOUR NOT! YOUR JUST LIKE THE REST OF US! NOTHING SPECIAL!"
"THIS COMING FROM YOU? YOU WALK AROUND LIKE YOU OWN THE PLACE! WHY? BECAUSE OF YOUR NAME! YOUR NOTHING SPECIAL AND I'M NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH YOU SELFISH ARROGANT BEHAVIOUR!"
"Then why are we having this conversation?" Draco snarled going up the stairs.
"I DUNNO!" Hermione shouted after him. "RUN AWAY LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO!"
Hermione was panting when the door slammed shut. She turned to see Blaise looking at her, "What?"
"Go easy on him," Blaise said.
"Why should I? He's being a jerk not me!" Hermione argued.
"Granger, its September 18th, it's been a year since his father was killed," Blaise said.
"Oh fuck," Hermione muttered.
"Give him half an hour before trying to talk to him, trust me," Blaise said.
Hermione nodded. She sat down on the sofa feeling guilty and useless. She waited half an hour, most of the others would be coming back in a few minutes. She headed up to her room. Draco was staring out of the window.
"I...I'm sorry," Hermione whispered walking up to him.
He didn't say anything. She stood next to him and looked out at the lake.
"Malfoy," she whispered.
She looked at him, there were tears in his eyes. She conjured a tissue and handed it to him. He took it and wiped away the tears.
"I...I didn't know," Hermione tried again.
"Who told you?" Draco asked, his voice cold.
"Zabini," Hermione replied.
Draco nodded. She stood beside him, waiting for him to talk if he wanted to. He just stood there and stared at the lake. She was lost in the view when Draco spoke.
"One year," Draco whispered. "Its been a whole year."
Hermione looked at him, she had never seen him so sad.
"One year ago at this time, he was alive...alive..." Draco said softly. "And now...because that bastard killed him!"
Hermione didn't say anything.
"My father killed, he killed without mercy, it was a hobby for him. He loved it, the feeling you get. I hated that feeling."
"You've killed?" Hermione asked completely shocked.
"Twice," Draco admitted. "I hated it. But he made me. My father made me. Live up to the family name son. Its what a Malfoy does best."
Hermione nodded.
"All I got from my father was hurt, beatings and a mark on my body which will never go away," the tears were increasing, he rolled up his sleeve. "Most fathers buy their sons new brooms, I got a Dark Mark!"
Hermione stared at it.
"He hated it, that I wasn't exactly like him. I tried, I tried everyday to be who he wanted, but I couldn't."
"Malfoy..." Hermione whispered.
"He did cruel things, the one thing he did teach me was to respect a woman. He treated my mum right, that was the only good thing about him. Other then that he was bad to the bone."
"Malfoy," Hermione said again, seeing more tears fall from Draco's eyes.
"HE HATED WHO I WAS! HE WAS A MURDERER, A KILLER, HE WAS EVIL!" Draco shouted.
Hermione looked at him sadly.
"Yet I still want him to be alive, I want him here Granger, I want him here!" Draco said desperately.
Hermione put her arm around his waist and leaned into him giving him a hug.
"What kind of person am I?" Draco asked angry at himself. "He was a killer and I want him for selfish reasons! I want him at the wedding, I want him here to tell me how to do all this! Be there for me! What kind of person wants a murderer alive?"
"He was your father," Hermione whispered pulling back and looking into Draco's silver grey eyes which were full of hurt. "Everyone wants their father at their wedding, no matter what kind of person they were. Your not a bad person for wishing that, anyone would."
"Yea except my dad was a top death eater!"
"Yea he was, but he was your father first. I know there are bad memories but when you remember him think of the good times."
Draco to Hermione's surprise wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight. Hermione returned the hug, surprised how safe she felt in his arms.
"I have so much anger inside me!" Draco admitted. "I can't let it go, when I do I might be able to think of the good times."
Hermione pulled back, "I have an idea, to get rid of the anger."
"What?" Draco asked, he seemed so weak and venerable to her right now.
"Come with me, trust me," Hermione smiled at him and gave him her hand. He took it and she led him out of the room and down the stairs.
"Where you two off to?" Ron asked, him and Blaise were doing their work, both were shocked to see Draco so pale and holding Hermione's hand.
"None your business Weasel!" Draco snarled.
"You f..." Ron began.
"Ron leave it please," Hermione asked.
"Why you taking his side?" Ron said angrily.
"Later Ron!" Hermione replied as her and Draco left the room.
"Granger where are we going?" Draco asked.
"Didn't I tell you to trust me?"
Draco sighed and muttered, "Women."
Hermione lead him to the Quidditch Pitch, she took a bunch of keys out of her pocket. They were Draco's keys, as he was Slytherin Quidditch Captain.
"Aren't they mine?" Draco asked.
"Yea your keys for the Quidditch store room, which is where by the way?" Hermione asked.
"Why?"
"Just tell me!"
Draco pointed to a small cupboard by the stairs. Hermione ran up to it and grabbed the box full of all the Quidditch balls.
"Granger, what is this?" Draco asked still confused.
She took a bat out and handed it to Draco, "Its stupid instead of letting you break things and blow up everyone, maybe I dunno, you could hit the bludgers and...um," Hermione said. "Ok, stupid idea I shouldn't have..."
"I'll try it," Draco interrupted.
"You will?" Hermione beamed.
Draco nodded. He grabbed his wand and put a spell on both the bludgers so they would automatically come at him. He hit the first one, then the second and then a third time.
"This helps," he admitted hitting the balls as hard as he could. Hermione sat on the grass and watched him. She smiled, as he did look happier.
After about twenty minutes he looked at her, "Want to try?"
"No thanks!" Hermione said quickly.
"Come on, for me," Draco smiled.
Hermione stood up and took the bat. The ball came at her, she jumped out of the way. Draco laughed.
"I'll hit it this time!" Hermione said. She jumped out of the way again.
"Granger your meant to hit them!"
"I can't!" Hermione admitted.
Draco grinned, "Little Miss Perfect needs help?"
She pouted. He walked over to her and stood behind her. He placed his left hand on her waist. He held her right hand which was holding the bat.
"Just don't jump ok?" He whispered. "Just watch the ball."
She nodded, her heart was racing. Probably because the ball is going to hit me any second, not for any other reason! Not because he's so close to me.
She closed her eyes and turned her head into Draco as the ball came towards her. Draco guided it and hit the ball away.
"I hit it!" Hermione squealed.
Draco laughed, "Not that you saw it. Trust me ok? I won't let it hurt you. Just watch the ball."
"Fine," Hermione watched it. She wanted to turn away but didn't. She let Draco guide her hand once again and hit the bludgers away. She laughed. "Yay!"
Draco smirked, "Can you do the next one on your own?"
"NO!" Hermione shouted.
Draco laughed and still held onto her. They were out there for hours before they went back in. It was night fall.
"Granger," Draco said before they entered through the portrait.
"Yea?" Hermione faced him.
"Thank you," Draco smiled.
"Your welcome." Hermione smiled. "You hungry?"
"Starving."
"Great lets see if anyone's in there and we can go for dinner," Hermione smiled.
Draco grinned. She isn't too bad.
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