Broken Against a Stone

"No work of art puts forward views. Views belong to people who are not artists."

-Oscar Wilde

Broken Against A Stone-Chapter 3

Hermione felt very comforted when she reached the solitude of her own bed. As she lay down, the cloudy haze of guilt began to swim around her head. She should not have snapped at Ron like she did. He was right to think ill of Malfoy. He had tormented Ron ever since his first year. The thought of this thoroughly confused Hermione more and more. "He's an utter bastard," she thought. "But, I'm thinking of the look on his face today in potions. His mind was so very owned by something. It was so troubling. What on earth could it be? Why do I care?" thought Hermione.

She took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. As the calming wave of oxygen reached her brain, Hermione began to make some realizations. "I'm fucking crazy," she thought. Who was the hooded figure whispering to him? Should I ask him?

Hermione began to ponder the idea of sending an anonymous note to Malfoy, letting him know that one of his fellow classmates was concerned about him. She thought about if for a few moments, and ignoring the lightheadedness she was experiencing, she reached over to her bedside table and pulled out some spare parchment and a quill. She began to feel the sheer wave of anxiety travel through her blood. Chemicals she never even knew she possessed coursed through every nerve receptor in her body. Slowly, she put the quill to the parchment. She let her feelings instead of her logical mind propel her hand.

Malfoy-

I noticed that you were troubled today during breakfast. I just wanted to let you know that you've got a fellow classmate that is concerned about you. If you'd like someone to talk to about it, meet me in the second classroom to the left on the eighth floor on Halloween. Be there after the ball at 12:30 am. I hope to see you there. I really want to help you.

Cheers,

Someone

Hermione had used that particular classroom for two years in order to study. It was very quiet, although drafty in the winter months. She thought it would be the most suitable place to meet someone discreetly, as no one except Hermione ever used it.

Hermione literally shook as she folded up the parchment. She decided that she would bring it to the owlry before dinner that evening. She would definitely have to be discreet about it. If Ron and Harry caught wind about what she was doing they would be terribly hurt.

Hermione could not understand why she felt the need to send Malfoy the letter, but she knew she had to do it for some reason. She thought about what Malfoy might think when he received the letter. She thought he'd be shocked and amazed that someone actually thought of him. Malfoy had built up many enemies over the years, not just in Gryffindor.

Hermione put the letter on her bedside table, and then lay down. She drifted off into a dreamless sleep and slept until just before dinner.

When Hermione woke up, she had an overwhelming sense of dread sweep over her. She would have to get the note to the owlry and not be noticed by anyone. She'd also have to face Ron and Harry at dinner. She did not know what she could possibly say to them after the way she had behaved earlier.

She finally mustered up the courage to get out of bed. She put on a plain wool cloak for warmth and walked out of her dorm into the common room. Fortunately, no one was around. The Gryffindor Quidditch team was practicing that evening before dinner. That explained why nobody was there.

She made it to the owlry without being noticed. It was a chilly night, and Hermione could see her breath, icy in the night air. She could hear the sounds of the Quidditch practice taking place in the distance. With the note to Malfoy in hand, Hermione peeked through the owlry window to make sure than there wasn't anyone sending something. She nearly fainted as she realized who was inside of the owlry.

Draco Malfoy was standing beside a perch that supported the Malfoy family owl. He was stroking the majestic creature's beautiful plumage. He still appeared to carry with him a silent and mournful aura. Hermione was shocked to see Malfoy showing such compassion to the animal.

She stared through the window at Malfoy for a few minutes. As she could see that Malfoy was beginning to leave, she hurriedly stepped to the side of the building so that he would not detect her. She watched him slowly walk back to the castle. His steps went in an almost death march rhythm.

It took her mind a minute or two to register what she had just witnessed. Regaining her composure, she walked inside the owlry and quickly found a school owl to send the note with. After she had attached the note to the owl's leg and instructed it on who the letter was to be sent to, and where, she quickly crept back to the castle. She was just in time. Everyone from Gryffindor was heading for the great hall for dinner.

Hermione walked into the great hall and found her usual seat. After a few minutes, Ron and Harry came in looking like they'd been through a massive windstorm. Ron had resumed the position of keeper on the Quidditch team that year. Of course, Harry was still the team's seeker. They were both great assets to Gryffindor's team.

Harry and Ron sat down across from Hermione at the table and began to scarf Shepard's Pie in quite a rush. Ron looked up at Hermione between bites of food and smiled at her kindly.

"Well Well Well, look who has decided to crawl out of her coffin to join the living," said Ron. "Are you feeling refreshed? You practically slept for a century."

Hermione thought it was best to smooth everything over with Ron. She did not want to have to deal with drama at the dinner table. Malfoy might walk in at any second and have the letter delivered to him. She wanted to seem as calm and collected as possible. She smiled at Ron and leaned over to kiss his wind burned cheek. He blushed and grinned.

"Yes, darling, I'm feeling much better now. You know how my mouth says ugly and rude things when I'm tired and stressed out. I'm just going to have to take time to compose myself, now aren't I?" said Hermione in a rather sexy and playful tone. She beamed at him and began to eat her fish and chips.

Ron plunged into his lemon cake dessert and began to talk to Harry and Dean Thomas about the remarkably constructive Quidditch practice. Hermione began to realize that Ron was not all that interested in her health. All he ever enjoyed doing was talking to his mates about Quidditch strategies. God, she was bored shitless.

After a few moments of rambling thoughts of boredom, a pale, silver headed boy walked into the great hall and sat down next to Pansy Parkinson at the Slytherin table. Hermione immediately took notice of his arrival. It was almost as if she could sense he was there without ever looking. She tried to stay focused on just eating her meal. If she could just concentrate on eating, no one could possibly notice that her blood was on fire.

As Ron and his friends continued to chatter on, Hermione patiently waited for the owl for Malfoy to arrive. At last, after what seemed like an ice age, the owl came into the great hall and swooped down to Draco. Ron looked over towards the Slytherin table.

"Oh, look! Asshole of the year's parents sent their little bratty shnukums something from home," said Ron tauntingly.

Hermione looked over to see him receiving the owl. After he read the letter, he looked over the great hall to somehow get a clue as to who had sent it. Utter astonishment was in his eyes. Hermione looked away quickly.

She looked back at Ron who was still smirking about the idea of Malfoy being a spoiled git.

"Looks like he got a letter from someone at school. A school owl sent it," said Hermione nonchalantly.

"Oh, I did not notice," said Ron as he gulped an entire glass of pumpkin juice in a matter of seconds. "So, are you excited about the Halloween ball, Hermione? I cannot wait to see you all decked out in your new gown."

Hermione felt uncomfortable with the fact that Ron had built himself up so much about taking her to the ball.

"I think it's going to be great fun," said Hermione. She looked over at Harry who was just finishing his sticky toffee pudding.

"Did you ever figure out what you are going to wear, Mr. Bachelor of the universe?" said Hermione good-naturedly. She chuckled at her own profound sense of wit.

"Yeah, I think so. I've decided to go with basic black," said Harry.

"That sounds good. Well, I'm off to the library. I've got to go study for Flitwick's exam. I'll see you two later," said Hermione. She kissed Ron's forehead and went to the library. She made sure that she got a good glance at Malfoy when she left. He was grasping the note in his hand as he picked at the food before him. The very sight of him made Hermione feel dizzy and intoxicated with his energy. She made it to the library to study and stayed there for a few hours before going to bed.