Love Always Finds a Way

THREE

"There is no hope for me. All, father can think of is hate. It consumes him. Can he love? Does he love me? I've seen his reaction, when I mess up. When I play Quidditch and get hurt, he isn't concerned that I might be injured, he is more concerened about how I messed up and how it reflects on him. I needed to talk to him, to some one, about the growing feelings I have inside for Hermione Granger. I didn't want to talk to him about her he would be severly angry with me. How can I tell him that my pure hatred toward her had now turned into another feeling? However, I decided to take the chance. I needed to talk to someone or I would' bloody well explode.

I wrote to him, telling him I needed to discuss a matter with him. He replied that he would be coming to Hogwarts and needed to converse with me as well. When he arrived, I was very glad to see him. When I gave him a hug, his response was cold and distant."

"Draco, please there is a matter of importence I need to discuss with you." I backed away.

"Yes of course father."

"I have been in contact with our lord," said Lucius. Draco knew his father was referring to Voldemort. "We were discussing a certain classmate of yours. One who is very close to Potter." Draco stared at his father,he knew who he was talking about. "Miss, and I use the term loosely, Granger." Draco felt weak. He to wanted to discuss Hermoine Granger, but he was sure his ideas about Hermione Granger where on a different level then what his father was thinking. "Lord Voldemort feels the best way of weakening Mr. Potter is through his friends. We had decided that Granger must be, shall we say, taken out of the picture. With her gone Potter will be to distraught to think of battle."

"Father, why Granger? Why not Ron Weasley?"

"Dear boy, as pathetic as the Weasleys are, the Weasleys are still Purebloods. No, Draco, Miss Granger is still the logical choice. Is something wrong dear boy, you look lost in thought?" Lucius placed his hand on his son's shoulder and patted him. "I know dear boy, the thought of killing our little Miss mudblood must be total delight for you. However pleasant the thought may be to you dear boy, it could have been done by someone else. However, he missed the opportunity when Miss Granger wrote and told him she couldn't visit him."

Draco had a confused look on his face. This look put a spark of anger in his father's demeanor. "Oh damn Draco can't you figure anything out? Must I spoon feed everything to you?" His father turned away and then swirled around. "Our friend in Bulgaria, Krum, Viktor Krum." Draco staggered at this information.

"Krum, father, but Krum escorted her at the Yule ball. He, he seemed to, to like her."

Lucious let out a malicious laugh. "The cat toying with his prey, dear boy. Krum is a pure blood and is a follower of our Lord Voldemort, he loaths Granger. He was on this plan to kill her before he arrived for the tounament. As I told you, we believed the best way to weaken Potter was to kill her."

"Why didn't Krum just kill Potter instead?" said Draco.

"Because, dear boy, Lord Voldemort wants that pleasure for himself."

Draco didn't reply. He sat down and let his mind go over what was being told to him. Months ago this plot of killing Hermione Granger would be pure delight. Now, because he was in love with her, yes, he knew now what those feelngs for her added up to. He gave a small snicker, "That oaf Crabbe was right, probably for the first time in his life."

"Draco, stop drifting!" said Lucius. "I have discussed this with other followers and we came up with a plan to bring our Mr. Krum back to Hogwarts. What a wonderful front he has." Again Draco looked confused. Lucius turned his head in disgust, his son could not figure out anything. "Draco, the man is a world class Quidditch player. He is coming back to teach the school players Quidditch strategy, it' is a perfect front and whats more delightful is that Dumbledore has approved his coming.

Draco now knowing the plot was in motion had to get to Hermione Granger and tell her. " Would she believe him? Why should she? He had to convince her of its truth." Lucius arose and slowly walked toward his son. Draco shivered at his father's fearsome look. As a little boy he cowered whenever his father was like this.

Lucius bent toward his son and said, "You will not go near Miss Granger. I'll not have our plans fail because of something stupid you might say. Do you understand me?"

"Yes!" said Draco.

"To insure that you follow my instructions you will be constantly watched. If you say anything to her, it will be reported back to me." Lucius stood up to his full height, "If this happens dear boy, there will be severe consequences." Draco knew how severe his father could be. He even seemed to get pleasure out of the punishments he dealt out to his son when he was a child. "Now be off dear boy." With that order Draco started to leave. "Draco, the reason I told you about this plot is simply that I want you to participate in the killing of Miss Granger, knowing how you feel about Miss Granger. I want you to see first hand what true power is!" With that final word from his father, Draco left.

FOUR

A few weeks later Hermione received a letter that brought a great smile to her face. Viktor Krum told her that he was coming back to Hogwarts for awhile to teach the school Quidditch players the many things he knew about the game. When she got up, she came face to face with Ron. "Hi luv, what's new?"

"Er- well- a." said Hermione.

"Look I know you well enough to know something is going on, come on give!"

Hermione took a deep breath. "Ok, you are right. I just received a letter from Viktor and he is coming back here to teach Quidditch, at least for a while." She hoped the little while might soften the blow Ron just took. Ron was very jealous of Viktor. They had a row a weeks ago about this very subject.

"Well there is nothing I can do about his coming, but I do have a say about you being with him!"

Hermione felt anger growing with in her. She did not like Ron telling her what to do. However, wanting to avoid another row she calmed her self down. She knew that Ron loved her so she tried to focus on that.

"Maybe I will just go to Dumbledore and tell him what a creep Krum is!"

Hermione felt the swelling anger again. "Look Ron, Viktor is not a creep and more than that, Dumbledore has given his permission for him to come." Ron turned in anger. She gently turned him around and said, "Look Ron, I know his being here is uncomfortable for you, but you have nothing to worry about. Viktor and I are just friends. You can't possibly think that I am to avoid him while he is here."

"All right, but if you are going to be with him, than I will be with the both of you as well. I won't let the both of you out of my sight."

Hermione shook with anger at the implied meaning behind Ron's last words, that she and Viktor might do something while he was there. She again swallowed her anger and said, "Very well Ron you can be with us all the time. I hope that satisfies you!"

"It does! " said Ron. Ron turned around and left.

"OOH! That wizard!" She turned around, grabbed the letter and her other things, and went to her room.

A few days later Viktor Krum arrived. Hermione was very excited to see him. Ron was less excited. However, Hermione was true to her word and allowed Ron to be with when she was with Krum. Ron's day brightened when Krum asked him to carry his broom, the very broom Krum flew in the world cup. Ron reflected on that moment, remembering Krum's swiftness in the game. Hermione hardly knew who he was then. Little did they know he would fly into their personel lives, Hermione took Krum's arm.

This made Ron furious. He wanted to break the broom over his knee, but he decided it wouldn't be right to break such a fine Quidditch broom. "Bloody hell, he thought, it's not the broom's fault that it had to carry Viktor Krap around. Maybe he could sneak up behind the creep and belt him one on his head. Second thought, it wouldn' do any good, Krum's head is as thick as a brick. Crabbe and Goyle are great wizards compared to this boob." A shout brought him out of his thoughts. It was Hermione telling him to hurry up.

For Ron it was a long day. After getting Krum settled in a room, they met Hermione and went to the Great Hall for lunch. There were several stares from the other students, especially the females. They could not understand how Miss Know-it-all could land such a fine speciman as Viktor Krum and have Ron Weasley trail behind like a family dog. Hermione talked and talked. Ron wondered how she could even eat. Harry stopped over and asked Ron how it was going. Ron motioned to Hermione and Krum and rolled his eyes. Harry left. Ron wanted to go with him, but he did not want to leave Hermione alone with Krum.

After lunch, they went outside and walked around the grounds. They avoided Hagrid's place, because Hagrid did not want Hermione associating.with Krum. To Hagrid Krum was a foreigner, and Hagrid did not trust him. Ron would have loved to see Hagrid. He thought it would be nice for his enormous friend to strike fear in to Mr. Krum. Instead they went to the Quidditch field. Krum, being a world class player, was impressed. He tried to say something, but Hermione would not stop talking, at least Krum was trying to speak on a subject that Ron was interested in. To Ron Quidditch was the greatest game in the world. He reached around and clasped his hand over her mouth and told her to give it a rest. She pushed his hand a way and gave him a piercing stare. Behind her Krum was smiling.

Soon they returned to the Great Hall again, this time for dinner. The students continued to stare, but not as much. After dinner, they went to the Gryffindor common room and relaxed. Even Hermione's mouth relaxed. As time passed it was now 10:00 p.m.and as nothing happened, but small talk, it was soon 10:30. A soft moonlit breeze drifted through an open window. Ron was very tired and could no longer keep awake. He was seated facing Hermione and Krum. He arose from his chair, bent over to her and gave her such a deep kiss her face was almost sucked in. When he was done, he told her he was going to his room and going to bed. He was too tired to care if she and Krum were alone. As he walked a way, Hermione stared at him. When he closed his door, she had a puzzled look on her face.

She looked at Krum and said, "You know, it is getting kind of late. I think it is time for me to retire to bed as well."

Krum nodded and stood up. He assured her he could find his way to his room. "Goot night Hermy-own-ninny!" He leaned over and gave her a little peck on the cheek. With that he turned and left. Hermione stood in a place for a moment. She put her hand over her mouth and then to her cheek. She didn't know what to think. She knew she loved Ron, but Krum's presence and his light kiss made her feelings inside for him swirl. She went to her room, not sure what she felt.