Of Serpent Tongues and Lion Hearts

Of Serpent Tongues and Lion Hearts

Chapter 4: "I think you have enough reminders"

"I don't know, Albus, I just can't put my finger on it. That boy has changed a lot."

"Yes, yes, Minerva, I know."

"But why? I don't understand. It's just his attitude that has changed, academically speaking he is still performing at his level. And to be completely honest with you, I'm very worried about him."

"Minerva, I would not worry. Draco Malfoy went through a very difficult loss last year, and he's still trying to deal with it the best way he knows. He was not taught how to handle that kind of pain, because he was not taught to love, Minerva. It is only natural that the boy behaves strangely. Actually, I must say that he is reacting fairly well considering what he went through."

"Yes, maybe, Albus, but I'm still worried. I'm afraid that his father has used, or will use the pain young Mr. Malfoy is going through to his advantage. I have a feeling, Albus, a bad one, that Lucius Malfoy wants Draco to follow his steps whether Draco wants it or not.

"Indeed, Minerva. I agree with you in your suspicions. I would not expect any less from Lucius Malfoy, but I'm afraid that there's not much we can do after Draco leaves Hogwarts. Especially if he doesn't ask for our help, or anyone's help. No, Minerva, Draco has to make his own decisions and live with the consequences of those decisions. The only thing we can do, for now, is to hope that somehow he will make the right one and try to show him that doing as his father says is not the only option he has in life.

"Right you are Albus, but I'll still keep an eye on him... well on both of them," added a slightly confused Professor McGonagall.

"Both of them?"

" Why, yes, Albus. Mr. Malfoy and Miss. Granger. The other day apparently they were having a fight in the middle of the hallway. One student came to tell me about the fight and when I got there Mr. Malfoy and Miss. Granger were in a rather compromising position and staring at each other as if the world did not exist," said Professor McGonagall in her usual factual tone.

"Is that so?" asked the Headmaster pensively.

"Yes, and when finally they were aware of my presence, he let go of her quite abruptly. But she was not well, apparently, because she almost fell."

"Almost?" asked Professor Dumbledore quite amused.

"Yes, he caught her." She had a twinkle in her eyes and a mischievous little smirk, very unlike her, yet appropriate given the circumstances.

"Very well then. This might not be the end of him after all," added Dumbledore immersed in his thoughts.

"Albus, what do you reckon?"

"I have a very valuable piece of information that an old friend gave me some time ago. I did not though he was correct, but he might be after all." Dumbledore turned to face her. "But all in its due time, Minerva, all in its due time. For now, keep an eye on them, but do not over do it. I don't want them to get paranoid, especially Mr. Malfoy."

"Very well, Albus."

And with that, Professor McGonagall left the Headmaster's office leaving him with his thoughts.

*************************************************

"Everything seems normal."

"Yes, it does," said Draco looking everywhere except at her.

"Let's go over there," said Hermione pointing at Honeydukes, which seemed to be more crowded than usual. "And then we can be on our own way."

"Okay."

They were walking quietly until he broke the silence.

"So, what are you doing with your two hours, Granger?"

"Well, my friends want to take me out for lunch to that new café that opened a week ago." He nodded. "And then I guess we are just going to shop for some school materials that I'm missing, Quidditch supplies and God knows what else they'll drag me to," she said smiling.

He just nodded.

"Well, sounds like two very eventful hours to me. I'm sure it will be better that what's in store for me," added Draco quietly.

-"Are you meeting with your father? Today?" Hermione was baffled.

He nodded and the rosy color on her cheeks gradually left.

"Yes, Granger," he added coolly and looking her in the eyes for the first time.

"Oh," she said a tad embarrassed. "Hmm, well it can't be that bad, can it?"

Oh! But she knew the answer to that stupid question.

"Yes, it can and it will," he said, looking at a point not far from them while resuming his walk. "Hey! You, Nemov! No pushing! You heard me," yelled Draco, with an authority only he was capable of, to a third year Slytherin who was a meaner version of Draco a couple of years ago. When he saw Nemov, trying to get his way past a bunch of other students, including a Hufflepuff girl whom he was tormenting by pulling her pigtails. "That little bugger, I don't care much for him," added Draco under his breath. But Hermone heard him.

"I wonder why," she asked sarcastically.

"What do you mean, Granger?" Asked the tall blond slightly offended at her tone.

"Nothing, Malfoy, absolutely nothing." He looked at her while she looked at Nemov. "Hmmm, funny," she added

"What's funny?" Draco asked confused.

"Draco Jr. seemed to be afraid of you. He backed to the end of the line and the boy looks slightly flushed. Imagine that." She had a triumphant smirk in her face, but it wasn't a malicious one.

"Hey! I take that as an insult Granger," he said in mock hurt. "I'm much smarter and good looking than he is!"

They both looked at each other in silence first, but it wasn't for much longer because they both broke into fits of laughter. And for the first time since they met in the train back in their first year, they laughed. Together. Neither of them minded, actually if you asked them both right this moment, they would tell you they wouldn't mind doing it again.

After the laughter died, and the rounds were over, Hermione glanced at her watch.

"Oh. I have to go now. I'll see you later at The Hungry Mind." She waved at him and left almost running to meet her friends.

"Later, Granger." He walked towards the very end of Hogsmeade. Once he was sure no one could see him, he crossed to the side of Hogsmeade not many liked or dare to even mention. He was going to meet with Lucius Malfoy in one of those damp, nasty and ugly taverns full of dark wizards and witches as well as losers. Not necessarily in that order

*********************

"You are five minutes late, boy. What is your excuse?" Asked Lucius Malfoy angrily.

"In case you haven't heard, I'm the Head Boy, you know? I have more important things to do before coming here to listen to you babbling about the same thing," Draco said casually, but with just the right pinch of sarcasm.

"I'm getting tired of your insubordination, you little ungrateful prat,"

"Ungrateful," asked Draco arching one of his perfectly blonde eyebrows. "Oh that's rich, Lucius. What in the world am I ungrateful for now?" Draco asked dangerously.

"For everything your mother and I have done for you. That's what," said Lucius with a deadly tone. But his blood was rising to boiling temperatures.

"HA! What have you and Narcissa done for me? Beat me almost to death since I was twelve? Or for experimenting your new curses on me? Or for becoming your guinea pig since I was five? For not ever saying a nice thing to me? For taking everything and everyone that I cared for, out of my reach? Is that it, Lucius? Is that what I'm ungrateful for? Damn it! But I am an ungrateful prat. After all those things you have done for me... or should I say 'to me'," said Draco in a dangerous low whisper leaning closer to his father. Lucius was sitting across the table from him, with dangerously frowned eyebrows while his grey eyes flashed with pure hatred and anger.

Draco didn't know it, but his father was intimidated by him. He knew Draco's potential was enormous. For the dark side, as well as the light side. But Lucius knew that Draco's heart would never belong to the Dark Lord. Nope, Draco was weak and stupid ,according to Lucius, because he didn't want to join the Dark Lord. He had never had.

Yes there was a period in Draco's life where he wanted nothing more than to please his father. Therefore he was all right with becoming a Death Eater. But this period of his life had passed and, unfortunately for Draco, Lucius had him where he wanted. Draco would become a Death Eater a day right after his graduation from Hogwarts. Lucius had gotten rid of any thing that might connect Draco to the light side and he had stopped at nothing. Hell! He had killed his own father for this purpose.

Lucius father was the only person whom Draco loved. The only person that could save Draco from becoming a Death Eater. So Lucius killed his own father because he was getting in his way.

Draco's grandfather was a man that exerted great authority by his mere presence. He had always carried a cane in the shape of a snake made of platinum and emerald eyes. Along the cane there was an inscription:

"Emo ceb llah sen onoi leh tdna tne pre seht".

No one knew what it meant. But really no one cared, after all that dumb old man was crazy and he had proven to be attached to the most weird unpractical things, like that stupid cane and his stupid inconvenient conscience that appeared way too late in his life, but just in time to spoil Lucius' plans, by giving Draco a conscience. At least that was what Lucius thought of his own father.

The cane was a family heirloom. It had only skipped a generation. Lucius's. It was to go to Draco right after his grandfather's death. After all, the cane was Draco's grandfather's most valuable possession. He had even made Draco swear that the cane would never get into Lucius hands. He was so adamant about it, Draco wondered at times if there was more to that cane than what his grandfather had told him. Draco had failed at keeping the cane out of Lucius' hands. But he was working on getting it back. It was the only thing he had left Draco, because it was the only thing that he had.

Lucius had stolen all his money and properties. Lucius laughed at his father. He had thought that his father was a very smart man, after all he was a Malfoy, but robbing him proved to be easier than stealing candy from a baby.

Though Lucius didn't know his father had given Draco money through the years and that Draco had saved every knut. Now, Draco was the owner of a fair amount of money. Not that it really mattered. He had no future, so he didn't care about the money.

"What do you want from me, Lucius?"

"You know what I want."

"I already accepted your terms, haven't I?" Draco laid back in his chair coolly.

"Yes. Yes, you have. I'm just making sure that you go through with what we agreed upon," Lucius added, now more composed.

"I will, Father. I will become a Death Eater a day after I leave Hogwarts. And you'll give me grandfather's cane after I become a Death Eater."

"Very well, son. I see you have finally come to terms with your fate," said Lucius pleased with himself.

Draco rolled his eyes.

"Right. Is that all you wanted to meet me for?" Asked Draco exasperated.

"No. I actually wanted to see how you were doing," said Lucius, pretending being slightly hurt by his son's incrimination.

"Funny how I don't believe you."

"Very well, son, I will not beat around the bush any longer. How's that Mudblood doing?"

"Granger?" Asked Draco slightly taken aback and slightly doubtful by his father's interest on the young Gryffindor. "Fine... I guess," he finally responded with suspicion.

"You guess? What have I told you about your enemies?"

"To keep them closer," sighted Draco running very low on his daily dose of patience.

"Exactly. So you shouldn't be guessing how one of your enemies and inferior is doing. Especially when the two of you share living spaces. YOU SHOULD KNOW," yelled Lucius striking his fist against the table.

Draco once again rolled his eyes. Talking to that psychopath was certainly a tiring task.

"Okay Father, I will know next time. Are we done?"

"Try to make her life miserable will you? So at least I could have one thing to be proud of you before I present you to the Dark Lord," he said standing up importantly.

Draco stood up, his blood was boiling hot. He said nothing but followed his father out the tavern.

"If we are done, I guess I'll go now," said Draco.

"Fine. Oh, Draco," he turned around and pointed his wand at Draco.

Draco knew what was coming next. This was the part that he dreaded the most after a meeting with Lucius.

"Orbis Angor," Lucius hissed.

Draco was hit in the chest by a blue and green light. He winced. A terrible pain crossed through his body . The pain intensified more and more with every second. He could hear screams in his head. People yelling, crying desperately. He heard many and different voices all speaking different languages. The pain was horrible, his knees landed on the floor. This was usually where Lucius stopped... but not today. Draco started to bleed through his nose. The pain grew unbearable. Shortly he felt a trickle of something warm decending his forehead. A thick drop landed on his nose. It was blood. It seemed as if the skin in his forehead was ripping apart. He felt the blood falling rapidly to his face. He was now lying on the floor sideways, wincing in brutal pain. He could feel his back being savagely torn apart. The pain was too much to bear. Lucius had never gone this far.

Draco passed out on the filthy floor where Hogsmeade ended/began.

"That's for your insubordination, you ungrateful fool," Lucius spat.

And he kicked his own son in the stomach, not that Draco could feel a thing after all he had passes out. And by the orders of Lucius Malfoy two of his goons threw, literally, Draco into an alley in Hogsmeade between Celtic Gift shop and Zonko's Joke Shop.

*********************************

Hermione was having the time of her life. It had been quite a long time since she had been able to really spend quality time with her dear friends.

Ron, Harry, and Ginny were telling 'Common Room' stories about the other Gryffindors.

"I'm as serious as a heart attack," said Ron in between gasping for air and another fresh set of roaring laughter.

"Oh well, at least Neville has a girlfriend now," said Ginny

"Yeah, if you can call one of those bubble heads girlfriend," Ron added.

Hermione gave Ron a disapproving glare.

"Ron, that was quite rude,"

"Oh come on, Hermione, you know they are not the brightest stars in the sky," added Harry to the conversation.

"Well... yeah, but bubble head is a tad offensive for Lavander. She's a good girl overall, just a little..."

"Shallow?" finished Ron

"Oh you guys! Really. I don't think shallow would be the best word, after all she is dating Neville," added Mandy.

"True," they all said in unison.

The rest of their lunch was pretty much the same. They shared anecdotes, they laughed, Mandy was still too giddy for everyone's taste, but she was Ron's girlfriend, so they tolerated her giddiness.

Hermione got gifts from all of them. Ginny gave Hermione a gift certificate for "The Hungry Mind". Mandy gave her a makeup kit, if she only knew Hermione would never use it, she could have saved the money she spent on it. And Harry and Ron decided to buy her a special gift between the two of them. She was a special girl, after all, and this gift had to be perfect for her. It was a birthday present, but also a "congratulation on being the new Head Girl" and "thank you" present.

If it hadn't been for her they would not be the dynamic trio, they would have never gotten anywhere. She was the brains of the whole operation and they both, Harry and Ron, knew it. So for this present they took their time to find. They went to this little antique store in Diagon Alley and found the most amazing and beautiful necklace. It was silver and it had a beautiful charm in it. It was a dragonfly made out of precious stones and set in a filigrane base. The body was made out of rubies, the wings out of light blue/tornasol sapphires and the eyes were light green emeralds. It was unbelievably beautiful and it reminded them of her. It was expensive because of the gorgeous elaboration of the dragonfly. But after telling the owner of the store, a nice old lady that it was for her best friend, she gave it to them at a very reasonable price. Actually was beyond reasonable. It could have easily being mistaken by them almost robbing her blind, but the old lady was so enchanted by the fact that this two young handsome boys were trying to buy their best friend something really special, "just like her", that she couldn't think of anyone else more deserving of the centennial necklace. They also paid for lunch

After lunch they all went to different stores where they bought some things that they needed and some things that they didn't.

But after a wonderful day like that with the people that she loved the most, she had to go back and meet Draco in "The Hungry Mind".

"Thanks for everything, I had an amazing time. Thanks for the gifts, they were all so great! Ron, Harry, I'm still speechless. Thank you," Hermione told her friends.

"Oh Hermione! It was nothing really," said Ron a little bit flushed.

Everyone was too exited to notice Mandy's death stare when Ron spoke. The poor thing was of jealous nature. Or so Ron said

"Too bad you have to go now, I was having such a good time," added Ginny who was having the time of her life.

"I wish I didn't have to go neither, but..." said Hermione before she was interrupted by her friends.

"Head Girl duty calls," Ron, Ginny, and Harry finished for her.

Hermione laughed, "Exactly!"

"Well see you at dinner then," said Harry

"Yes. Later," said Hermione as she waved goodbye.

**********************************

Hermione walked to the "The Hungry Mind." She was eight minutes early, so she decided to take a quick look to see the latest.

She looked like a little child in a candy store. They had many new books and they had added sections. One of the new sections was 'Muggle Books'. She found the latest on Laura Ezquivel and Paulo Cohelo, though she had her suspicions that either one of them were that "Muggle" after all. She took a look outside. 2:03 and no Draco.

That is weird. He's Mr. Punctuality.

She went back inside and grabbed two books from the Muggle section, "The Alchemist" by Paulo Cohelo and "As Fast as Desire" by Laura Ezquivel. She used the gift certificate that Ginny had given her to pay.

She exited the store quickly, but still no Draco.

Where in the world did that brat go to?

It was 2:15 now. He was definitely late and she was most definitely fuming.

"Oh just wait until I put my hands on that imbecile," she mumbled through clenched teeth.

She started walking to see if she could find him.

That little annoying snake! How dare he criticize me when I was just a few minutes late! But look at him! It's 2:23 and he IS late! I HAVE a right to be mad at him.

As she walked and passed some stores, she instinctively turned her head to an alley between Celtic Gift and Zonko's.

She frowned when she saw an unidentified creature crawled up in the floor. She walked slowly towards it. The shadow was covered by the darkness of the alley, so she couldn't see what it was.

She kept walking slowly until she saw a streak of silvery blonde blond hair. Her heart skipped a bit, and she let out a really audible gasp.

"Draco!"

She ran up to him and kneeled right next to him.

"Oh my god! Draco!"

She took his blood covered head and gently placed it in her lap.

"Draco, wake up!"

She caressed his cheek, it was so cold.

"Draco, please wake up!"

Tears were filling her eyes. Her breath was getting caught in her throat and she was growing paler. Still no response from the Head Boy.

She looked up from him, as in trying to get the answer from looking at anything but him.

Oh God, what am I going to do?

She was blank, she had no idea what to do. She had never experienced anything like that. She felt desperate because, for the first time in her life, she was so anguished, her brain was technically dead.

After a little while her brain was showing signs of life once again. She took her wand and pointed it at him.

"Fadis Sanguinea," she muttered

The blood that once covered his face was now gone, but there was an ugly cut in his forehead.

"Curato Herita"

A gold glow came out of her wand and the cut in his forehead slowly closed.

"Draco, please wake up," she whispered to him.

He looked so sickening pale. She didn't exactly know why, but she was crying and one of her tears rolled down her pretty, but pale, face and landed on his cheek.

He shook his head violently and his eyes opened abruptly.

She let out a sight of relief she didn't know she was holding, making her chest too tight. Draco looked around quickly and finally his eyes landed on a teary brown ones. He knew those eyes!

"Hermione," he said in a groan.

"Draco, what happened to you?" Draco tried to sit up but was too weak. Damn! He could barely move his arms or legs.

"Hermione, look inside the left pocket of my robe and take out a flask."

She did as she was told.

"Help me drink it?"

She gave him the flask contents and he didn't move for a while.

"Draco, we need to call the professors, you need a doctor." One of her hands removed his messy hair from his forehead

He grabbed her hand.

"No! Just... just give me a minute." His voice was gruff. It was obvious that he was in extreme physical pain, yet he didn't want help.

"But..." Hermione tried to convince him

"Please."

She didn't say anything, but she agreed.

After a few minutes Draco opened his eyes and stood up with some difficultly . She helped him.

"Are you ok? What happened," Hermione asked, truly concerned.

"Yeah I am fine... for now," added Draco once the ground stopped spinning.

"You need to see a doctor," Hermione told him.

"No! No doctors," he said sounded harsher than he meant. "I'll be fine for the next few hours.

The potions will last me for a good three or four hours. Enough to get done here and back to Hogwarts. I will need you to excuse me from dinner with the professors if that's all right with you," he said.

"Yeah... I'll do that," she said watching him intently. As if expecting him to fall any minute now.

"Are you sure you want to stay here," she asked concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

They started walking together towards the main path.

"Your father did that, right?" she asked after a heavy silence settled between the two of them.

He didn't answer.

"Of course he did! What stupid question, Hermione," she told herself angrily. But he kept his gaze down. "What did he use? The Cruciatus Curse?"

"I wish," he said silently

She looked at him with eyes wide open.

"What? Worse than the Crucio is the Aveda and you are obviously not dead," she said as a matter of factly.

Trust Hermione to try to be rational when talking about a psychopath.

"Oh! I wouldn't be so sure about that..." said Draco. Apparently the joke didn't work so he chose to answer, "Is one he has been developing since many years ago. The problem is that he is getting better at it."

She had stopped now while he kept on walking.

"How can he do that to you? You are his son," she said outraged

But a worst sight saw Hermione. There was blood all over Draco's back.

"Oh my god! Your back!"

He turned around.

"What is it?" he asked

She pulled him into an alley.

"Take off your robe," Hermione demanded.

"What? Granger I didn't knew you were attracted to me! But honestly couldn't you wait until we got back," he said trying to lighten the mood up.

"Take it off," she said seriously. "And your vest too."

"Feisty this one," Draco mumbled to himself.

Now she could see a gigantic blood stain covering the entire back of his white designer shirt. She lifted the shirt out of his trousers and gasped loudly. Her eyes filled with tears and suddenly she was filling dizzy and sick.

"For Merlin's sake! What kind of barbarian is your father? How could he?" She was hating Lucius even more now. "Oh just wait until I put my hands on that scum!" She was fuming.

Draco was very confused. He was ashamed that she had seen him like that. He was angry at his father,very much in pain and very intrigued at her reaction.

"I don't know how to heal a wound this deep and long," she told him.

However she muttered the same spell she used to close the cut in his forehead and it made the wound in his back close just a tad. Draco was very grateful, for his wound might have not been entirely healed but it had alleviated some of the pain... well very little of it, but when you were in that much pain, you took whatever was offered.

They walked really slowly around Hogsmeade taking many breaks because his potion could only go so far. They sat on a bench under a tree, to rest.

"What spell did your father used?"

"You don't want to know," he told her plainly.

"Like hell I don't! Draco Malfoy I found your body in an alley. You were covered in blood and almost dead. You scared the life out of me when I found you like that! So believe me, I want to know the spell he performed in you. Especially if it's worse than Crucio.

Draco smiled just a bit, almost disbelieving his ears. But even ignoring what she just said, her behavior showed that she cared and before he could think it twice...

"You care about what happens to me?" He asked bluntly.

Hermione realized that she had given away too much. But wait! Why would she be giving too much away? She didn't care about him! Of course you don't. He's the insufferable Malfoy, the annoying stupid pureblooded ferret... well technically he is not stupid, he's quite smart... her brain was rambling. So far her time with him, with a few exceptions, hadn't been that bad. But that was completely different from caring about someone, right? Then why did she care ? And she knew she did, otherwise why did she felt her heart sinking when she found him lying in the floor? Why did she cry? Why did she want to kill Lucius? Duh, because he has tried to kill your best friends! shouted her brain, but even without the Lucius question why did she felt all those emotions when she thought he Draco was, well dead.

"Um...I.... I don't know," that was all she could say because it truly was all she knew. She didn't know

"But... you do care," he said sounding more like a question.

"I...I don't know, I g...I guess...ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME WHAT CURSE DID HE USED ON YOU OR NOT?" she practically yelled at him exasperated.

She didn't wanted to give away more than she had already, because in all honesty she didn't know exactly what was she giving away.

He smiled another bit, but tried to suppress his smile. He didn't want to give away the fact that he kind of liked that she cared about him.

"The Orbis curse. The world's pain curse."

"Ok, you just left me exactly in the same place I was before," said Hermione clearly annoyed.

"The Orbis curse is a curse my father has been working on for more than 15 years. It's not perfect yet but he's getting close to perfecting it. The curse is worse than the Avada and the Crucio .... together. Well if you don't consider quick death a worse fate than pure pain."

"What does it do?" Hermione's curiosity was increasing.

"When he casts the curse he gathers most of the pain that the world suffers through at that point. Physical and emotional pain. If you leave someone for too long under it you can kill them, or worst you can leave them psychologically damaged for life. The pain is unbearable... worse than Crucio. You can hear people yelling and screaming desperately in your head and you can feel exactly what they are feeling not only physically but emotionally.... It's horrible," he added in a whisper while looking straight into the ground.

Hermione was horrified and shocked. She had never heard of such a barbaric thing. But wait a minute, how could he know that it was worst that Crucio, sure it sounded like it but...

"Draco, how do you know it's worse than Crucio?" She asked fearing the answer.

"Hermione, please stop asking me questions. You really don't want to know."

She felt her throat tightened and her eyes were flooding again.

"He used it on you, didn't he? All those scars. Him. Right? What else has he done to you?" her voice almost cracking.

He stood up quickly feeling rather uncomfortable. He looked down at her

"Trust me, you don't want to know. Let's go, my potion is starting to wear off. I need to get back soon."

She quickly stood up and began walking to Hogwarts with him. She had never felt so angry and sad, all at the same time. Lucius Malfoy was a monster. Hell! He probably invented the term.

**********************

They were on the main entrance of Hogwarts. Draco was barely able to walk and had refused Hermione's help.

"Go to dinner," he told her "and please excuse me with the professors, tell them that... that I'm feeling indisposed, but I trust tomorrow I'll feel better."

He looked very, very pale. Paler than usual, and that was something. His skin looked sweaty and clammy.

"But, Draco, you can barely.." Hermione said.

"Go," he ordered her.

"Fine," she said through greeted teeth and walked towards the Great Hall.

As she reached the doors of the Great Hall, she couldn't help debating whether she should go in or go back to their dorm.

"Oh Miss Granger, can I help you with anything?"

"Professor Dumbledore! No, thank you Professor."

"You look very preoccupied my child."

"Oh... well... just a tad," added Hermione a bit nervous.

"May I be of any help?" asked Professor Dumbledore slightly concerned.

"Oh no, thanks, Porfessor," Hermione said with a little smile.

"Well, maybe you should take care what's worrying you. I'll excuse you from dinner if you wish."

"Yes, thank you, Professor... Oh! Draco is a tad indisposed so he won't be joining you for dinner either."

"Right. Well I hope he'll feel better tomorrow."

"Thank you, Professor."

"You are very welcome, Miss Granger."

And with that she ran down the hallway to their dorm.

****************************

"Serpents and Lions"

The portrait swung open.

"I'll see you later, darling," said Prince Dashiell to Hermione.

She rolled her eyes and went to Draco's room.

"Draco, are you here?" She knocked on the door for the third time.

She opened the door. The room was very dark

"Lumus room." The room lit up.

"Draco!"

He was lying on the floor. She knelt besides him and shook him.

"Draco."

He stirred a bit, but his eyes did not open.

"Ennervate. " She remembered the spell this time.

His eyes flew open.

"Granger, what are you doing here? I thought I told you to...."

"Oh, shut it, Malfoy! We are both excused from dinner. And no one knows about your state," she added when she saw the look of concern in his eyes.

"Come on, lean on me. We need to get you to your bed," she told him while helping him up.

"Yes ma'am," Draco added with an amused smile at her dominant female impersonation.

"That's more like it," she smiled back at him.

She laid him flat on his stomach on his bed.

"I found this spell for your back in the library, and it won't even leave a scar," she told him.

"I like my scars. They are reminders," he said seriously.

Hermione's smile faded. She lowered her head so she could see him eye to eye.

Draco was surprised. She had never looked at him that way and it certainly intimidated him.

"I think you have enough reminders," she said coolly. He knew that was the end of it. There would be no scar this time.

She went through the spell's instructions again.

"It will take longer than most healing spells, because your wound is too deep and large... and because of the severity of the curse Lucius performed on you. I will have to repeat the spell every two hours for the next twelve hours.... hmmm," she said

"What was that 'hmmm' for? Is it a bad 'hmm' or a good hmm'," he asked preocupied.

"Oh no, no. Just... well according to this, the spell drains a lot of the energy of the caster because most of the energy and essence used to heal comes from the caster itself. Also says that most casters don't last for the whole twelve hours therefore it is a good idea to have more than one caster, because most of them will end up unconscious and not waking up for several hours. Interesting," she muttered.

"What's so interesting?" He said a tad more alarmed that he wanted to sound

"Oh nothing, I was thinking that this will be a long night."

"No, it won't. You won't perform it. It's too dangerous," he said with finality. But she wasn't about to give up.

"It's not! The worst that could happen is that I don't finish and fall unconscious, but that's impossible," she added as a matter of fact.

"Oh yeah? And why's that Miss Head Girl?" he asked sarcastically

"Because I always finish what I start," she told him with a bright confident smile.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked uncertain.

"Yes! And that is it."

"FINE! But for the record, I'm against this."

Somehow he had managed to change into his boxers before he fell into the floor, so his back was bare. She sat next to him in the bed and she closed her eyes to concentrate. Shortly after she pointed her wand to the ceiling.

"Spirits of the four corners and spirits of the circle, I invoke thee to close what has been open, " she lowered her wand to the exposed wound, "and to wash the impurities that sprung from what was inflicted."

She repeated the chant two more times. By the third time a beautiful light blue glow came form her wand and it landed in Draco's wound. Draco moved a little and chuckled

"It tickles a bit," he said

She felt a bit weaker, but still fine. The light vanished.

"Ok we'll do this again in two hours. I'm going to my room to change and I'll be back soon."

She was gone for less than ten minutes, when she came yawning into Draco's room

"I'm so tired," she said to no one in particular.

"I told you not to perform the spell. It will wear you out before you are half way done with it. Please just stop doing it, ok, I'll be fine."

"And I told you I finish everything I start and this will not be the exception."

"Fine, be stubborn," he said.

"Fine, I will," she said smiling.

"Why don't you go back and take a quick nap and come back in two hours?"

"No. I don't want to leave you like this all by yourself."

He smiled to himself

"Well... I guess you could sleep here in my bed," he said.

"Draco..." she added in a warning tone.

"Hey, I mean that in a very innocent way. Just a nap... no strings attached," he chuckled. "There's plenty of space in here, it's a Queen bed after all. Besides, it's not like I can do anything to you. I can't even move a finger and I reckon it is unnecessary to mention the lack of attraction that exists between both of us." He had a valid point, thought Hermione. No attraction. Right?

"Ok, but only napping... no strings attached," she added with a sweet smile.

"Do not worry I'll wake you up in two hours."

"Aren't you going to nap too?" she asked Draco.

"I wish I could, but I can't fall asleep after Lucius performs the curse on me."

"That must be terrible."

"It's all right. I'm used to it by now. He has performed that curse on me since I was 12," he told her as if he were talking about the weather.

Hermione's face turned to pure anguish and not believing what she heard from Draco. She felt this urge to hug him and protect him. To make him feel safe. But he was Draco Malfoy, he didn't need to be protected by a Gryffindor know it all.

"He is a monster. I'm so sorry," was all she managed to get out of her mouth.

"So am I," he whispered. "Anyway, it's not your fault."

She laid on her side facing him. They were staring at each other and the silence was growing uncomfortable. She didn't know what possessed her, but Hermione gently caressed his cheek, despite that she knew he would reject her touch. To her surprise he didn't pull away.

Draco felt her hand on his cheek. Her hands were so warm, so soft, and they emanated a very unknown scent. Unknown but amazingly intoxicating. He felt so elated, so safe. Human touch, not counting beatings, was something he was not very familiar with. Something his whole family wasn't familiar with. He closed his eyes and inhale deeply, trying to take in as much of the moment as was possible.

She saw him closing his eyes and inhaling deeply and a new emotion traveled through her body. It was frightening, but it felt so strangely good, so... right. She closed her eyes to try to analyze that new feeling better, but she was too tired and two seconds later she was deeply in the land of the sleep.

Draco watched her as she slept. She looked so at ease so care free. Even though he knew she was not completely aloof to the horrors of both muggle and wizard world. After all she was wonder's boy best friend and had even helped him survive Voldemort's murder attempts more than once. He looked at the clock in his room, it was time.

"Hermione. Hermione wake up," he said softly.

Her eyes fluttered open and the first sight she got was that beautiful thunderstorm that were also known to be his eyes. She smiled at him.

"Is it time already?" she asked her voice gruff with sleep.

"Yeah. How did you sleep?"

"Very well, thank you. You have very comfortable pillows," she told him

"Thanks. Only the best lies on my bed."

She flushed tremendously and smiled shyly. Draco smiled at the realization of how his innocent statement could be interpreted.

"Ok that came out wrong... what I meant was..." he tried to fix it.

"That's all right I know what you meant. Ok lets get started."

Once again she began the ritual. The wound was healing, slowly, but surely and the pain was dissipating as well.

She finished the ritual for the second time and laid down in his bed once more.

"What did you drank back in the alley," she asked him out of the blue.

"What," Draco asked confused.

"You know, the thing that was in your flask. What was it?"

"Oh, that. It was just a potion I created. It helps me feel better after Lucius is done with me. It eases the pain and lets me get back to normal most of the time. But it does not take all the pain away. It works wonderfully with Crucio and used to work very well with the Orbis curse as well. But Lucius is getting better at the curse so this time my potion barely worked.

She nodded, assenting her understanding.

"Why does he treat you like that? You are his son, how could he?" she asked.

"He thinks I'm too weak. He thinks that by torturing me he'll make me stronger and he'll get me to agree to do what he asks of me."

"Does it work?"

"No, not really. But I still please him. Most of the time anyway.

"Why?" He shifter uncomfortably at the turn of the conversation.

"He has ways Hermione. Ways to make people do as he says, and those ways sometimes are worst than a lifetime of torture."

"What did he want you to do for the torture to be so great?"

Draco said nothing for an uncomfortable amount of time.

"Go to sleep, you need to rest before we do this once again," was all he said.

She closed her eyes and fell asleep. She knew it wouldn't be wise to keep asking questions and he had, weirdly enough, answered many personal questions. Besides, for some weird reason, her brain kept telling her that she really didn't wanted to know anymore!

They repeated the rituals four more times for the remaining of the night and the beginning of the morning.

It was almost seven in the morning and the last ritual was almost over. The glow on Draco's back slowly faded as his gash easily finished healing entirely leaving no trace at all. Draco felt like a new man, he had never felt this energized in his life. Well maybe when he played Quidditch against Gryffindor, but that was not the point. He definitely had to thank Hermione for this, so he turned his body towards her and opened his mouth to speak, but it was too late. Hermione had fallen asleep the very second the wound disappeared. She was exhausted, never in her life had she ever felt like that. Like she could even barely move, speak... hell, even breathe! Her thoughts were not clear, she couldn't speak at all, it was like if her brain had decided to go on strike. So it did the only thing it could, shut down and send her to sleep, and she did. Draco took her wand from her hand and placed it on her night stand. He pulled his feather comforter around her and she stirred a little to get cozier.

He got dressed and walked to the Great Hall for breakfast with the Slytherin's. He didn't wanted to, but he knew the word would spread around and get to his father that the distinguished Head Boy had not been seen since Hogsmeade yesterday. And neither had the Head Girl.

Now, that could be a problem.