Saving Hermione Granger

CHAPTER 8

I should have known that Malfoy was a part of this! Harry thought to himself. That rotten skunk Malfoy is going to hurt my best friend!

He looked past Malfoy and saw Hermione lying in a cast iron cage. Harry’s heart broke seeing his best friend lying helplessly inside the cage.

There was also a large student standing next to Malfoy giving him instructions, and then he left. Malfoy just stood in place as the other student left. After the student was clearly gone, Malfoy ran to the cage.

After Malfoy had explained to Hermione why she was at Durmstrang, he told he that he wasn’t going to kill her.

"He’s not going to kill her!" Ron whispered.

It was the next line that Harry couldn’t believe.

"Hermione, please, believe me. I’m not lying. I really like you," Malfoy said.

"He likes Hermione?" Ron whispered again.

"I can’t believe it! The Malfoys hate Hermione and her family!" Ginny said excitedly.

Harry was too stunned to say anything. He, Ron, and Ginny were going to have to work with Malfoy to get Hermione out. Would Malfoy work with them? He hated Harry more than anyone!

In the midst of all the whispering, they had missed the conversation between Malfoy and Hermione. As Draco started to stand up, Harry threw the Cloak off.

"Harry! Ron! Ginny! How did you know I was here? How did you get here?" Hermione shouted.

The three quickly walked to the cage and pushed Malfoy aside.

"Ginny said that Malfoy was transferred here, and Ron said that they were probably starting up another Death Eaters group. Since the Death Eaters hate Muggle-born witches and wizards, we just figured that you were here," Harry explained.

Draco came up to Harry. "I’m not going to hurt her. I’m going to help her get out," he said.

"We already know, Malfoy, we heard everything," Ron retorted.

Ginny took Malfoy by the shoulders and pushed him up against the cage. "Look, Draco, we want to get Hermione out of here as well, so we’re going to have to work together whether we like it or not."

"Get off me, silly girl! I know that we are going to have to work together. I’m actually glad that you all are here. I don’t think that I could have done this alone," Draco said timidly.

"Draco Malfoy admits a weakness? That’s a first!" Ron said with a chuckle.

Draco shot a dirty look in Ron’s direction.

"Shut up, Ron. He’s willing to work with us, and that’s all that matters," Harry said.

"Okay, Mr. Wonderful, what’s your plan?" Ron said sarcastically to Draco.

"Weasley, I’m willing to work with you and all you can do is make jokes? Do you want to get Hermione out of here or what?" Draco said loudly as he stepped closer to Ron.

"Stop it!" Ginny interrupted. "Both of you! We need to figure out a plan!"

"We can’t figure one out right now. Elin said that the spells and enchantments would reactivate themselves in one hour, which leaves us with about 15 minutes to get out of here," Draco said calmly.

"Who’s Elin?" Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione said in unison.

"Elin was the big scary looking guy who brought me down here. My father made him the leader of the Death Eaters here," Draco explained.

"Oh," Harry said. "If we can’t get her out now, what are we going to do?"

"Put your cloak on and follow me to my dormitory. Since I’m a distinguished student, I have my own room, so you three can say in there tomorrow while I go to class. Oh, and while you’re in there, use my owl to send Dumbledore a letter," Draco said.

"Okay," Harry said as he, Ron and Ginny walked over to where they had left the Invisibility Cloak.

While their backs were turned to Draco and Hermione, Draco went to Hermione and whispered something to her.

"We’re going to get you out of here. I promise," he said, before kissing her lightly on the lips. It was Draco’s first kiss, so when he pulled away he could feel his cheeks reddening and he looked at the floor.

Hermione never thought that this would be happen. She always knew that she would have at least one boyfriend at Hogwarts, but never did she think that it would be Draco Malfoy. As she thought about what Draco said and the way he kissed her, she was actually glad that it was Draco and not Harry or Ron.

Of course, Harry and Ron were great, they were her best friends, but there was something about Draco that brought a smile to her face. He was a good-looking boy, with piercing blue eyes and shimmering blond hair, but it was more than that. Draco was mysterious. He had to act like a jerk at school to maintain the family name, but he also had a softer side, which he had shown tonight.

Hermione’s thoughts were interrupted by an invisible Harry saying goodbye.

"Hermione, we’ll be back tomorrow night. Hang in there," he said.

"Okay, I’ll try," she responded.

Draco then led his three invisible friends out of the chamber.