My Soul Mate

Chapter Eleven - IntOxicatiOn & Rains Again...

---

"There you are, Hermione," said Lavender as Hermione entered her dormitory. It was around eight in the evening and Hermione had come to her dormitory to collect some books she needed. She wasn't staying in there or in the common room once she got her books; she was going to the library to so that she could catch up with what she had missed in classes the previous day.

"What do you want?" asked Hermione crisply. She didn't mean to sound rude but after Harry and Ron's behavior, she found herself becoming cranky.

Lavender looked a bit abashed at Hermione's demeanor but retorted in an equal tone, "Harry and Ron were looking for you."

Hermione's gloomy face suddenly lit up at Lavender's words. "Are you sure?"

"Don't look so happy," Lavender said sulkily. "They weren't."

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows but didn't say anything. She had supposed that Harry and Ron were going to apologize to her for being so imprudent to her that very morning, but Lavender didn't make it sound as if they were feeling guilty.

Not paying any more attention to Lavender, Hermione rushed to the boys' dormitory for sixth years, feeling sure that Harry and Ron would talk to her again. When she reached the dormitory, she found Harry and Ron alone in it - she had seen everybody else in the common room, playing either Wizarding Chess or Exploding Snap. Some of them were actually doing homework.

Harry and Ron's heads shot up at Hermione's sudden arrival. They looked at her and Hermione studied them for moment. Unlike her, they're faces were impassive.

Hermione's eager expression faltered for a few seconds but then, she regained her poise and grinned at them. "You both wanted to talk to me?" she asked buoyantly.

"No, not talk to you," said Ron acidly as though Hermione had made the most disgusting misconception. "We wanted to show you something."

Hermione's face fell, unable to say anything.

Harry reached out for two cuttings from the evening mail of The Daily Prophet and thrust it at her. Hermione was so surprised that she couldn't catch the papers. She bent down to pick them up from the floor and scanned the headlines.

RUBEUS HAGRID DECEASED. GRAND FUNERAL AT HOGSMEADE.

Hermione didn't find anything wrong in the headlines that could possibly make Harry and Ron as white-faced as they were. But then, she saw the other cutting below that and felt the rate of her heartbeat increasing.

ABDUCTOR MALFOY AND KIDNAP VICTIM GRANGER BACK.

Harry and Ron started moving out of their dormitory. Before disappearing through the door, Harry whispered to her, "We don't want any explanation from you regarding this. You stay away from us."

Hermione gawked at Harry. What did he mean?

But she had no time to ask him what he meant, since he had already left, along with Ron.

Dejected and confused, Hermione went back to the first newspaper cutting.

Rubeus Hagrid, 65, has passed away, for reasons unknown. Healers from St. Mungo's refrained from commenting, while Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's headmaster, Albus Dumbledore and Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge remained silent about the cause.

Hagrid, who worked as the gamekeeper and as a teacher of Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts, had been found dead days ago, but due to demanding situations arising in Hogwarts lately, the funeral could not be held.

Draco Malfoy, who happened to be one of the most wanted criminals a few hours before, had attended the burial this morning with the abducted, Hermione Granger. Eyebrows were raised to see the abductor and the abducted together at the funeral. Prof. Dumbledore still refrains from answering about the sudden appearance of the two students and why they seem to be getting along well.

In spite of herself, Hermione felt a bit glad that at least nothing was seriously wrong with this news. But the worst one was in store for her. She started reading the second cutting, which she noticed was from the morning mail of The Daily Prophet.

ABDUCTOR MALFOY AND KIDNAP VICTIM GRANGER BACK.

Abductor and murderer Draco Malfoy, 16, had surrendered himself last night to his headmaster, Albus Dumbledore after suddenly appearing with his hostage, Hermione Granger. Around nine o' clock last night, he and Granger returned to Hogwarts. Malfoy confessed everything to Prof. Dumbledore and it seems that he was innocent of all the charges held against him, Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge confirms. Malfoy would not even have to face a trial by the Wizengamot.

Malfoy and Granger seem to rather have become friends, as Prof. Dumbledore informed us. This is highly unlikely, considering their relationships for the past five and a half years, as their fellow students inform. Malfoy always looked down upon Granger a 'Mudblood' and Granger condemned him for that. What could be the reason behind their sudden change of attitude? Raging hormones?

Hermione stared at the last line, her eye filling with hot tears. It was bad enough that The Daily Prophet had printed all wrong information, and Harry and Ron believed in the bullshit. That was ludicrous.

Blinded by tears, she ran out of the boys' dormitory into hers and buried her face in the pillows of her bed. She was crying hard and helplessly. It was a long time before she fell asleep.

____________________________________________________________________

Hermione woke up rather late the next morning for her liking. It was around half past seven. Groaning, she got up. She could have awoken an hour and a half earlier and done some reading. But it wasn't her fault - she had not slept until late, and disturbed, into the previous night.

Harry and Ron had hurt her too deeply. What they were doing was so cruel and unjustified, that Hermione could hardly take it. She wanted to run away from Hogwarts, away from Harry and Ron. They were supposed to be her best friends and they didn't trust her at all. Even Harry, who had faced the same humiliation by The Daily Prophet, believed what those blasted reporters wrote.

Hermione was tired of thinking about them. She had been doing so since the previous day and was frustrated. Harry and Ron weren't kids and they could think for themselves. If their hatred for Draco was more important than her friendship, than they could go to hell for all she cared. They were being absolutely selfish and mean. They didn't believe her and weren't ready to forgive Draco, when all those concerned had. She would just try to knock some sense into them, and if they still insisted on Draco being their ever-glorious enemy, she wouldn't be able to help them.

Yet, they were her best friends and meant a lot to her. She supposed that she could ask Dumbledore for help.

Making up her mind, she took her shower and dressed. After packing her books in her bag, she headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Harry and Ron were already there, almost finishing their breakfast as they discussed Quidditch. They did look somewhat surprised at seeing Hermione come in so late, but regained their composure and went back to Quidditch as though it was the most natural thing to do when they needed to avoid Hermione, which Hermione knew, was true.

Hermione didn't think that it was a good idea to talk to them then and there. She didn't want to make a scene in front of everyone, especially the teachers.

So sitting in the far end on the Gryffindor table again, Hermione started eating her bacon. Seeing the lavish breakfast on the tables, Hermione smiled grimly. S.P.E.W. had been a complete flop and Hermione had retreated into the shadows from fighting for elf rights. But she still wished that the poor house-elves were treated better.

Finishing her food, Hermione set off for her first class - Defense Against the Dark Arts. She reached her classroom in the third floor landing and took a seat in the very first row. Harry and Ron were also there, only a few seats behind her. Hermione tried to catch their eye but they didn't show any sign of recognition at all even when she had entered the classroom.

Saddened, Hermione waited for Moody to come. The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher arrived, but it wasn't Alastor Moody. It was Remus Lupin.

"Professor Lupin!" the whole class gasped.

"Yes, correct," said Lupin smoothly as he put his still battered suitcase on the teacher's desk. "Good morning. Pleased to meet you all again."

The class stared at him in shock, dumbfounded.

"P-Professor?" stammered Seamus. "What about Professor Moody?"

"Professor Moody had to go on some urgent business with the Headmaster," replied Lupin cheerfully, settling on his chair.

Harry could have sworn that he saw Lupin mouth 'Order' in his direction.

The class had come out of the shock by now. They looked extremely glad and excited that Lupin was among them once again.

"Professor?" asked Hermione, tentatively.

"Yes, Hermione?"

"Er, when would Professor Moody and Professor Dumbledore be back?"

"I'm afraid I have no idea, Hermione," replied Lupin, not looking in the least offended at Hermione's question.

He then took their attendance and gave each student a big smile before teaching them about chimeras (magical fire-breathing creatures with often a lion's head, a goat's body and a serpent's tail.)

Hermione noticed that he looked frailer than ever and had more grey hair than the last time she had seen him. She knew that he was being well kept at the Grimmauld's Place, but supposed that he was working too hard for the Order of the Phoenix.

Although they didn't have any practical that class, the sixth year Gryffindors surely had an enjoyable lesson, since their favorite teacher was back. They were thrilled about tackling the monsters the very next lesson and the idea of writing a foot long essay on them wasn't a bad idea.

But attending History of Magic with Professor Binns was surely one.

____________________________________________________________________

Theodore Nott had been the most restless since Draco Malfoy had come back. He was confused with the way Draco had been behaving lately. Draco and he were not friends exactly, but they got along quite well. Both of them had even received their Dark Mark together.

When Draco had kidnapped Hermione Granger and ran away, Theodore had been very shocked, even more when he heard that Draco had actually killed someone. He knew that Draco had not been ordered to kill by Lord Voldemort - Voldemort had strictly forbidden any crime as long as they were in school. And knowing Draco from childhood, he was sure that Draco wasn't the type who killed only for fun. Sometimes, he had seen Draco behave strangely and had seriously doubted if he was fit for being a Death Eater.

And now, Theodore was positive that Draco wasn't fit to be a Death Eater. He had a nagging feeling that Draco had turned traitor but yet, it was hard to believe since he was one of the leading Death Eaters among the young ones and his father had been the Dark Lord's right hand man. Yet, Voldemort had contacted him the very last night and had ordered him to get to the bottom of this issue.

Thus, as the Slytherins' Transfiguration classes just before lunch break finished, he caught up with Draco and pulled him into an empty classroom and closed the door behind him.

Surprised, Draco asked, "What are you doing, Theodore?"

"That's what I should be asking you, Draco," replied Theodore briskly.

"What d'you mean?"

"I want to know what you are up to, Draco. On the Dark Lord's command."

"Voldemort's?" said Draco incredulously.

"Draco!" hissed Theodore threateningly. "How dare you address your master by his name?"

"My master?" laughed Draco in hollow manner. "He is no longer my master, Theodore."

It took Theodore a complete minute to realize what Draco had just said. But when he did, he blurted out, "What the hell are you saying! You are sworn to him and still bear the Dark Mark. You have pledged never to leave him, in any case. And since when have you given up the Dark side?"

"Long ago, Theodore," said Draco nonchalantly. "Voldemort's a maniac and I can't serve him, or in fact, anyone. It's beneath me."

"Draco -"

"And although I still bear the Dark Mark, I am no longer a Death Eater. A wise person has told me that bearing the Dark Mark doesn't make you a Death Eater - it's the attitude. And as for the Dark Oath, I don't give a goddamned care for that crap."

"I don't believe it!"

"None of my concerns if you don't, Theodore, but tell Voldemort that I am a Death Eater no longer."

"You can't turn back!"

"I have," said Draco firmly. "And tell him this too, even though he has Manumission from Servitude, I don't care anymore. He can come out into the streets and gloat about outsmarting me. I don't need that blighted book to free myself."

And with these words, Draco walked out of the classroom into the Great Hall for lunch, with Theodore gaping behind him.

Even though he hated thinking about it, Theodore knew that Draco wouldn't live much longer. The Dark Lord will surely kill him for the betrayal.

____________________________________________________________________

The Gryffindors made their way dolefully to the grounds in front of Hagrid's hut for the Care of Magical Creatures lesson. Going back to that place meant reviving a lot of memories of Hagrid, and it was almost unbearable for Harry. It was Ginny and Ron in fact, who had persuaded him to attend the class. During that time, Harry and Ron had glared viciously at Hermione on the Gryffindor table, who had tried to ignore them in turn.

The Gryffindors reached the grounds. The hut was closed and none of the usual sounds came from it, like the scraping of the huge chairs or the clanking of the wooden crates in which Hagrid kept his animals for study. Hermione noticed that Fang was not there, then she remembered that Fang was with Dumbledore the previous day. She supposed that Dumbledore had taken him to Grimmauld's Place.

The Slytherins were already there. Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, Theodore Nott , Crabbe and Goyle stood together in one group, a copy of The Daily Prophet with them. Draco on the other hand was leaning on the fence, away from his fellow Slytherins, with a nonchalant look on his face. Hermione, who was separated from her fellow Gryffindors too, walked up and stood next to him casually, beside the fence.

The Gryffindors were astounded at Hermione's effrontery. Harry and Ron narrowed their eyes at her and clenched their teeth. The Slytherins were shocked too. Pansy Parkinson was beside herself at seeing Draco with Hermione.

However, Draco and Hermione didn't pay attention to any of the students present there. They exchanged greetings and opened their books, waiting for the new teacher to come.

"I wonder who will teach us from now on," said Draco, leafing through Sortilege Beasts.

"Professor Grubbly-Plank, I think," replied Hermione.

"Yeah, may be. She's good -"

"But she is certainly not," said a cold and agitated voice.

Draco and Hermione's face shot towards the speaker. Pansy Parkinson was standing in front of them, her face white and the copy of The Daily Prophet in her hands.

"What are you talking about Pansy?" asked Draco coolly, closing his book.

"How could you Draco?" simpered Pansy, her hard exterior vanishing. "How could you?"

"Either explain what you are saying, Pansy, or get lost," said Draco unconcernedly.

Everybody, including the Gryffindors had turned to see what was happening.

Pansy thrust the newspaper at Draco, who with his excellent reflexes caught it in one hand. "Explain this," Pansy demanded.

Draco gave her a confused expression and then scanned the papers quickly. Hermione peeked over his shoulder and caught the sight of the familiar heading.

ABDUCTOR MALFOY AND KIDNAP VICTIM GRANGER BACK.

Hermione froze. She didn't want Draco to read that. But she could do nothing to stop him either. So Draco read on.

Draco gritted his teeth at the words 'raging hormones'. He looked up at Pansy, who gave him an accusing look.

"Go on," she whimpered, "explain this."

"I don't find it important to explain about Hermione and me to you, Pansy," said Draco calmly. "None of your business."

"So I take it to be true," screeched Pansy. "You both are dating, right?"

"We are not dating!" said Hermione, looking scandalized. "We're just friends."

"But he dumped me for your so-called friendship," yelled Pansy at Hermione. "And Malfoys are not supposed to befriend Mudbloods."

"Silencio!" hissed Draco, pointing his wand at Pansy. "If I ever learned that you, or in fact any Slytherin, called Hermione a Mudblood, then I'll see that you regret it. Is that clear?"

The Gryffindors as well as the Slytherins goggled at Draco, flabbergasted. Pansy opened her mouth and shouted at Draco (or at least that was what it seemed to be, since no one could hear a single word as Draco had Silenced her). It was on after a few moments when she realized that she must look very stupid and then stopped. Nevertheless, she didn't stop glaring at Draco.

Draco pocketed his wand with a flourish and turned back to Hermione. Hermione looked a bit surprised too, but she managed to stammer a 'thanks' to Draco.

Draco winked at her playfully. "My pleasure."

They didn't have much time to talk after that - Professor Grubbly-Plank arrived. She still had closely cropped grey hair and a harsh voice like a whip. She didn't seem in the least affected by the fact that Hogwarts had lost a teacher among them and barked all through the lesson at them, ignoring Harry and Ron's glowers being shot at her direction.

Midway through the lesson, dark nimbus clouds covered the sky and it started raining hard. Heavy drops shot towards the earth's surface, soiling the feet of the people with mud. The students and Professor Grubbly-Plank rushed to the front of Hagrid's hut to shelter themselves from the downpour.

Hermione looked up at the sky, smiling as the rain splashed over her face. The rain was the first good thing to happen for days and it instilled in her a sense of calmness and peace in spite of the lightning thundering in the sky loudly, across the sky's chest.

Draco didn't join the others in running away but stood behind Hermione, remembering the incident that had taken place two days before, though it seemed like an age. He smiled as he recalled Hermione soaking in the rain and how he had promised her to join in the shower with her. He never did that - he hadn't got a chance. But as much as he would have liked to stay with Hermione in the rain for a long time, away from all worries and anxiety and discomfiture, he could not. Professor Grubbly-Plank was already shouting at them.

"Malfoy! Granger!" she yelled at them. "Take the trouble of coming here, will you?"

Draco scowled at her and walked up to the wooden hut, Hermione following him with a grumpy expression.

"Even though I would be interested to know what was there that caught your attention in the downpour," said Professor Grubbly-Plank, "I'll spare you the botheration."

Hermione and Draco glared at the teacher. Hermione had a funny prickling sensation on the back of her neck and she turned around to find Harry and Ron smiling at her, looking grimly satisfied about something. Hermione shook her head at them before turning back to Professor Grubbly-Plank.

Professor Grubbly-Plank was looking at the rains in a surly manner. She then turned to the students and said, "I am afraid that we will have to discontinue the class. It's raining too hard and I despise the idea of teaching you inside the hut. We wouldn't fit in there, anyway," She received many frowns from the Gryffindors, though the Slytherins seemed to agree with her. "So I suggest that you return to the castle ... but not before performing the Impervius Charm on yourselves!"

The students knew that the charm would keep them dry in the rain, as they would make their way to the castle. Hermione remembered very well how she had used the charm on Harry's glasses back in their third year during a Quidditch match against Hufflepuff. She performed the spell on herself while Draco did the same next to her. Since the others were now treating them as outcasts, they didn't bother to go with their fellow students. Instead, they made their way alone, at the back of the group.

"I wish we would be treated better," said Hermione to Draco.

"Come on," said Draco. "Why do you care?"

"I meant Harry and Ron, Draco."

"I was going to ask you about them."

"What do you want to ask about them?"

"I would like to know from where did they pick up such a stupid attitude..." From the look on Hermione's face, Draco added, "Kidding. Just wondering if you three have patched things up. But it doesn't seem like that."

Hermione nodded sadly.

"You know, I still feel guilty about all this. And that blasted newspaper ... that was absolutely nonsense."

"I can't believe that Harry and Ron trusted the media rather than me," said Hermione crossly.

"They would not have," reasoned Draco, "but since it's me with you, they want to believe it. And you can't blame them - the reason behind all the things going on now days ... it's me. It all started 'cause of me."

"Draco, Harry and Ron are being naïve, it's not your fault."

"I didn't say fault, Hermione, I said cause. And deep down, you still wish that nothing should have happened."

"People don't get all that they wish and I believe that whatever happens, happens for the good," said Hermione sternly. Then softening a bit, she added, "And anyway, you aren't facing the Wizengamot now, are you?"

"Yeah, that's something," said Draco lightly. "I was quite tense about going through a trial, actually."

Hermione nodded. Even Harry had felt nervous about undergoing the disciplinary hearing last summer. Shaking her head, Hermione pushed Harry out of her mind. By then, they had reached the castle.

"I'll see you later, Draco," said Hermione, "bye."

"Bye." replied Draco and watched Hermione disappear through the stairs leading to the Gryffindor Tower. He was very sorry for her and he felt extremely guilty for being the reason for her depression. But he was also angry with Harry and Ron. He felt like throttling them and making them apologize to Hermione. He knew that they meant a lot to Hermione, more than him. And this thought suddenly saddened him. He supposed he could never win Hermione and make himself more important to her, more than anybody else - but he knew that his deeds would lead him nowhere. Hermione had forgiven him because she had a large and generous heart and believed in morality. He was nothing special to her. Harry and Ron were special to her.

Feeling too emotional, Draco entered the Prefects' quarters. His head was swimming with guilt and pessimistic thoughts and all that he wanted to do was have a good strong drink and clear his head of all grief.

____________________________________________________________________

At around seven in the evening, Harry came out of the library in a very bad mood. He had gone in there to get a book for Ginny and had ended up fighting with Hermione again. Hermione was in one of the closed sections and had dragged him inside in spite of his protests. Harry had expected that she would apologize and say that Draco Malfoy was the meanest person she had ever met and she had to take his support under some pressure, which was rather far fetched, he realized grumpily.

But no. Harry got the hearing of his life by the girl he thought he was falling for.

Hermione had called him naïve and immature. She called him mean, to dump their five and a half years old friendship for the sake of enmity. She made it clear that she was not going to beg for forgiveness or give an apology. She said that he would have to accept Draco as innocent or he could go to hell for all she cared.

Harry had become furious and stomped out of the section, but he was sure he had heard a wailing sound from Hermione near the partition.

He was pained to see her in such condition and wanted to go to her and soothe her. But she had wronged Hagrid by supporting Hagrid's murderer, cold-blooded murderer. He was mad at Dumbledore and Cornelius Fudge too, to exonerate Draco without a trial.

Draco Malfoy ... the name swam in his mind.

If it hadn't been for him, Hagrid would still have been alive and Hermione would still have been his friend or might be even something more. There would have been no animosity between the three friends if only had it not been for the Slytherin slime.

He was surprised that Hermione was giving up his friendship for a Slytherin. He was enraged by the fact actually and had a strong suspicion that the 'raging hormones' had been no lie.

Harry was so engrossed in his own thoughts that he didn't notice a figure coming in his direction. As a result, he found himself colliding with none other than Cho Chang from Ravenclaw.

"Ow!"

Cho had jerked and hit the wall after dashing with Harry. Harry blinked a few times to get the stars in front of his eyes out and then saw Cho in front of him, clutching her left shoulder.

"I am sorry," he mumbled apologetically. "I was thinking about something and didn't see you coming."

"It's all right," said Cho, rubbing her shoulder now. "It was quite clear that you were in a brown study."

"I didn't ask you to read my body language." retorted Harry acidly.

Cho looked abashed at his tone but nevertheless, said in a sweet voice, "What are you doing here anyway, in our territory?"

"Your territory?"

"This is where the Ravenclaw common room is, Harry."

"Oh, I see," said Harry, adjusting his glasses, which he realized were askew. "I am coming from the library."

"Oh yes, the library ... we always have the risk of being discovered by the people who use the library as their common room."

Harry raised an eyebrow at Cho. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, Harry. Anyway, are you free this Saturday?"

"Yeah, most probably. Why do you ask?"

"I was wondering if you could meet me in Hogsmeade on Saturday."

"I ... I dunno," hesitated Harry. "But there isn't a date fixed on this Saturday for a Hogsmeade visit, is there?"

"No, but seventh years are allowed to visit Hogsmeade on weekends. And I know for a fact that you don't mind breaking rules."

"I'll try," said Harry, looking rather pleased. "Saturday would be the day after tomorrow, right?"

"Right."

"I'll let you know then. Bye."

"Bye."

Harry walked away from Cho and headed for the Gryffindor Tower. He didn't know why, but he felt butterflies in his stomach again when he saw Cho that close. Memories of the Christmas kiss they shared flooded into his mind and he was sure he was going to meet her on Saturday.

____________________________________________________________________

At around half past seven, Hermione rushed to the Prefects' quarters. She had seen Harry only half an hour before and had made an attempt to talk to him. But he had protested and she had become cross. She had called him a lot of names and said that he could go to hell for all she cared. Nevertheless, when Harry had left her, as if unaffected, she had sobbed, unable to control herself. She had been just frustrated and tired and spoke to Harry rudely without actually meaning to. So feeling disturbed, she was going to see Draco.

"Allegro Passinato," she told to the Founding Four's painting.

The painting swung open, revealing the portrait hole through which Hermione walked in. She found that Draco was not in the living room. She supposed that Draco was inside the Slytherin Prefects' dormitory, so she went up there and knocked on the oak polished door.

There was no answer.

She knocked again and harder this time but there was no answer still.

"Draco!" she called loudly. "Draco are you in there?"

Long after that, a muffled and slurring voice replied, "I ... think so."

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows - what an odd answer. Unless she was gravely mistaken, Draco was drunk again.

Hermione clicked the door open and stepped in. The torches weren't lit and she couldn't see properly. Closing the door behind her, she flicked her wand and the candles were burning brightly in a second.

Draco was on a chair near the closed window. On the table in front of him was an entirely empty bottle of the wizards' Fire Whisky.

"You are drunk again, aren't you?" Hermione asked him.

It took Draco a complete minute to respond and all he did was nod his head slowly.

"Why do you get intoxicated, Draco?" asked Hermione as she opened the windows and let the fresh, cool and damp air enter the room.

"I was ... distressed."

"I am too," said Hermione and she took a seat across him. "What's up with you?"

"G-guilt..." replied Draco. "I am sorry."

"I told you, you don't have to be."

"And ... you?"

"Forget it," said Hermione and sighed. "You neither understand nor remember what you are told when you are drunk. I saw you back there in Africa."

Draco didn't answer. Hermione supposed that her sentence was too long for him to understand.

"There's no point talking to you now," she said and got up. "I'll go. We'll meet later."

She had just turned to leave when Draco caught her hand. "Are you ... going?"

"Yes."

"Don't!" exclaimed Draco as though the idea was frightening. "Don't leave me ... alone."

"What happened, Draco?" asked Hermione concernedly as she sat down on her settee again. Draco said 'alone' too ... strongly.

"I am lonely," said Draco slowly. "Very lonely..."

"I understand Draco," replied Hermione, gently patting his hand.

"I've been lonely all my life," Draco went on. "My father didn't give me time ... my mother was forbidden to ... my uncle was killed."

"He wasn't!"

"I have no friend, no family ... everybody hates me. I am bad..."

"Don't say that Draco," said Hermione sympathetically. "I am your friend and I don't hate you. I care for you."

Draco looked around miserably. "This place is dark and forlorn..." he murmured. "I stay here all alone ... no one visits ... no one to talk to..."

"I'm there Draco," said Hermione. "I'll visit you as much as I can."

But Draco was clearly not hearing to a single word she had said.

"You are my first good friend..." he went on, talking more to himself than her. "You don't hate me ... you visit me ... thanks..."

Hermione couldn't help but smile. She didn't know what to say.

"I'm scared of loneliness ... it presses in on me ... the room becomes smaller ... I can't breathe ... but when I'm with you ... I don't feel lonely."

"I know how terrible it is to be lonely," said Hermione quietly. "It is not for the first time Harry and Ron have dumped me."

"You understand me ... my condition..."

"Yes, Draco," whispered Hermione. "I know I understand you. No one has understood you better than I have and no one ever will."