Demons, Death Eaters and Malfoys

DEMONS, DEATHEATERS AND MALFOYS

Chapter 4

He loves me, he loves me not.

Draco smirked as he intently watched the Gryffindor table. He watched as Hermione tried to unsuccessfully talk to Ron, and his heart gave a surprising little tug. Then he watched as Hermione led a reluctant Ron out of the hall. He jumped up suddenly, spilling his pumpkin juice all over Pansy Parkinson.

"Hey!" she cried, jumping up. "What's your problem, Draco?" but Draco ignored her and started to head off towards the doors, but reconsidered and turned and headed out of a side door.

Draco's heart was pounding out of his chest as he headed down the hidden passageway. He was glad there was nobody else around- he was sure that they would be able to hear it!

He stopped at a spot just short of the end of the wall. He ran his hands over the cold, rough stone. Once he started to get impatient his fingers found the accurate indents and he pushed, revealing a small opening in the wall just below the Grand Staircase. He started to crawl through, when he heard Hermione sobbing and Ron's familiar shouts.

"...care that one of my best friends is fucking around with an absolute cad? That I wish the two of you all the best: including health, wealth, and many children? For God's sake, Hermione! What the fuck are you on?" Draco peeked around the corner to see Hermione's reaction. She was shaking and sobbing uncontrollably. And she was angry. Very angry. His heart gave another tug at the sight of her obvious pain and he mentally punched himself.

"I'm sorry, okay?" she cried. "I'm not with him anymore! But I still love him and I can't fucking help it, although I wish with all of my heart that I could!" she cried, still sobbing. "I love him and I've loved him for the longest time, since the beginning of fifth year, even though the fuckwit was just fucking using me for a bit of fucking fun!" and with that, Hermione stormed off. Draco's heart stopped.

'She loves me?' He thought. 'Oh my God...SHE FUCKING LOVES ME?'

§§§

All of Hogwarts was deathly silent. With all of the students in the Great Hall (or so she thought), and all of the teachers out searching for something: what, she didn't know. Hermione Granger mentally slapped herself for being so stupid. 'I can't believe I just said that to him!' She thought. 'Ron's right! What the hell am I on, to just be openly admitting that I'm in love with Draco Malfoy?'

'But you are,' said a nagging little voice. 'You are in love with him!'

'No I'm not!' She retorted. 'He's the most horrible person I've ever met!'

Walking blindly, Hermione turned a corner and walked into something large and solid. She looked up, surprised, and gasped at what she saw.

"Uh oh," she whispered.

§§§

Ron trudged into the Great Hall with a heavy heart.

'Oh...my...God...' he thought. 'Did that really just happen? It felt like a dream!' He plonked down in his place next to Harry at the Gryffindor table and Harry looked up from his roast lamb and tomato soup curiously.

"Where's Hermione?" he slurped. Ron shrugged. Harry "I thought she was talking to you?" he asked.

"She was." He replied glumly. "Then she took off." Harry's spoon fell onto his plate with a clatter.

"Ron!" cried Harry. "The demon!"

"I know, I know!" cried Ron guiltily. For a moment there was just silence as Harry struggled to come up with something to say.

'I thought he was supposed to be in love with her!' Harry cried in his thoughts. What's wrong with? I'd never do that to her! Leave her unprotected like that, out there with a demon...even if she is smart! Even if she is a really talented, clever witch! God, I'd have to be insane to do something like that! Or else really, really angry...' he cast a sidelong look to Ron, who was sitting there sulkily. 'I wonder...'

"I suppose we should go and look for her?" said Ron. Harry nodded, then stood.

"We'd better hurry," he replied. "Who knows where that demon is!"

§§§

Draco walked around the school in a daze.

'She loves me. She loves me...SHE LOVES ME? Oh my God! The Mudblood loves me!' His mind cried, using this cruel name in his mind so that he could put all good thoughts out. He held his stomach, unsure of that feeling in there. He knew he had to vomit...but what was that other feeling? He'd never before felt anything like it, and he wasn't sure that he ever wanted to. It was strange...he couldn't point a finger on what exactly it was...yet he knew that there was something about it that he didn't quite like. He didn't like the fact that it only ever happened whenever Hermione was around. He didn't like the fact that it happened because she was around. And he sure as hell didn't like the fact that this thing, this...this feeling made him want to hug her, hold her, and protect her from any pain, especially that of which he inflicted upon her. But most of all he wanted to kiss her. He wanted to take her in his arms and wipe her angelic tears away and be with her forever and never let any harm come to her, and then kiss her...and kiss her...and kiss her. Not the gross hamburger-like-stick-your-tongue-down-their-throat-so-they-choke-or-gag-or-swallow-you kiss, but a real kiss. One that stays with you forever. But then Malfoy realised it.

He was in love.

And then he immediately drew his wand out, ready to curse himself. He didn't want to be in love with Hermione Granger! She was annoyingly brainy- for a Gryffindor! - She was a loudmouth and she was just plain annoying! But at the same time she was beautiful and sensitive and- wait! Stop! Draco smacked his head in stupid irritation. He didn't want to be feeling these disgusting feelings! He was a Malfoy! Malfoy's weren't supposed to feel like this! What would his father say if he ever found out? Surely he would be disowned! Why, a Mudblood and a Malfoy? It was unheard of! Especially a Mudblood that associated with the Weasley's! And the fact of being in love? A Malfoy never felt such feelings, let alone admitted them, even to themselves! God forbid! Why, his father wasn't even in love with his mother! Malfoys' had arranged marriages! And they never, ever let themselves fall in love.

He looked up and found himself in the fourth floor corridor. He started to head back to his common room- screw the Great Hall! - when he heard the noise.

It was a low, growling noise, definitely not human. He spun back around and headed up the corridor, following the noise. He turned the corner and gasped. There stood the biggest and ugliest demon he'd ever seen! He whipped out his wand, expecting a fight- but once the demon spotted him its growls turned to whimpers.

"Carrameenta el toostia!" cried the demon, looking absolutely terrified. Then to Draco's surprise, the demon rushed past him and down the hall, leaving him standing there, dumbfounded.

Once he gathered himself, Draco turned the corner he'd come from to see if the demon was still there. It wasn't. But then Malfoy had a horrifying thought.

"Oh my God!" he exclaimed. "Hermione!" and he rushed down the corridor, after the demon.

§§§