The Truth About Hermione Granger

"Well, girl!" said Voldemort. "Stand up! Let me get a look at you."

Without a single word, Hermione stood before Voldemort. He really wasn't as scarey as she'd thought he'd be. He looked sort of like a kindly old grandfather, but she knew better than that. She was tempted to glare at him, but she forced herself to keep her expression neutral.

"Smile, child," he said. "I won't bite. Not you, anyway."

Hermione smiled as best she could as Voldemort walked all around her, looking her up and down. "Not very strong, is she?" he asked.

"My Lord," said Snape, rising. "Forgive me. I only just found her last month. I have not had the opportunity to train her well. I will make up for lost time, though, I assure you."

"She will need extra combat training," answered Voldemort. "Malfoy can help her with curses. He's good at that. I will have Crabbe or Goyle work with her on hand to hand. Or perhaps Nott. Which do you think, Wormtail?"

Wormtail, who had been cowering in a corner up until now, made a small "eep" and jumped when he heard his name. "Goyle, sir," he answered timidly. "Definitely Goyle. He broke my leg once."

Voldemort smiled. "Yes, he did, didn't he?" he said. "Goyle it is, then." He finished his revolution around her and looked her in the eye a moment. "Give me your arm," he said finally.

"Surely you don't mean for her to take the mark NOW, sir," said Snape.

Hermione looked up at her father, allowing the worry to show in her eyes, but not in the rest of her face. He looked down at her reassuringly. As she looked back to Voldemort, she realized that her father was more than a head taller than the dark lord. Well, that's something, she thought.

Voldemort seemed to be thinking it over. "Hm," he said finally. "Perhaps it is not prudent to do so now. Perhaps I SHOULD wait until the presentation. What think you, Wormtail?"

Again, Wormtail let out a small "eep" before answering. "Yes, sir," he answered. "Much better to wait!"

"Though I don't know the girl's pain threshold," said Voldemort. "We don't want her to show weakness to the others. Perhaps it's better if I do it now, in case she shouts out."

"Yes, sir," said Wormtail. "Perhaps you should!"

Wormtail was clearly a "Yes-man" and was getting on Hermione's nerves. "I can handle pain, sir," said Hermione, holding her head high and acting as proud as she could muster.

"She talks, too!" said Voldemort, feigning surprise. "Well, then, perhaps we shall wait. Tell me, girl, how do you feel about Muggles?"

"I hate them, sir," she lied. "When my Muggle friends found out what I was, they abandoned me, and so did my grandparents. That's why they let my father have me so easily. My parents were all right, but I could tell they were horrified. I was EVER so ashamed to be Muggle born and you don't KNOW the relief I felt when I found out my real father is a wizard and my mother a witch. Now I can hold my head up when I walk down the halls."

Voldemort studied her long and hard and she was afraid he might see she was lying, so she tried to look proud and arrogant. "And what of your friends, Weasley and Potter?" he asked.

"Sir," she said, not wanting to have to give them up. "Potter lives with the most horrible Muggles and he hates them. And Weasley, well, he doesn't really know too many Muggles."

"Then why have they fought me?" he demanded.

"Because they're afraid that you'll kill them, I suppose," she answered timidly.

"They're right," he said. "But you say Potter hates Muggles?"

"Yes, sir," she lied again. Harry only hated the Muggles with whom he lived, not all Muggles. Well, whatever she had to do to keep them as friends.

"Hm," he said, thinking again. "Well, perhaps you should remain friends with them. They could prove useful to me!"

Hermione only nodded.

"I thank you, Severus, my loyal servant, for bringing your daughter to see me," said Voldemort, inclining his head to Snape. "She is delightful and will prove useful to me. You may go now."

Snape bowed to Voldemort and motioned for Hermione to do the same. She did and Snape quickly slipped an arm about her shoulders and led her out of the cave and back through Hogsmeade. Neither of them spoke a word until they were back on the Hogwarts grounds, heading up towards the castle. "I'm sorry I did not tell you where we were going, Hermione," said Snape.

Hermione looked up at him. He looked very penitent. "That's all right," she answered. "It would have been very difficult, I know. There were just TOO many people about."

He smiled down at her. "And I'm sorry for pulling you from Charms," he said. "But, Flitwick will allow you to make up the test, I'm sure."

"Of course he will," said Hermione, smiling back up at him.

He returned her to her class, which, by now, was Transfiguration and explained to Professor McGonogal that they'd had very important business to attend to. Professor McGonogal understood and sent Hermione to her usual place with a rat she was supposed to turn into a cat.

* * * * * * * *

After dinner, Hermione went up to the charms room to see if Flitwick was there and if he would allow her to make up the quiz immediately. He was there, so she sat down and finished the written part, and then performed a couple of charms for him. He looked very pleased with the results, as he always did when Hermione took a test.

Finally, Hermione made her way up to Gryffindor tower. When she got there, she saw Draco bullying a first year boy. She was about to stop him when he looked up and saw her. He turned back to the boy. "Thanks for nothing," he said. "She's right there."

"What's going on?" asked Hermione as the boy ran off down the hall.

"I asked him to see if you were in there, but he wouldn't," answered Draco. "He thought I was up to no good. I suppose that's what I would have thought as well. Anyway, I tried reasoning with him, then I tried threatening him, but he wouldn't budge. Gryffindors!"

"We don't normally take kindly to Slytherins hanging around our common room," said Hermione. "What did you want?"

"I need someone to talk to," he said. "I get sick of Crabbe and Goyle. I used to talk to Pansy Parkinson, but she's so annoying! All she ever wanted to talk about was herself!"

Hermione grinned. "You want to take a walk?" she asked. "I know some very secretive places around the dungeons."

He grinned back at her. "Just as I suspected," he said. "You and Weasley been sneaking around down there?"

"Absolutely not!" she exclaimed. "If I sneaked around with anyone it would have been Harry, but no. I go down there to play my violin. I don't have to worry about running into anyone but Peeves or Mrs. Norris, but they just sit and listen when I play."

"Peeves listens to you?" he asked.

"Yes," said Hermione. "Except he usually throws things at me when I stop."

Draco laughed as he took her hand and began walking with her. "All this time everyone thought you and Weasley were off snogging together all the time!" he said.

Hermione laughed. "No," she said. "I haven't snogged with anyone, yet."

"Would you snog with me?" he asked.

"What, now?"

"Not necessarily now," he said. "Just, you know, eventually."

"Perhaps," she answered. "If you play your cards right."

He grinned at her.

In no time at all, they were alone in a dark, unused classroom in the dungeons. Hermione locked the door while Draco lit a fire in the fireplace. Finally, they sat near the hearth and for a moment, Draco just looked at the floor.

"Sometimes I wonder, Mione," he started, still staring at the floor. "I wonder if maybe my father hates me. Sometimes, I can almost believe that he loves me, but those times are rare. Do you think I'm crazy?" he added, looking up at her.

"No," she said. "I noticed some things when we visited your house."

"Like what?" asked Draco, looking back at the ground.

"You father ignores you, for one," she said. "And besides, you never talk about him."

He looked up at her once more. "Can you keep a secret, Hermione?" he asked.

"Sure," she answered.

"It's not that my dad neglects me," he said. "I mean, he makes sure I have what I need and more, but he doesn't pay much attention to me. And besides that..." He trailed off and looked back at the ground. "Promise you won't tell."

"I promise," she replied.

Slowly, he lifted his robes a bit and rolled up the pant leg beneath it, revealing a dark bruise. Then, he rolled up his sleeve, revealing another bruise, this one older and more yellow than brown or black. "There are a lot more like them, too," he said.

Hermione didn't know what to do, so she simply hugged him. "I wish I could do something, Draco," she said.

"Well," he said, pulling away from her. "You could invite me to spend Christmas with you and your father. That way I won't have to worry about facing my father."

She smiled. "I'll check with my father and see if it's okay," she said. "But, I'm sure it will be all right."

"Thanks, Mione," he said, leaning forward to kiss her.

She kissed back and when he tried to pull away, she held him there. The next thing she knew, she was laying on the floor with him on top of her and the two were deeply involved with snogging.

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DAUGHTER!"

Draco suddenly jumped up and Hermione looked to see Snape standing in the doorway. "I'm sorry, Professor Snape!" said Draco frantically. "I'll never do it again! I'm sorry! Please- please don't tell my father!"

"I'm not going to tell your father, Malfoy!" growled Snape, helping Hermione off the floor. "Now, get out of here before I give the both of you detentions!"

"Yes, sir," said Draco, grabbing for Hermione's hand and hurrying out of the dungeons. He walked her all the way back up to Gryffindor tower before saying anything else. "Thanks, Mione," he said, pulling her close again. This time, he kissed her forehead. "You're a good friend."

"Anytime, Draco," she said. "Just say the word."

He smiled at her, kissed her once more and was gone.

She watched him go for a moment, and then turned to the fat lady. She couldn't wait to tell Harry ad Ron!

But, she couldn't! She'd promised Draco she wouldn't tell. But, how could she not tell them? They might be able to forgive Draco for all the horrible things he'd done if they knew this!

"What's the matter, dearie?" asked the fat lady.

"I've just promised someone that I would keep a secret, but that secret could help someone else understand them better," she said. "I really want to tell the other people, but I promised not to tell anyone at all!"

"Well, then, dear," replied the fat lady. "You'd better keep it to yourself until you can discuss it with the person whose secret it is."

Hermione nodded. "I know," she said. "Flying squirrel."

The fat lady swung the picture forward at the sound of the password and Hermione climbed in. She saw Harry and Ron sitting across the room playing wizard chess. Ron was obviously winning.

"Hello," she said, sitting down next to them.

"Where've you been?" asked Ron.

"Making up my charms paper," she said.

"Which reminds me," said Harry. "Where did Snape take you today?"

"I told you, I can't tell you!" she said. "Maybe another time, but it's a sensitive subject. Anyway, I'll have to tell you when I can get you alone."

Ron shrugged. "All right," he said. "Will you move already, Harry?"

"I'm thinking!" defended Harry.

Suddenly, Hermione saw a winning move for Harry and whispered it in his ear. Harry's eyes brightened and he told the chess men to do what she had said. Soon, one of the only two remaining pieces on Harry's side- it was a knight, the other piece being his King- sprang into action and knocked Ron's king off the board.

"Hey!" said Ron, wide-eyed. "That's not fair!"

"All's fair in love and war, Ron!" said Hermione as she headed up the stairs to the girl's side of the dormitory.