The Given Choices

*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter Ten *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The remainder of the week passed painfully slow for Hermione, and it was now Friday as and she had remained completely silent over the past four days; unless she was actually called on during class. During meals, she sat in between Ginny and Lavender and Harry still sat across from her but did not force her to say anything. He and Ron walked her to her classes and she let her boyfriend hold her hand as they walked. It was just that her heart wasn't in it and he still seemed very concerned about her.

The boys had walked her to the library before they left for practice because of the game against Slytherin the next day. Harry kissed her on her cheek before leaving as she found comfort of the old tomes and the peace and quiet. Well, it remained quiet for two hours until a certain blond sat next to her at the table she was reading at and he started to tap his fingers on the wood.

Hermione looked up into his silver eyes as he continued to drum on the large table with an 'I'm-so-innocent' look. Her silence went also for the two Slytherins until she suddenly spoke to this one. "Thank you for your note."

"You're welcome, and I am still here if you need to talk. Or I can talk because, as you once pointed out during one of our sessions, I love to hear myself talk," Draco stated as he leaned back, but held her eyes in some kind of a hold.

Hermione chuckled at his comment and she thought it was almost true to some degree. With her quill tucked into the book she was reading, she closed the cover as she spoke. "I'd rather not talk right now. But I'd like to listen to you talk about your family. That is, if you don't mind."

There was a long silence after her weird request, as he seemed to be considering her motives. Malfoy glanced around to make sure no one else was in the library and his fingers played with the edge of her book. "Well, contrary to popular opinion, most of them are quite normal and very intelligent. Yes, most of my family was in Slytherin but that doesn't make them, nor I, all bad.

"I won't deny that some of my family is power hungry but we do have limits of what we will not do. My father is an active member on the board of governors and he is a superbly brilliant businessman. My mother is the typical housewife of the manor and quite the social butterfly. Is there any other member you would like to hear about?" he asked as she traced the title of the book with her index finger.

"How well do you know - Bellatrix?" Hermione hesitantly asked and felt him cover one of her hands with his. She looked into his eyes as she saw something odd there and relaxed as his thumb caressed her smooth skin. There was something that didn't feel right about the conversation and she wondered if he already somehow knew her secret.

They both watched his hand on hers as he began to speak, "Even though she is something like a second aunt, I call her Aunt Bella. She is extremely intelligent and very cunning when she really wants something. For the things she believes in, Aunt Bella will stand up for them 'til the end. I will not deny that she is a Death Eater, but there is more to her than that label. Her skills with the wand are wonderful and her specialty is Charms, and her looks, as of recent, are very beautiful."

"You know my secret, don't you, Draco?"

He tipped her head up with his free hand and stared straight into her soul as he confessed, "Yes, I have known since the beginning of the summer when Aunt Bella came to the Manor. I did not say anything to you since I did not feel it was my place. Your secret is safe with Blaise and me." She raised her eyebrow at that last sentence. "A guy's got to tell his best mate. But he is great at keeping secrets."

"I see. Thank you for that, but I really don't feel like talking or listening anymore. Would you just mind sitting here with me?"

Draco pushed his body off the table and grabbed a book off the nearest shelf and took the seat across from her. His foot lightly rubbed against hers as he began to silently read the book. Hermione opened hers, for she was glad to have his company at the moment.

When it was about five minutes until dinner, Draco put his book away and silently offered her his hand to help her off her seat. They walked to the Great Hall in a comfortable silence, but went their separate ways as soon as they hit the door. She headed toward her table and her usual place next to Ginny but noticed Harry completely ignored her presence across the table from her.

Once Hermione was finished picking at her dinner, she went to get up and Harry followed her out as he whispered in a harsh tone, "We need to talk. Now."

"Okay," she replied as they walked out of the hall and headed straight to the still empty Gryffindor common room.

As soon as Hermione took a seat on the couch, he began to pace in front of her and asked, "Why don't you trust me? Or more to the point, why do you trust Malfoy more than your boyfriend?"

She gave him a puzzled look and stated, " I trust you completely."

"Oh, that's a laugh. You haven't spoken to me in almost a week and I come back early from practice to see you having a heart-to-heart with that blond ferret. What is this secret that you can't confide in me?" he almost yelled as his temper came close to boiling over.

"I can't tell you right now. You don't need to worry about it," Hermione spoke in a soothing tone with hopes to calm him down.

Harry sat down right next to her as he took her hands in his. "Please trust me and tell me whatever it is that is bothering you. And what does any of this stuff have to do with Malfoy or Bellatrix?"

"I can't, Harry!"

"I am trying my hardest to be a good best friend and boyfriend here. But it's hard when you can't be honest with me," he hissed as she got up in front of him, facing the blazing fire in the lit fireplace.

Hermione had reached her breaking point. "Fine, you want the honest truth. Okay! Last Saturday, Remus told me that the Grangers adopted me, that he is my father and Bellatrix Black is my mother, which was all because of a one-night stand. Are you happy now, Harry? Your girlfriend's mother is responsible for your godfather's death."

Sobs overwhelmed her body as hurt formed in Harry's eyes and he shook his head in disbelief. She went to her knees in front of him as she wept as he looked at her with much contempt and pain. A loud crash echoed through the common room as he threw a vase from the end table into a corner of the room. Harry cursed loudly, hissing a lot of obscenities as he left her alone in the room.

Hermione's heart grieved, as she feared that he would never come back to her because who her birth mother was. The only thing she knew was that she did not want to be in here when the rest of the housemates returned, who would also hate her once they found out who her mother was; they were due back any moment.

Hermione raced out of the portrait and ran through the corridors of the castle, not caring where her feet led her. She climbed up a tower as her tears continued to come. Once she was at the top of the Astronomy Tower, Hermione closed the door and went to her knees as she wept and her body shook with heavy movements.

Arms pulled her into a tight hug and let her cry against a strong chest. Hermione let it all out as a smooth male voice and familiar hands smooth down her hair and tried to soothe her with his soft words. "Shh. What happened, Hermione? You can tell me."

Yet, only more sobs came and Draco sat next to her and leaned against the wall. With little effort, he pulled the young, weeping woman into his arms as he cradled her in a calming nature. He repeated kind words; 'It's okay, Hermione. Everything will be okay. I'm not going anywhere,' over again and again until she stopped crying and fell asleep in his arms up at the top of the Astronomy tower.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The sign of light outside woke Hermione from her sleep but she noticed she was in an odd position. Before she opened her eyes, she stretched out her arms and legs until she heard a male voice speak, "Good morning, sleepy head."

Hermione sprung straight up as she realized that she was cradled in Draco Malfoy's lap with his cloak covering her body to keep her warm. She sat there stunned as he pushed a few stray hairs behind her ear and cupped her cheek gently with his hand. The feather-light touch of his thumb against her cheekbone sent a warm feeling to the pit of her stomach. Draco tilted his head and asked, "Are you feeling well enough to move? I currently can't feel my legs."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Draco," she replied and hurriedly got to her feet and offered him her hands to help him up. The blond slowly stretched his legs and then took her up on the offer to help him up.

He continued to hold her hands as he replied, "Think nothing of it. Of course, your timing could've been better. I'll be bloody tired during the game this afternoon but no big deal, really. Just one question before I walk you downstairs. Who made you cry? You don't have to tell me what happened, if you are not ready. But I want to know who did it."

"Harry," she said in barely a whisper. Hermione released his hands as her eyes looked away from his beautiful silvery-gray ones to the window. She closed her eyes as she heard his hands clench in what she was sure to be rage. "He has every right to be ups-"

Draco grabbed her arms and pulled her to him as he interrupted her. "I have no idea why you think he has any right to make you cry! There is nothing so awful that you are capable of doing to make you shed those tears. I don't know what happened, but Harry doesn't have that right! Do you hear me?"

Tears began to form in the corners of her eyes. Draco sighed and pulled her into a hug as he tried to calm his temper. He was mad at her stupid excuse for a boyfriend, not at her. He whispered into her ear as he enjoyed the feeling of having her in his arms, just as he had enjoyed the feeling most of the night.

The Quidditch match came second to him at the moment she came barreling to the tower last night. Hermione didn't even see him at the window when she came in but it ripped his heart out to see her hurt. Then to find out it was Potter that caused her so much pain had pushed him over the edge. But he had to stay calm so he could settle her down. Draco pulled back a little when Hermione had stopped sniffling. He smiled at her slightly puffy eyes and cute little red nose.

"What?" she asked.

Draco took a step back but still held one of her hand as he opened the door. He chuckled, "I just think you look cute with that slightly red nose and innocent doe eyes. Lets go, I need to get a couple hours of sleep before I play this afternoon."

The castle was completely silent and the pair went unnoticed as they walked hand-in-hand back to the Gryffindor entrance. The portrait was asleep when they approached. Draco released her hand but not before kissing the top of her head once and his eyes watched her face for her blushed reaction. She leaned over and whispered, "Thanks for being there. And just between the two of us, good luck later on."

With that said, Draco gave her a slight bow and walked down the stairs to his own room. Hermione turned around, woke the lady, gave the password, and entered the common room but she was surprised to find it occupied.

On the couch, Harry seemed wide-awake but did not turn to her as she came in. There was an odd smell in the room as she quietly approached him. His eyes stayed focused on the dead embers in the fireplace. As soon as she was close enough, she saw he had a small glass of what looked to be Firewhiskey and an old piece of parchment in the other. Inwardly, she cursed herself at the scene because she knew that if one thing could've made things worse between her and her boyfriend, the Marauder's map would be that one thing.