Pain is Love

Chapter One

The Heirs of the Founders

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"What are you doing, Malfoy?" Hermione Granger asked, turning to find Draco Malfoy following her as she walked down the Charms corridor toward the meeting Professor McGonagall was holding for the prefects, Head Boy and Head Girl.

It was her seventh year at Hogwarts and she was Head Girl. To her great dislike, Draco was Head Boy. How he got it, she didn't know. She was expecting someone like her best friend Harry Potter or Terry Boot from Ravenclaw to get it. Not Malfoy.

"What do you mean, 'what am I doing', Granger?" Draco sneered. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm following you,"

"Yes, I realise that. But why?" Hermione asked.

"Because I don't know where the hell this bloody meeting is being held," Draco drawled, "I expected you to."

"Actually, I don't. All I know is that it's in one of the Charms classrooms'," Hermione said.

"Well, you check that side, while I check this side," Draco said, directing Hermione to the left side of the corridor.

"How much sucking up to Dumbledore did you father have to do to get you Head Boy, anyway?" Hermione asked, checking every room she came across.

"None. I got it because I'm second in the year. You being first," Draco said, not looking at her.

"I heard your grades were quite poor in your first couple of years here. Looks like you've picked them up," Hermione said, still checking rooms.

"I have. I wouldn't have bet Potter and that Boot to Head Boy other wise," Draco said, this time turning to her, a smirk clear on his face.

"Unfortunately," Hermione muttered. She peered into the last classroom and saw Professor McGonagall sitting at a large table surrounded by prefects. "Found it," she called to Draco and walked in taking one of two empty seats. Draco followed quickly and took the empty seat next to Hermione.

"Okay. Now that you are all here, I would like to inform you that there is a school ball coming up at Christmas, two weeks away," Professor McGonagall informed them all. "Professor Dumbledore has organised a band for the night, but has asked for suggestions from you, on decoration. A man from the Ministry of Magic is coming for the occasion and Professor Dumbledore would like everything to look splendid. Any suggestions on decoration?"

Hermione's hand was in the air at once. "I think it should be just like the Yule Ball only with some extra features," she said. Almost everyone in the room nodded.

"Thank-you Miss Granger. Any others?" McGonagall said with a small smile. Nobody moved or said anything. "Well, that's settled. Thank-you and I would also like to ask you all not to tell anyone about the ball yet. They will be informed tomorrow. You may all go, except for you, Mister Malfoy and Miss Granger."

Everyone filed out of the room, leaving Hermione and Draco with Professor McGonagall.

"Sit back down, you two. I need to talk to you about the opening of the ball," McGonagall told them. They obeyed and sat back down in their seats. "Professor Dumbledore and I were hoping to have the Head Boy and Girl open the ball with the prefects, together-" at these words, Draco glanced at Hermione, who glanced back, both shocked. "-but then we thought and knew you both wouldn't want to. We understand that you both hate each other, but we would both -along with the other teachers- appreciate it if you forgot your hatred for one another, for this one night and open the dance along with the prefects."

Hermione and Draco stared at her, shocked. Finally, Hermione spoke, "Just one dance, or the whole night?" she asked.

"Just the opening dance," McGonagall assured them.

"Er, okay. Mal- I mean, Draco?" Hermione said hesitantly.

"If it's only the one dance, it's fine with me," Draco said slowly.

"Thank-you. You may leave," McGonagall said with a quick smile.

Hermione and Draco left together silently. Once out of earshot, they started fuming about having to dance together.

"Can you believe that woman?! She wants us to dance together!" Hermione said shrilly.

"What I can't believe is that I have to dance with you, a Mudblood! Draco snarled. Hermione ignored him.

"Imagine what Harry and Ron'll say when I tell them I have to dance with you," Hermione said.

"Who gives a shit about Potter and Weasley? I'll be laughed at. The Slytherins' wouldn't let something as laughable as 'Draco Lucius Malfoy, Head Boy and Slytherin dances with - what's your full name?" Draco said.

"Hermione Louise Granger," Hermione replied dryly.

"- Hermione Louise Granger, Head Girl, Gryffindor and Mudblood', pass them," Draco continued.

"I just thought of something!" Hermione said rather loudly. "You're one of the most sort after guys at Hogwarts, aren't you?"

Draco nodded then said, "and you're one of the most sort after girls here. So?"

"So. When everyone every one sees us dancing together, they'll think we're a couple," Hermione continued.

"So?"

"So. The only reason why all these people like us is because we've got good looks and are free," Hermione continued.

"You may have a pretty face, but you've really only been good looking since you lost the buck teeth and bushy hair. I on the other hand have been good looking all my life," Draco informed her dryly.

"Whatever," Hermione said. "Anyway, we could have a little fun and make our admirers jealous...I can just see the looks on Harry and Ron's faces," She added with a slight giggle. Draco stared at her disbelievingly.

"Okay, but doesn't that mean we can't tell anyone about us having to dance together for the opening and dance together for the rest of the ball?" Draco asked slowly.

"But it will be so much fun seeing the looks on every ones faces," Hermione replied, giggling slightly again.

"Okay...but this better work," Draco said, his smirk returning.

"This is going to be so much fun," Hermione said and she turned.

Draco turned as well, and they both headed in opposite directions towards their separate house Common Rooms.

- ~ * ~ -

"Excuse me, but can I borrow Miss Granger and Misters Potter, Weasley and Malfoy please?" Professor Dumbledore asked Snape next day during Potions. "It's about You-Know-What."

"Yes, of course Headmaster," Snape said, trying to hide the coldness in his voice.

"Thank-you kindly," Dumbledore said. Harry, Ron and Hermione stood up. Draco followed suit quickly.

"I hate it when teachers talk in code," Harry muttered in Ron's ear.

"Where are we going, Professor?" Hermione asked Dumbledore.

"My office. I need to tell you something, as well as ask a big favour," Dumbledore replied, his eyes twinkling.

They walked out of the dungeons, up staircases and down corridors. Finally they stopped in front of a stone gargoyle.

"Let me guess, the password's some sort of sweet," Harry said. Dumbledore let out a chuckle.

"Yes, Harry. 'Sugar quill!'" Dumbledore laughed. The gargoyle sprung to life and hopped the side as a hidden entrance opened. They made their way inside and up the revolving staircase to the Headmaster's office. "Take a seat, you will be here for a while."

All four of the students took a seat. Dumbledore continued to stand.

"I have come to discover that you are all not just students but the Heirs of the Founders," Dumbledore explained. They all stared but didn't say anything "Harry, remember that sword you pulled out of the Sorting Hat in your second year?" Harry nodded. "I told you that only a true Gryffindor could pull that sword out of the hat, didn't I?" Harry nodded again. "Well I lied. Only Godric Gryffindor's hand picked heir can pull his sword out of the hat."

"Wha-what?" Harry said weakly.

"All the Hogwarts founders, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff and Godric Gryffindor decided that they would describe the person they wanted to become their heir, so after they died, if terrible things started to happen, their heirs would be born. You are what Godric Gryffindor thought would make a good heir, Harry," Dumbledore explained. "It's very confusing to understand, and to be honest I don't really understand it either."

"So, if Potter's the Heir of Gryffindor, I must be the Heir of Slytherin, but, Weasley and Granger are also in Gryffindor so how can they be the Heirs of Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff?" Draco asked.

"Not all the founders made their heirs in their house, but others as well," Dumbledore answered.

"So what am I? The Heir of Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw?" Ron asked.

"Put this on and see," Dumbledore said and he handed Ron the Sorting Hat. Ron put it on and it fell over his eyes. Everyone watched and after about a minute, Ron let out a curse of pain. Ron took the hat off and pulled out a gleaming sword encrusted with yellow topazes.

"Hufflepuff? I'm the Heir of Hufflepuff?" Ron cried.

"It appears so, Ron. That's not a bad thing," Dumbledore said.

"Yeah, at least you're not the Heir of Slytherin," Harry said. This seemed to cheer Ron up.

"Yeah, imagine that," Ron said with a small look of disgust.

"Shut up, Weasley. Hufflepuff's a house for pussy's, at least Slytherin's not," Draco sneered.

"Draco. You put the hat on now," Dumbledore said, ignoring his snide comment and handing him the Sorting Hat.

Draco put the hat on and waited. Half a minute later, he let out a cry of pain and took the hat off. "Shit, that hurt," he said and he pulled a sword glittering with emeralds out of it.

"My turn," Hermione said and she snatched the hat out of Draco's hands and pulled it over her head so her eyes were covered. After a minute, she took it off and pulled out a sapphire encrusted sword, "Oooh, sapphires. My favourite."

"Didn't that hurt, Hermione?" Harry asked, frowning.

"Yes, but I was strong enough not to let out a cry of pain," she answered with a shrug. "Unlike Ron and Malfoy."

"Shut up," Draco muttered, looking irritated.

"Yeah, maybe ours just hit us harder," Ron said.

"Or maybe, you both weren't strong enough to take it," Hermione said playfully.

"I know Weasley isn't, but I am," Draco said.

"Actually Hermione, he's got a point there. He's not weak. He's had enough bludgers hit him in the head in Quidditch and I've never heard him whimper or cry out in pain," Harry said, "but if he was even half good at Quidditch, he wouldn't have to, he'd dodge the bludgers."

The Gryffindor's burst out in laughter. Draco just sat there, unable to think of something to say back. "Now, now, I think Draco is quite a good Quidditch player," Dumbledore said from his desk. The three Gryffindor's stopped laughing immediately, they had obviously forgotten where they were and that he was there.

"Thank-you, Professor," Draco said, the smirk from when he saw the Gryffindor's faces when they turned to Dumbledore, still on his face.

"Now, I know you don't all get along and that you detest each other, but as you are the heirs, I must send you out together, after Christmas to try and find Voldemort," Dumbledore said. All four of the students paled. "The reason I am doing this is because I believe that together you are strong enough to kill him. You are the Heirs of the Founders as I said and you can do things others can't. It's all in this book, which I suggest you read before and take with you when you leave on Boxing Day."

He handed out a fairly thick, blue covered book called The Heirs of the Founders, which Hermione took quickly.

"How long will this 'search for the Dark Lord' thing last?" Draco asked.

"As long as it takes," Dumbledore answered simply.

"What makes you think Malfoy will help us? His father is a Death Eater and he probably teaches Draco here dark magic," Harry said.

"Just because my arsehole of a father teaches me dark magic and is a Death Eater doesn't mean I'm a bad guy. I'm a good guy believe it or not, Potter, besides the fact I have the heart of a Malfoy," Draco sneered.

"That dark magic may come in handy," Hermione said. Draco smirked and inwardly agreed. "I guess we'll have to travel on foot and broomstick?"

"Yes," Dumbledore replied simply. Hermione gulped, she wasn't keen on broomstick flying.

"You can ride with me if you want, Hermione," Harry said, seeing her face.

"No, I'll manage," Hermione said, not wanting to sound useless.

"Where will we sleep?" Draco asked.

"In forests. I suggest one of you put up shield charms when you do," Dumbledore said. Hermione nodded. "Since it's your last day of term, why don't you go an enjoy it outside. Just remember not to tell anyone about you being the heirs, I will inform them at the ball. I will keep your swords. You may leave."

They all got up and left. The Gryffindor's were laughing at a joke Ron had told them, while Draco was dragging his feet behind them. Hermione noticed how quiet he was and looked around. She saw he looked lonely and stopped, telling Harry and Ron she'd catch up with them. Draco didn't notice she'd stopped until he bumped into her, "watch it, Granger," He sneered.

"Why don't you? You walked into me after all" Hermione said.

"Yeah, sorry," Draco said, not really meaning it.

They stood there for several minutes, not saying anything, until Draco finally spoke.

"What do you want Granger?" he asked.

"I was - I was going to ask what was wrong," Hermione answered.

"What's wrong? What's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong, you won't leave me alone!" Draco half yelled.

"Well I'm sorry I bloody well cared!" Hermione snapped, before turning on her heal and storming down the corridor.

"Wait. Granger!" Draco called. Hermione reached the end of the corridor and turned back around to face him.

"Leave me alone, Malfoy!" Hermione yelled, turning again.

"I'm lonely, Granger," Draco said, loud enough for her to hear. She turned back around and saw him walking towards her.

"Lonely?"

"Yes, Granger, that's what I said," Draco snarled.

"How are you lonely?" Hermione asked.

"I'm not about to tell you. You're a Mudblood, whose best friends with Potter, you'll tell him," Draco sneered.

"Fine." She turned again.

"Wait."

"What now, Malfoy?" Hermione asked, turning back around to face him again.

"I'm lonely because Crabbe and Goyle would rather hang around with bloody Pansy and Millicent," Draco said. He didn't know why he was telling her this, but he needed to tell someone. "You better not tell anyone."

There was another long stretch of silence. Finally, Draco broke it.

"Do you want to go to the ball with me?" he asked, "or do you just want to make all our admirers jealous?"

"I don't know. I guess I want to go with you. Kind of," Hermione answered uncertainly.

"What do you mean, 'kind of'?" Draco drawled.

"Well I do because you're hot, but don't because you're Draco Malfoy," Hermione replied awkwardly.

"Told Potter and Weasley?"

"No. They're just going to have to wait till Christmas to see whom I'm going with," Hermione said. "Hopefully they don't kill you for touching me."

"I won't get too close, you are Hermione Granger the filthy Mudblood after all," Draco said. Hermione slapped him across the face using all her strength.

"Don't call me that!" Hermione cried. "It's a filthy word and it's not my fault I'm from a long family of Muggles."

"Yeah, but you're still a Mudblood," Draco sneered, rubbing his sore, red cheek.

"I told you not to call me that!" Hermione said angrily.

"I know you did. But, that's not going to stop me. Mudblo-" Draco said, but Hermione interrupted him.

"This will!" Hermione said and she stepped closer to him, got on her tiptoes and gave him a very quick kiss on the lips. Draco lifted an eyebrow at her in surprise. "Oh my God!" she cried and she turned on her heal and was out of Draco's sight in seconds.