Innocence That I Hold Dear

Innocence That I Hold Dear

Chapter 3

The next few days were tainted with the dread of starting new classes and overhearing constant rumors and inquiries about Hermione. Draco heard several different theories and suggestions, but none of them made the slightest bit of sense to him. Pretty soon he gave up trying to figure it out. Which was probably for the best anyway since Hermione had returned to class and seemed to be doing well. Something strange was still going on though. What had once been a famous trio had been broken into pieces it seemed. Potter and Weasley still had no affiliation with Hermione since the new year started. Maybe they just lost touch over the summer and drifted apart, but that didn't seem likely. Maybe they had a fight and decided to sever ties with each other, but that seemed even more ridiculous than the first possibility. Draco's frustration was growing worse with each passing minute. Nothing was making sense. He would find out all too soon, however, how serious the situation really was.

Draco ran into Potter and Weasley one day after advanced potions and decided to press for answers in the most slimy and careless way he could.

"Being particularly cheery today are we, Potter?"

Harry and Ron sighed at the unfortunate confrontation with Draco and seemed a little annoyed with his presence.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Harry asked carelessly.

Draco scoffed at the question and rudely answered it. "What makes you think I would want anything from you? I was just seeing how you were doing without that silly mudblood friend of yours following you around. What was it Potter? Did she finally get tired of you? I don't blame her. I can hardly stand to be around you for 5 minutes. She did it for 6 years. I have to hand it to her. She may be a dirty rotten muggle born, but at least she had enough sense to rid herself of you after all these years. Better late than never, I say."

Draco stopped talking, giving Potty and Weasel a chance to respond angrily. Harry and Ron briefly looked at each other and turned to look at Draco again.

"Whatever you say, Malfoy." Harry said before walking off with Ron past Draco.

Draco stared after them in disbelief. They didn't even seem to care. They usually flied at Draco with tightened fists whenever he mentioned "mudblood" and "Hermione" in the same sentence. Now, with their new indifferent feelings towards Hermione, Draco was growing even more worried. He started down the path towards the Slytherin common room and mumbled under his breath the whole way there. "What is going on."

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Later on that day, Draco retreated to the library to see if he could find Hermione. Of course she was there, reading another strange book, or was it the same one that she was reading that eventful first night back in the Great Hall. He couldn't remember. He decided to grab a book from the dusty shelves and make it look as if he were in the library for a reason other than trying to find Hermione. He opened the book and began to read it. Not at all interested in the contents of the book, Draco looked up every now and then across the room at Hermione. He repeated this up and down eye glance routine for about 5 minutes before he began to stare incessantly at Hermione. Without being aware of his obvious interest in Hermione at the precise moment, Draco began to wonder in thought. God she was so pretty. And it wasn't only that either. Draco was always admired by "somewhat" attractive females during his time at Hogwarts, but they were all the same. Hermione was different. She was so smart, caring, and innocent. And had absolutely no interest in Draco whatsoever. That, ironically, was what attracted him to her the most. Oh what he would give if he could just.......

Draco snapped out of his trance and gave himself a good slap in the face. "What in the bloody hell are you doing to yourself, Draco?" he whispered harshly to himself.

All of a sudden he was earning stares from all over the room from people who seemed to be quite interested in Draco slapping himself.

Even Hermione was looking at him with blatant curiosity.

Draco, his face turning red with a mixture of the effect of his abrupt slapping and embarrassment, looked back at his book and didn't think or say another word until a sweet voice pleasantly greeted him and asked to sit by his side.

"Hello, Draco," Hermione said quietly, "may I sit here?"

Draco stared in surprise as Hermione was patiently waiting for a reply.

"Uh....*clears throat*..Sure, why not?" Draco politely moved his book aside and allowed Hermione to sit next to him.

Hermione took a few seconds to adjust herself properly and initiated the conversation thereafter. "I was wondering what was causing all the commotion over here."

Draco tried to come up with something believable. Seriously, it's not that easy to come up with an excuse for slapping yourself silly for no apparent reason in a quiet room full of students who stir when a pin drops the floor.

"There was a bug on my face."

"Oh, okay," Hermione said with an understanding nod.

There was a pause for what seemed like an eternity before Hermione opened her mouth to speak again.

"Draco, I don't know if this is really the time or the place to discuss this, but I wanted us to be alone and this seemed like the perfect opportunity."

Before Draco could reply, Hermione was taking into account all the people who were listening in on their conversation.

"Maybe we should go somewhere else," she suggested.

Draco, understanding her meaning, quietly nodded and led her out the door of the library. They went outside in the courtyard pacing slowly and returned to their conversation.

Hermione, of course, was the first one to speak again. Hesitant at first, she slowly began.

"Other than the fact that I am muggle-born, is there really any other reason that you don't like me?"

Draco waited a few seconds before answering, but decided to finally be honest with her.

He stopped trying to find ways to intentionally hurt Hermione with words. He simply couldn't anymore. He was starting to care too much.

"No, there isn't."

"Then why do you treat me like you do? I have never done anything to hurt you, have I?" Hermione was really serious about this. She didn't look away from Draco for a second.

Draco sighed loudly and looked at the sky. It was so hard for him to admit everything that she wanted to know. Harder than he thought. He glanced at her once more before returning his pressing gaze to the cloudless sky.

"Hermione?"

She flinched at the sound of his voice, for he had been silent for the better part of five minutes. "Yes?"

He looked at her again; only this time he could not turn his face away.

"What is wrong with you?"

Obviously misunderstanding his question, Hermione had been slightly offended.

"I beg your pardon?"

"No, Hermione, I'm being serious." He paused and cursed himself under his breath for sounding so weak in front of her.

"What is...wrong with you?"

Hermione, having now understood what he really meant by the question, lowered her shoulders in despair and looked to the ground.

"Hermione?"

She sniffled a little and looked up with reddened eyes.

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Draco, please don't do this! It hurts enough as it is."

"What does?"

Hermione shook her head violently and shouted emotionally at Draco.

"I CAN'T TELL YOU! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?"

Draco was stunned to silence. He had never seen Hermione this upset before.

Before he retort, Hermione gave him a farewell look and walked back towards the library.

Draco sat next to a nearby tree for the rest of the day, thinking about what had just transpired between him and Hermione. Through all his years at Hogwarts, he never halfway cared about anything remotely separate from himself. His image and rising power kept him occupied for the most part. All of that was changing. There was a hair out of place on his head and he didn't even care. Something was definitely wrong.

Not just with Hermione, but with him, too. He was falling for a mudblood.

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