Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Heart and Soul ❯ Chapter Eleven ( Chapter 11 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Heart and Soul
By: Tassana Burrfoot


Chapter Eleven



Regardless of what Harry had told her after Christmas, Hermione still wanted to believe Draco was simply a victim of circumstance. But Harry's suspicions had been aided by Snape's. Snape thought Draco was up to something as well.

And, she knew they were right, but for all the wrong reasons, she was sure. She knew Draco was up to something. There was no denying it. He had told her as much. A task was set to him by Voldemort himself. And while Hermione hoped for the best, she knew it wasn't a good task. It was something bad.

She sat in the Gryffindor Common Room. It was late and she was alone. She took her necklace out from under her robes and began playing with her ring. She still couldn't get over the idea of being engaged to Draco.

A small smile played on her lips as she fantasized about what their life would be like once Voldemort was gone. She even toyed with the idea of Lucius and Narcissa accepting her into their family with open arms. She nearly snorted at the thought. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy accept a Mudblood? How absurd!

Eventually her thoughts came to Voldemort. If she and the boys could destroy that monster, then she might actually have a chance with Draco. Regardless of whether his parents accepted her or not, they would have to at least get used to her.

She had researched about Horcruxes, but found nothing. She felt helpless and useless. She felt betrayed by the library, for she was so certain there would be at least something there. She literally combed the entire library, but came up empty-handed. Hopefully, Harry and Dumbledore would have better luck.

"Did Malfoy give you that?" said a voice, startling Hermione from her thoughts.

She looked up and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Dean Thomas. She raised an eyebrow. "How did you know?" she asked.

He shrugged as he joined her by the fireplace. "I figured as much. Never seen two people act the way you did that night at Martha's party. Have you told Harry and Ron yet?"

She shook her head. "I want to, I just can't seem to bring myself to do it. Ron and I aren't talking right now and I fear I'll lose Harry."

Dean sighed, "You won't lose Harry. He's your best friend. He'll be angry, I think. But, that's because you're like a sister to him. I think eventually he will understand. As for Ron, I think he misses you. He thinks you're angry at him because of Lavender Brown."

"I know," she commented. "And, I'm not. Honestly. I'm happy for him. I just feel so..."

"Guilty?" he offered. At her nod, he continued, "I don't blame you. I mean, don't they see Malfoy as an enemy? His father's a Death Eater and I'm sure Harry believes Malfoy is walking the same path. And you know Ron has always fancied you. He'll be crushed when he finds out."

"Yes, but what do I do? How do I tell them?" she questioned.

Instead of answering right away, he pointed at the ring. "What exactly is that?"

She showed it to him, letting the firelight dance off the stones. "It's called the Everlasting Heart. It's an engagement ring that's been passed down from Malfoy to Malfoy through the ages. Draco has it's pair, the Everlasting Soul."

"So, you and Malfoy are engaged?" he asked.

She nodded and then added, "I think there's more to it then that, though. According to the actual magic of the rings, he and I are already married, though unofficially. I still have a chance to back out, from what he told me. Course, I don't think he's right. I think I'm already stuck."

"What do you mean?"

"I didn't tell you why I was with Draco that night, did I?" she asked. He shook his head and she sighed, "You promise you won't tell?"

He raised an eyebrow. "You are wearing an engagement ring and are getting married to Draco Malfoy. Thus far, I haven't told a soul about the party. Not even Seamus or Ginny. And I tell those two practically everything. I won't tell anyone anything you tell me."

She nodded and told him about the incident that ended up with Draco at her home. She told him about the loss of Draco's magic and the spell they had spoken moments before his magic returned. "I researched that spell," she told him. "It's called Pectus pectoris Animus. It's a spell where you bind two souls together."

"Soul mates," Dean commented.

"Yes," she confirmed. "And very much so. I think the reason Draco's magic returned was because of this spell. When my soul and his soul bound themselves together, the trauma that caused his loss of power became overruled."

"Love conquers all," he snipped. "So, what you're telling me is this: You're not getting married to Draco Malfoy. You are married to Draco Malfoy."

Slowly, she let out a breath. "I believe so," she answered. "I don't think Draco understands this, though. Even he was shocked about the spell. From what I know, performing this spell is very rare. Those who do it don't even know what they are performing, nor all the implications that go with it."

He nodded in understanding. "Well, Mrs. Malfoy, the best advice I can give you is to tell them. Start from the beginning, like you did with me. Tell them everything, including Martha's party and this ring. And tell them soon. The longer you wait, the harder it will be."

She silently agreed and watched as Dean got up. He bade her good night and left her in her thoughts.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Hermione pulled Harry into an empty classroom, ignoring his protests. "I need to speak to you," she whispered anxiously. Glancing around her surroundings, she quickly closed the classroom door and sealed it with a spell.

"Hermione, what are you doing?" Harry asked, surprised by her behaviour.

She pointed at the Marauder's Map. "I could ask you the same thing."

"Watching Malfoy," he responded, fixing his robes. "He keeps disappearing and I'm trying to find out where he's going."

She sighed. She didn't have time for this. "Look, I have something important to tell you. But, you've got to promise me two things: you won't get angry and you won't tell Ron."

He looked at her skeptically. She knew what he was thinking. She never asked him to not be angry. What she had to say could not possibly be good. "What's this about?" he questioned curiously.

"First, promise me," she demanded.

He raised an eyebrow, but slowly nodded. "All right. I promise."

She gave a sigh and walked over to one of the desks. As she sat down, she began relating her story. She studied Harry's expression as she told him about Draco's accident and the chaos it ensued. She knew he was hurt when she recounted the party and the kiss. She knew he was shocked to learn of the ring and promise. She had even gone further and detailed to him about the incident at Christmas. She did not, however, tell him about her and Draco sharing a bed.

Harry had remained silent throughout the entire account. Even now that she was finished, he was silent. His expression was difficult to read. Did he hate her? Did he despise her? Did she just lose her best friend?

"Harry, please," she begged. "Say something."

"Wha-" he croaked. He straightened his voice and tried again, "What do you want me to say? Personally, I think you've gone mental. He's Malfoy, Hermione. Not only is he a prat, but he's also a Death..."

"He's not a Death Eater," she stopped him. "I've seen his arms and I can assure you, he does not bare the Dark Mark."

"He showed you his arms?" he asked incredulously.

She nodded. "I had asked him if he were a Death Eater. In response, he pulled back his sleeves and showed me his arms."

"Well, he's bloody well on his way to becoming one," he snapped. "What the hell are you thinking, Hermione? This is Malfoy, for Christ's sake! He's not just some good-looking guy who you can have a passing fancy with! I laughed when you dated Viktor Krum, but this is different. This is Draco Malfoy. Do you realize the repercussions..."

"Stop it, Harry!" she shouted, standing up. Tears stained her cheeks. When had she started crying? She couldn't remember. It didn't matter. "Of course I realize the repercussions. I know what could happen. I know the risks. Don't you think I worry about it every waking and sleeping moment of my life? There is not a minute that passes where I don't wonder what is going to happen. I can't help how I feel, Harry. I didn't ask this to happen. I didn't ask to fall in lo..."

"Don't say it," he snarled. They glared at each other before he continued in a deathly calm, "I can't believe you've done this. I've never known you to make stupid decisions before, Hermione. You've never been known to screw up. Now I know why. When you do screw up, it's major."

"I did not 'screw up'," she argued.

He rolled his eyes. "This isn't like you," he sighed, his anger leveling off. "What about Ron?"

She gasped, "You promised you wouldn't tell him."

"And I won't," he promised. "But you should. It's not fair to him. He thinks you're angry at him because he's snogging Lavender Brown. He doesn't deserve that, Hermione. He deserves the truth."

She agreed, "I know. I just... I don't know how to tell him. I can't tell him right now anyway. We have a job to do. And we need him. If I tell him now, he'll make you choose between the two of us. You know how his temper is. He's not going to easily forgive me. The most important thing right now is Voldemort and learning about those Horcruxes."

"What about Draco? Has he told you anything?" Harry questioned. "Like where he goes when he's not on the map?"

She shook her head. "All I know is Voldemort gave him some kind of task to complete. From what I can gather, Draco's life depends upon it's success."

"You haven't told him about what we are up to?" he asked, suddenly concerned.

"I did not," she answered. "I've told him nothing of any importance. Neither of us has spoken much of our jobs. There's too much risk involved. It's not easy for us. I haven't seen him in two months."

He rolled his eyes. "You see him all the time in class," he pointed out.

She gave him a half smile. "Not really. We rarely make eye contact. And when we do, we sneer at one another or quickly look away. It's all a show. Contemptuous looks that mean nothing to us and everything to everyone else."

He raised an eyebrow. "Good acting," he snipped sarcastically.

She sighed, "It's not like we haven't had practice. Five years of hating each other, the looks become easy. It's just that now, we don't mean them."

"Are you certain?" he questioned.

She took out the Heart and showed it to him. She closed her eyes as she felt the ring's warmth flow through her. "As certain as death," she said, cryptically, opening her eyes to look at him.

"That's not funny, Hermione," he growled. He glanced at the ring and sighed, "I still think this is the stupidest thing you've ever done. But, I'm willing to accept it... for now."

"That's all I wanted."


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


A couple of weeks later found Hermione feeling even worse. She stood outside the hospital wing pacing anxiously back and forth. Oh, God! How could this happen?

Ron had been poisoned. Thankfully, Harry had been there to save him. Had he not...

Hermione didn't want to think about it. Ron was one of her best friends. She couldn't imagine what life would've been like without him.

Harry stepped out of the hospital wing and Hermione threw her arms around him. She was hysterical when she asked, "What happened? Is he okay?"

Harry tried to calm her down by rubbing her back. "He's going to be okay," he assured her.

He told her about the Chocolate Cauldrons and their trip to Slughorn's office. He told her how Ron had drank the poisoned mead. It was lucky Slughorn had a bezeor in his office, otherwise Ron would have died.

"Oh, Harry, thank God you were there," she gasped. "With Slughorn panicking like he did, Ron would've been gone before there was a chance of saving him."

"Do you want to see him?" he questioned.

Hermione nodded and Harry led her into the hospital. She gazed down at Ron's near lifeless form. Seeing him so helpless was heart-wrenching. She wanted to wake him up, to hear his voice.

For some reason, Draco came to her mind. She remembered seeing Draco in this state not too long ago. She had been so worried about him. Now, it was Ron's turn.

She never told Ron about Draco. She could feel the pangs of guilt well up in the pit of her stomach. Ron could have died and he would never had known about her and Draco. Would never had known about her betrayal.

Ron didn't take news very well. He always jumped to conclusions and had a really short temper. He would not have seen passed her betrayal as easily as Harry did. He wouldn't have been as forgiving.

She knew she needed to tell him. But, for a little while longer, she would keep silent.

She knelt down by Ron's bed and cried.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Harry was still convinced that Draco was going to do something bad. Hermione knew Draco was going to do something bad. She just did not know what.

Harry did not bother her much about it when they were around Ron. For that, Hermione was grateful. She still hadn't told her red-headed friend and she knew now wasn't the best time. Ron was still recovering in the hospital wing.

When Ron wasn't looking, though, Harry would glare at Hermione. When Ron wasn't around, she got an earful. "I know he's up to something," Harry would comment. "I intend on finding out what it is, too. And when I do..."

"Yes, I know," she snapped, irritably. She wondered briefly how long he was going to repeat himself. "When you find out, you're going to stop him, regardless of any promises I might have made or anything that he might have said to me. You don't give a bloody damn if he lives or dies and you can't understand why I would. If he were to die, the world would be a much happier place, even though I wouldn't. Did I miss anything?"

"Hermione, why do you care so much about him?" he questioned.

"Why do you keep obsessing?" she shot back. "Don't think I haven't noticed. You're more on his tail than ever before since I told you about us."

"Did I tell you I saw him with two girls the day of the Gryffindor versus Slytherin game?" he asked. "Did I tell you the three of them were walking away from the crowd into the castle by themselves?"

"Oh, only about ten thousand times," she exaggerated. Actually, this was only the sixth time he had mentioned it. But, who's counting?

"What about on the train when he was cozying up to Pansy Parkinson?" he pressed.

She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. "We've had this discussion too many times. Drop it, Harry. You're not going to make me jealous and I'm not leaving him. So, get over it."

"How do I know you're not going to tell him anything?" he inquired. "We are doing some really risky stuff. I can't chance anyone finding out."

She sighed. She had all ready answered that question as well. "You're just going to have to trust me," she told him. "In all our years together, have I ever done anything to question my loyalty? Aside from falling for Draco?"

Harry shook his head. "No," he confirmed. "I'm sorry. I'm just... worried. I don't want to see you get hurt. And Draco Malfoy is just the type to do that."

She smiled and touched his shoulder. "There's nothing to worry about. I'll be all right. You'll see. We just need to focus on Voldemort. We'll worry about Draco and my feelings later."


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The Quidditch game between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff had been disastrous. It had also landed Harry in the hospital wing next to Ron.

Hermione took the extra time to concentrate on her studies. Though she figured she was doing well, one could never be too careful. She worked long, hard hours in the library and in the Gryffindor Common Room.

The day Harry and Ron got out of the hospital, Hermione happily joined them, escorting them to breakfast. The friendship between her and Ron seemed to blossom even more. She no longer avoided conversation with him.

She was confident that Harry wouldn't say anything to Ron. So, she continued on as if nothing was happening. After all, it wasn't like Draco was going to make a grab for her in the middle of the hall and snog her senselessly. (Though, that would have been thrilling, to say the least.) Especially not with so many people around. They both had reputations and appearances to protect.

Harry hadn't been to happy with Hermione's decision. "You need to tell him," he snapped at her one evening after Ron had gone up to bed.

"I know," she replied. "And I will. Just, not right now. We need to focus on these Horcruxes. All three of us. We need to work together. You need to get that memory and... would you put that book away!"

He had been flipping though the Prince's book yet again. Hermione hated that book. It just... didn't feel right to her. Something about it made her uneasy.

"There might be something in here..." he feebly argued.

"There isn't, Harry," she confirmed. "You all ready checked several times. Use your brain for once."

She had been surprised about Harry using the house elves to trail Draco, but she didn't scold Harry too much. She knew he wanted to catch Draco, but she doubted he would. When they learned the identities of the girls, she found herself smiling snuggly.

"I wonder what Draco was doing with those two girls," she mentioned later that night when Ron had gone to the boy's lavatory.

"Harry sneered, "Probably proving his orientation."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You just don't want to admit you were wrong," she observed. "You made a false accusation..."

"Yes, but you can't deny I'm right about one thing: he is up to something," he retorted.

She conceded his point. She then returned the subject back to Slughorn and the missing memory.