Demons, Death Eaters and Malfoys

Chapter 5

That Crazy Little Thing called Love.

Hermione drew in short, rapid breaths as she slowly backed away. A demon faced her- probably the ugliest demon that she had ever dreamed she could face! The demon growled, and Hermione found herself against the cold, jagged stone wall. She winced as the sharp edged stones dug into her back.

She drew out her wand. The demon let out a menacing growl and took a step towards her. She quickly replaced her wand, and let out a whimper. How was she going to get out of this if it weren't for magic?

But then she remembered her brain. She had always been smart, even before she came to Hogwarts! Why didn't she just use plain old common sense?

She thought for a moment and considered her options.

'One, I could use magic,' she thought. 'But I don't know whether that will work against a demon.' She looked up and the demon took another step towards her.

'Two,' she thought hurriedly. 'I could try to get back to the end of the corridor and make a run for it...' she considered these options and opted for the latter. She looked around and again the demon let out a menacing growl. She took a deep breath and shifted herself along the wall, being careful to move slowly so as to not anger the demon. It let out another low growl as it slowly followed her. She reached the corner, drew up some courage, then spun around and sprinted across the corner. The demon roared, and it raced past her to block her path. She let out a squeak and stopped just short of him. Then a crash sounded as she saw Malfoy racing up the corridor towards her.

"Hermione!" he yelled. She let out a strangled cry.

"Draco!" she yelled back. "Get away from here!" she screamed. "Go! Now!"

"NO!" he yelled in reply. He skidded to a stop next to her, trying to regain his breath. Then he took a deep breath and moved in front of Hermione, hoping that the same thing would happen again. His wish was granted. It took a moment, but as Draco glared and stood his ground the demon again began to whimper and slowly backed away, eventually turning and flying down the corridor. Hermione watched on at all of this in amazement.

"Oh my God," she breathed. She turned to Draco. "What the? How did? Wha-" she narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing here?" she said through clenched teeth, in the embarrassment of having him rescue her. Draco gave her a look of utter bewilderment.

"What? I just saved your life!" he exclaimed.

"What, like I needed your help?" she sarcastically retorted. "I was doing just fine without you!" his jaw dropped.

"It sure didn't look like it to me!" he exclaimed. "So much for gratitude!"

"Gratitude?!" Hermione shrieked. "GRATITUDE?! Why the hell should I be grateful?!"

"I JUST SAVED YOUR FUCKING LIFE!" he cried even louder.

"I SAID I DIDN'T NEED YOUR HELP!"

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!" bellowed McGonagall. They both spun around, shocked to find the Professor standing behind them.

"Uh...I uh...he just-" Hermione stuttered. McGonagall gave her a deathly glare and immediately Hermione was silent. McGonagall turned to Draco.

"I suggest that you don't say another word, Mr. Malfoy! You're already in enough trouble! Now go back to the Great Hall!" cried McGonagall. She watched Draco disappear down the hall and around the corner before turning back to Hermione. She stared at Hermione for a few minutes. Hermione gulped and looked away. She wished McGonagall wouldn't look at her like that. It made her nervous.

"I only want the best for you, Hermione," said McGonagall softly. "I've always believed that you were capable of anything, and I want to see you reach the top! I know you can do it if you try!"

"I will," insisted Hermione.

"But do you really think that associating with Mr. Malfoy in such a fashion will help you?"

"..."

"Miss Granger, if anything, it will hurt, maybe even destroy your chances of going anywhere in life!"

"Do you honestly think that I would let a man distract me from my work?!" exploded Hermione.

"It's not just as simple as a man distracting you from your work!" McGonagall cried. "Miss Granger, do you have any idea as to what the Malfoys' can do to you?! Do you have the slightest idea of what Lucius Malfoy would do if he found out that you were out cavorting with his son?! Miss Granger, he would destroy your life!" she finished with a shriek.

"He- he- I-" Hermione stammered.

"Just think about that," said McGonagall, before heading off down the hall. "Think of your future!"

Hermione looked around and bit her lip. Tears started to well up in her eyes and she tried her hardest to fight them back. Her eyes burned and she realised that she couldn't fight it any more. She burst into tears. She sobbed as she slid down the wall. 'What is wrong with me? I'm not usually like this!'

'You're in love,' replied that same nagging voice, now a quiet one from inside her head.

'I AM NOT!' She screamed in reply.

'You are,' replied the voice calmly. 'If you weren't, you wouldn't be feeling things like that for Malfoy!'

'SHUT UP!' She screamed in her mind. 'No! I'm not! I don't want to be in love with Draco! Anybody but him! NO! IT ISN'T HIM!'

"It can't be," she sobbed.

'But it is,' replied the voice. 'It is him.'

"But why?" she argued. "Why him?"

She saw him coming back up the hall towards her and her heart leapt.

'That's why,' replied the voice.

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