Taboo

She made her way to the trophy room, careful to avoid Peeves, who was pelting people with bits of chalk. She arrived in the trophy room, dismayed to find that it was empty. Perhaps she'd fallen for the same trick Harry had in their first year. She was turning to leave when she heard a familiar voice coming from a dark corner, making her jump.

"Don't go," said Draco Malfoy, steeping into the light. "Please don't go."

Her first instinct was to point her wand at him.

"I don't have my wand," he said, showing her his empty hands. "Please stay."

Something about the tone of his voice made her lower her wand. He was speaking softly, his words oddly free of malice.

"Hermione," he whispered.

"What did you just call me?" He wasn't calling her Mudblood or even Granger.

"Hermione, please, listen to me," he begged, coming closer and closer. She took a step backward. Was this some sort of trap? He grabbed hold of her wrist. "I want to--to apologize," he said haltingly. "For all the things I did to you. For calling you a Mudblood--"

"Malfoy, if this is your idea of a joke, it's not funny," she said icily, cutting him off.

"It's not a joke," he said, blocking the doorway. "I'm serious."

"Don't make me jinx you," she threatened.

"Just hear me out," he pleaded, a note of desperation in his voice. "When I'm done, you can leave."

"Fine," she said, crossing her arms. "Start talking then." He moved away from the door and retreated further into the room. He spoke so quietly that she was forced to step away from the door so she could hear him.

"Ever since I saw you at the Yule Ball with Krum, I haven't been able to get you out of my mind," he confessed. "I've been waiting for a chance to tell you this, but it never came. The Dark Lord gave me an assignment...and I know I probably can't do it. That's why he's given it to me, so he can have an excuse to kill me..." he trailed off, leaning against the trophy cabinet, his pale face eerily illuminated by the dim glow of the lights.

"Wait," said Hermione, her heart pounding furiously. This could not possibly be happening. Was Malfoy trying to say what she thought he was trying to say? "Are you trying to tell me--"

"I know this must sound really absurd to you," he said, running his hand through his hair as he stepped nearer to her, until they were only two feet apart. "I never really liked Pansy. She's--she's not right for me. I'm sorry, sorry for everything. I don't know how I can ever make it up to you, if it's even possible...but it doesn't have to be this way. We don't have to hate each other...things can change..."

She stared at him shock, trying to comprehend what he had said. It didn't make any sense...defied all logic...and yet, he had said it. He seemed to be in earnest.

"Hermione, what I'm trying to say is...I love you." He leaned forward and kissed her, causing her to stagger backward in astonishment.

"You're mad," she said, backing away from him. "You're under the Imperius Curse...some sort of potion..."

"You'll meet me then," he said watching her intently, not trying to stop her from leaving. She wanted to run, but her feet seemed frozen to the ground. "This Saturday, right after lunch, by the lake?"

She finally came to her senses, turned and ran from the room, sprinting back to the common room. He had really lost it...completely mad...

He listened until the echoes of her footsteps faded and then he crumpled to the ground and cried, feeling a mixture of relief and unbearable sadness.