A/N - look at me, I'm posting early! Well, I'm not sure if this is what you will be expecting after my last promise, but I hope you enjoy it any way.
Chapter 9 - Red or the Brainbox
"Malfoy?" Ron hissed, "where?"
"In the infirmary," Hermione replied, keeping an eye on Harry, "and he's asking for you, Harry. It seems…"
But Harry didn't hear anymore as his brain became engulfed with an unstoppable fury. Without saying a word, he stormed out of the room and began powering his way towards the hospital wing. He faintly heard Hermione calling out for him to stop - but he didn't. All he could think of was Malfoy was back, Malfoy had tried to kill Dumbledore, Malfoy had let the Death Eaters into the castle - Malfoy needed to pay.
Hermione and Ron had got closer but Harry didn't wait for them to catch up. He heard her threaten that if he didn't stop, she'd stun him but the part of his brain that wasn't pounding with a need to kill Malfoy deduced that she wouldn't dare and he kept on going.
When he felt his body stiffen suddenly, ready to fall to the ground, it took him a moment to understand what had happened and it wasn't until he felt Ron steady him and Hermione approach him, her wand still in her hand, that he realised she had indeed hexed him. His anger quickly moved onto her and he tried to show his displeasure in his eyes - which she looked directly into as she stood in front of him.
"I will take the hex off if you promise me you will stop and listen to what I have got to say," she said, her voice steely, "otherwise you can remain like this and be made to listen to what to what I've got to say anyway. If you agree, blink twice."
Harry just glared at her, knowing that he really had no choice and after a moment, blinked twice and felt the binds of the stun be removed almost immediately.
"What have you got to say," he growled, shaking Ron's supporting hands from his shoulders and towering over Hermione, who, to her credit, remained her ground - hands on hips and eyes blazing back.
"What do you think you're doing?" she spat.
"Going to the infirmary to kill Malfoy," Harry spat back.
"Well, that's a really smart thing to do," she continued, "since when did you become judge, jury and executioner?"
"Since Malfoy confessed to letting Death Eaters into this castle before trying to kill Dumbledore," he growled, "you don't honestly think I'm going to sit back at let that…"
"Murderous git," Ron supplied.
"…murderous git return like he's done nothing wrong!"
"No, of course not," Hermione replied, deflating slightly, "but Harry, think about it. Draco was taken by Snape after not completing the job he was meant to do. He wouldn't be in Voldemort's best books at the moment and now he's back here, seriously hurt from what Neville said - why did he come back?"
"Perhaps as a spy," Ron suggested, "I mean, You-Know-Who has lost Snape from the castle, maybe he's planting Malfoy?"
"Don't you think that would be slightly obvious?" Hermione counter-acted, "we can check him out, test him with veritaserum before he has a chance to get any information back to Voldemort! Listen, it would take a lot for Draco to come back here so why would he? You need to give him a chance Harry."
"He tried to kill Dumbledore," Harry hissed, "because of him, Snape did kill Dumbledore. That's pretty hard to ignore Hermione."
"I'm not asking you to be best friends," she replied with a sigh, "and I don't trust him either. But we need to be the better people here, we need to give him a chance."
Harry stood and looked at her, knowing in his heart that she was saying the words that Dumbledore would have endorsed. Although he had often felt the old headmaster's concept to try and see the good in everyone wasn't the wisest of moves (including giving the likes of Severus Snape a second chance, a choice that ultimately cost him his life), Harry knew that it was this ability that had made Albus Dumbledore one of the greatest wizards of all time.
He needed to be the better person which meant listening to what Malfoy had to say. But that didn't stop Harry still being disgruntled that Hermione had actually stunned him.
"Okay, so I won't kill him," he finally grunted, "satisfied?"
"Yes," she replied, "and I'm sorry for hexing you."
As they looked at each other, Harry could see she was genuinely sorry and his anger at her began to ebb. Not quite ready to let her see he had forgiven her, however, he turned from her without saying anything else and carried on walking somewhat more sedately towards the hospital wing.
"I actually thought she was going to kill you mate," Ron joked as he came to Harry's side, "or you were going to kill her. Blimey, when you guys fight - you don't hold back, do you?"
"I would never hurt Harry," Hermione stated from Harry's other side, "and I know he would never hurt me."
"Yeah I know, but man you two were scary!"
Harry didn't say anything as he thought about how she had stared him down, how that had been missing pretty much all of last year and how amazing she had looked with her eyes blazing when she had done it. He shook his to get rid of that disturbing thought.
They finally reached the hospital wing and without hesitation, Harry entered. He saw Professor McGonagall and Professor Slughorn in discussion near a bed at the end of the ward while Madam Pomfrey hovered around her patient. They all turned when he entered, the two teachers making their way towards him, stopping him before he got too close to Malfoy.
"Potter," McGonagall started, "this is a rather surprising development but I need your word…"
"I won't harm him Professor," Harry interrupted sharply, walking around the headmistress and making his way to the hospital bed. He wasn't sure what he was expecting but he knew it wasn't what he saw laying in front of him.
Draco Malfoy was nearly unrecognisable. His hair was gone with just small, closely cropped patches showing its once blond magnificence. He was paler than usual though a mixture of green and purple smudges marked his face and the shoulder region that was visible above the white hospital sheet. His face was hollow and his lips cracked and dry. Wherever Malfoy had been in the last few months, he hadn't been treated well.
"I…I thought he asked to see me," Harry stuttered, stunned at the shell of his enemy comatose in the bed.
"He did, but Mr Malfoy unfortunately became unconscious only a few moments ago," Madam Pomfrey answered briskly.
"What's wrong with him?" Hermione asked quietly as she came to Harry's side.
"It seems Mr Malfoy is hanging very slimly onto life," McGonagall responded, herding the three away from the Slytherin, "he is malnourished, dehydrated and has a multitude of injuries that indicate…"
"He's…he's been tortured?" Hermione stammered.
"I guess his master really was peeved off then," Ron muttered. Once again, Harry remained silent as he thought things through. He hated Malfoy, he could never stop hating Malfoy, but he also knew what it was like to be tortured by Voldemort…
"Did he…was he able to tell you why he wanted to see me?" Harry finally asked, noting they were well away from the hospital wing now.
"No, he was quite specific that he only wanted to tell you," McGonagall replied, placing a hand gently on Harry's shoulder, "we'll let you know when he's able to talk once more." With a swish of robes, she was gone and the three teenagers continued their way towards their common room, all lost in their own thoughts.
Harry went straight to bed when he got back, his mind going over Malfoy's return. Why did he come back? What had happened to him? What did he have to say that was so important? This group of thoughts kept interrupting his week with no answers in sight - Draco Malfoy remained unconscious.
There were other thoughts constantly invading his brain as well, thoughts that were getting more and more confusing as the week went by. Harry found himself often looking at Hermione and wondering when she had become so pretty, or when she became such a…girl.
No, not girl - young woman, he corrected himself as he noted the way her t-shirt stretched over her…his thoughts were getting very confusing.
Sometimes he compared her to Ginny and how these new feelings about his best friend were different than when he had begun noticing Ron's little sister. With Ginny, it had been so dramatic, so…loud. But now, Hermione's small comforting touches, or ability to know what he's thinking without saying it or her just being there the way she had always been, felt real. He began to realise that he needed her - that he needed her in a way he didn't need Ron.
Maybe he did fancy Hermione.
This made the fact that it was her birthday in a few days even more dire as he had had no opportunity to go and get her anything, what with the Horcrux search and everything. This time, he really wanted to get something a little special. He and Ron never really did much for her birthday - she never made a fuss and accepted her gifts of food as the norm. But this time, he wanted to get something different and he knew exactly what he wanted to get.
So he finally got up enough courage on Wednesday after his class with Tonks to tell the others to go on so he could have a word with his new professor.
"Wotcha Harry," she said smiling as he made his way to her desk, "you and the team are doing well so you can't be here to talk to me about classes."
"No, I'm not," Harry said uncomfortably, "but they are really good, by the way."
"Why thank you, Minerva will be pleased," Tonks laughed, "so, what can I do for you Mr Potter?"
"Well, er, I was wondering if you could get something for me," he started, "um, I can't get out and Hermione's birthday is on Friday and, well, would you mind?"
Harry watched as Tonks seemed to start to cry, stop, then a huge grin crossed her face before that disappeared and she was normal once more.
"No problem Harry," she said softly, "let me know what you want, where I can get it and you'll have it tomorrow."
Harry smiled a smile of relief and left Tonks classroom a lot happier than when he entered. He had told Ron and Hermione he'd meet them for lunch and so made his way to the Great Hall when he spotted Neville - alone. Realising this was the first time all term he has seen Neville without Ginny, he decided to take the opportunity and changed his direction.
"Neville!" he called out, startled when the other boy began to quickly walk away in the opposite direction, "hey, Neville!" Harry jogged over to his friend, easily catching up, making Neville finally stop.
"Oh, hi Harry," he said casually, his face red.
"Is everything okay?" Harry asked, concerned, wondering why Neville seemed so uncomfortable.
"Um, yeah, fine," Neville replied, nervously, "but I…I need to go…"
"Neville, what's wrong?" Harry persisted, stopping Neville from leaving. Neville took a deep breath and finally looked up at Harry.
"I…I really like Ginny," he began hesitantly, "but you two used to date and I…I didn't know if you'd be mad. And she still likes you so it's not like we're dating or anything but you're my friend and…well, you really liked her. Before. And I wasn't sure if you still did because, you know, I'm no match against you and I didn't want to stand on your toes. But if it came down to choosing you over me, well, you'd win hands down and…."
"Neville, stop," Harry grinned as his friend had continued to babble, "I think the idea of you and Ginny is brilliant - you'd be good for her. I did like her, and I guess I still do, but not in a way that would get in the way for you two to date. You don't have to avoid me."
"Really?"
"Really."
"I probably will for a little while more at least though," Neville continued, "she is really, really hurt by you right now. And Hermione. But she's getting better."
"And if anyone can help her, it's you," Harry smiled, "but I wanted to ask you something. Hermione, Ron, Luna and I are going to have extra defence training, above the classes offered to everyone else, and we thought you might want to come along. You know, like the DA. We're going to ask Ginny too."
"Ask me what?"
Harry turned quickly around to see Ginny moving towards him and Neville, looking both defiant and nervous at the same time. A mixture of emotions flowed through Harry but the monster that had made its appearance so many times before, was no longer present.
"Whether you and Neville would like to join us in extra defence training," Harry said easily, surprising himself - and it seemed, Neville and Ginny who both looked at him strangely.
"De…defence training?" Ginny repeated, "why? I mean, why us?"
"Because you're both part of the team," Harry replied, realising that they had formed a kind of team, the six of them, and that there were no other students he'd feel safer around. Ginny looked at Neville, who gave her a supportive smile. They then seemed to have a small conversation without words before Ginny turned back to Harry.
"Can we think about it?" she asked.
"Sure, I guess," Harry replied, nonplussed, "just let either Ron, Hermione or me know and we'll sort it out from there."
"Right," she acknowledged, making to walk away. Realising the conversation had come to a close, Harry began to do the same but stopped as she called out to him.
"Yeah?" he asked as he turned back to look at her, noticing the sheen of tears in her eyes.
"Thanks, thank for including me," she said softly before walking away once more.
"Thanks Harry," Neville grinned, the most happy Harry had seen him for a while, "for everything. I'll talk to you later."
Harry watched as Neville hurried after Ginny, frowning slightly. Was he really okay with Neville and Ginny becoming an item? Not that they were, not yet anyway. But he's basically given Neville his permission. That brought a smile to his face as he made his way once more to the Great Hall - if Ginny ever found out about this conversation, both he and Neville would be walking around with Bat Bogey's for quite some time.
Tonks was true to her word, and a small parcel had been placed on his bed while he was at classes on Thursday (he guessed by Dobby) and it was perfect. Harry woke the following day ready to help his friend celebrate her birthday the best way she could, considering it was a school day. But Hermione had already left with Remus for the Orphanage and her morning classes were the ones that were different from his.
She didn't show for lunch either and as the afternoon began to draw to a close with no sight of her, Harry was beginning to get anxious. Ron didn't seem to share his concern which is why he was alone in the common area when Professor McGonagall entered, looking slightly flustered, late that evening.
Harry had been trying to do his Charms homework but had instead spent a lot of his time looking at the small pile of presents on the coffee table, looking at the fireplace in case she Flooed and watching the door - just in case. Which is why when the professor bustled into the common room, he let out a sigh of disappointment.
"Ah, Mr Potter," the professor panted, "thank Merlin you are still up. Mr Malfoy is once again asking for you. Please, follow me."
Harry hesitated - he wanted to find out what Malfoy had to say but he also didn't want to miss Hermione, she may come back when he was at the hospital wing. But he desperately wanted to speak to Malfoy…
"Mr Potter?" McGonagall questioned from the doorway, "we need to be speedy, Mr Malfoy is still not well." Harry made up his mind and quickly scribbled a note on some parchment which he attached to the noticeboard outside their room, knowing Hermione would check there as soon as she returned. He then followed the very brisk walking professor back to the hospital wing.
Once again Professor Slughorn and Madam Pomfrey were there, standing near the far bed. Slowly Harry approached the bed and although Draco Malfoy had slightly more colour than the last time he saw him, he still looked very worse for wear.
"Potter," Malfoy croaked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Not looking your best Malfoy," Harry replied, trying to hide his shock from his voice.
"Well, the Dark Lord doesn't take failure well," Malfoy sneered, "I'm lucky to be alive…"
"Why are you here?" Harry interrupted with a frown, "what do you want?"
"I'm here because I want to stay alive," Malfoy replied with a smirk, "and why? Well, that's the million galleon question isn't it?"
"One that I think it's in your best interest to answer."
"Maybe," Malfoy continued softly, "but not today, not now. There's more important things to discuss - more urgent - and though it pains me to say it, it concerns your love life."
"What?" Harry exclaimed, a bit taken back, "what's that got to do with anything?"
"Which is exactly what I thought," the Slytherin continued to smirk, "but it seems the Dark Lord was very interested. It soon became known that you were hot and heavy with the Weaslette but the debate began about your relationship with the mudblood - who did Potter love? It seemed the Lordship doesn't really care and is planning to get both Red and the brainbox." Harry heart seemed to stop.
"Ginny and I have broken up…"
"I don't really care," Malfoy snapped wearily, suddenly looking very exhausted, "and neither does the Dark Lord."
"Why are you telling me this?" Harry asked, "what's in it for you? Why should I believe you?"
"Again, I don't really care if you believe me or not," Malfoy answered, even more tiredly.
"That's enough," the school matron bustled, "Mr Malfoy needs to rest - everyone out!"
Harry took one more look at his enemy, his mind whirling. If what Malfoy was saying is true, Hermione is out there and she could be in danger -he had to bring her back to safety. Quickly, he once more made the trek between the hospital wing and the Head's common room, desperate to get to the Floo and go and get Hermione.
"Mr Potter, stop," McGonagall called out, but Harry kept walking, "Harry - stop right now!" Not quite ready to defy the Head of his House quite yet, he stopped and waited for the witch to catch up.
"I need to get to my room Professor," Harry insisted, ready to go again.
"Miss Granger has not returned?" she asked, guessing rightly his need for urgency, obviously concerned.
"No, I haven't seen her all day."
"Remus assured me they would be back by ten," McGonagall continued, thoughtfully. Harry didn't need any more information - Hermione was late, she could be in trouble and he needed to know she was safe. He began walking once more, and his walk soon became a run.
His note to Hermione still hung on the noticeboard so as soon as he entered the common area, he made his way to the fireplace and had a handful of Floo Powder ready to go when McGonagall entered.
"Potter - no!" she exclaimed, and with a flick of her wand, the Floo seemed to escape from his hand leaving it empty.
"I need to get her back Professor," he told her, his voice steely.
"You can not leave this castle," McGonagall replied, sternly, "I've sent for Tonks - she and Charlie will go and retrieve Miss Granger…"
"She needs to be back here," he exclaimed, "it's her birthday!"
"I'm sure she is fine, Mr Potter," she said more gently, "can I trust you not to go after her?"
Harry didn't say anything - he had indeed intended to go after Hermione as soon as he was able but with a weary resignation, he knew he had to stay here and wait. He had to be responsible, a new concept that still felt…wrong.
"Yes Professor," he said with restrain, which she thankfully accepted and left. As soon as he was alone, he began to pace - expecting Hermione to step out of the fire any at any moment. As the moments lengthened, Harry found himself staring out of the window into the inky blackness of the lake at night. Dumbledore's tomb shone eerily amongst the dark, but even thoughts of his old headmaster were absent - all Harry could think about was Hermione. Everyone seemed to think they were a couple, it had started in the forth year and now it had put her in danger, yet they weren't a couple, they'd never been a couple or even discussed being a couple. So why was he spending all his time thinking about her and not Ginny.
Harry sighed. He reasoned it was because Ginny was safe in the castle and Hermione wasn't. He was dreading the conversation with his ex-girlfriend tomorrow when she no doubt ably will be told about Malfoy's warning, though at least it justifies why he broke up with her in the first place. He could hear the argument regarding the lack of need to be separate now because she was in danger any way and he really didn't have a come back for that other than he didn't want to be with Ginny any more.
He wanted to be with Hermione. No, he didn't - his mind shouted back, he and Hermione were only friends!
Again, Harry sighed. He took out a small box from his pocket and absently rotated it around in his hands, wondering to himself whether he should still give his gift to her…
"Harry?" His head snapped up at the sound of her voice and he looked down the stairs to see Hermione standing by the fire, looking up at him worriedly, "what are you still doing up?"
"Er, waiting for you," he replied, stunned, "you're late."
"Well, Tonks and Charlie arrived while I was in the middle of an incarnation," she explained quickly, not moving from her spot in front of the fire, "and it took a while to complete. As soon as I was done, they ushered me back to Grimmauld Place so I could Floo here. What's that in your hand?"
Harry looked down and saw that he was still holding the gift that he had bought her and realising there was no turning back now, made his way down the stairs.
"Your birthday present," he smiled shyly, "I haven't seen you all day to wish you a happy birthday. Happy birthday, Hermione. You have other gifts as well."
He indicated to the small pile on the coffee table which she noted with a smile of her own. Finally moving, she made her way to the couch in front of the table.
"I was so caught up with what I was doing with Remus," she stated, "that I had forgotten it was my birthday."
"What have you been doing all day?" Harry asked, sitting opposite her in the chair, his present still in his hands.
"We've done it Harry," she said excitedly, "we've marked the wards surrounding the Horcrux. It's ready to access to retrieve the Horcrux."
"Really?" Harry questioned, his excitement mixing with fear, "that's great Hermione, brilliant." He thought back to the retrieval of the locket and wondered if he would loose one of his friends the way he lost Professor Dumbledore.
"You don't sound so keen," she frowned, "is everything alright? Why did Tonks and Charlie come to get me?"
"Malfoy woke," Harry replied, glad that for once she didn't pick up the true reason for his unease.
"What!" Hermione exclaimed, her birthday once more forgotten, "did you speak to him? What did he say?"
"Nothing of any use…" Harry lied.
"Which is why I was under guard until I came back here," Hermione said sarcastically, "now, tell me the truth."
"He said that Voldemort was interested in who I was dating," Harry began, uncomfortably, "and was planning to go after those whoever is close to me…"
"But Ginny is safe here in the castle," Hermione deduced quickly, "what has that got to do with me? Oh!" She looked at Harry as she realised why she had been escorted back to Hogwarts, her eyes wide with surprise.
"It seems Voldemort doesn't understand that Ginny and I have broken up or that you and I are just friends…"
"People seemed to get our relationship confused, don't they," she said shyly.
"Yeah, they do," Harry responded, breaking away from her gaze and looking back down at the present in his hands.
"I suppose I should open my birthday presents," she said after a while, reaching for the badly wrapped gift that could only have come from Hagrid. Harry watched silently as she took the rough paper off to expose a small, carved wooden whistle - causing Hermione to gasp with pleasure. She received the customary sweet collection from Ron and birthday card from her parents, their words causing her to smile. Ginny's present was absent this year so it didn't take long before Hermione had finished and looked back up at Harry. With one more nervous rotation of the small box, he handed it to her, his heart in his mouth.
"Er, this is from me," he said unnecessarily, "I…I hope you like it." She took it from him without a word and gently took off the wrapping to expose a small, velvet jewellery box. He saw her hands were shaking as she opened the lid - he held his breath nervously.
"This is beautiful," she whispered, her eyes glassy with tears when she finally looked up at him, "Harry…"
"It's an otter," he explained, "you know, your patronus…"
"Dowrgi…" she breathed as she removed the necklace from its cradle and holding it up. The firelight seemed to make the small, silver creature dance, and Harry began to breathe again. She liked it. He watched as she went to put it on, trying to do the clasp up behind her head and without really thinking, he got up and went behind her.
"Here, let me do it," he stated as he swept her hair aside to give him access to her neck.
But suddenly it wasn't so simple, suddenly the sight of her bare neck and the possibility of touching her made the use of his hands near impossible. Hermione was holding her hair for him and he knew he couldn't stand there holding the two ends of the delicate chain forever - he had to make a move. Taking a deep breath, he began to fiddle with the clasp. After three attempts, he finally managed it, every time he touched her his heart stopped beating for a fraction of a second.
She let her hair fall down to her shoulders once the chain was completed and with nothing else to do, Harry went back to his seat. The little creature sat contently on her breastbone, it shinning brightly in the firelight. Her hand briefly ran over its body, as if making sure it was there, before she stood to look at her reflection in the mirror that hung over the fireplace.
"Harry, thank you so much," she breathed, her voice shaky, "this is…lovely." She then turned from the mirror, bent towards him and kissed him, her lips just inches from his own, before gathering the rest of her presents and making her way hastily to her room.
Harry just sat there and watched, his mind still stuck on the tingling sensation of where her lips had touched his face.
I don't fancy her, he thought wildly, I don't fancy Hermione, she is just a friend!
But as he sat there, he realised he was wrong - very, very wrong indeed.
A/N - what a relief!! I loved writing this last bit, I have so needed to do some fluff! Hope you liked it. Next chapter will be action, not my strong point, so it may take just that little bit longer….