Always

8

The next day the trio were waiting in Potions class for Snape to arrive. Ron and Hermione were looking at each other like two lovebirds. Ron cracked a joke and Hermione laughed, but Harry wasn't paying attention. He was madly trying to finish his homework that he forgot to do. He would've asked Hermione, but he didn't want to put anything additional on her. Hermione broke Ron's gaze just as Harry finished and turned to face him.

"Harry," Hermione said, turning around in her chair, "why was Draco in the common room last night?" 

"Oh, um..." Harry looked at his two best friends. They were obviously very happy to be together, and he could not break it to Hermione that Draco wanted her back. "Just trying to psych me out for quidditch I guess," Harry lied.

"That lying little ferret!" Hermione exclaimed, outraged, believing Harry's lie. "You didn't let him get in your head, right?"

"Yeah, of course. Don't worry, Hermione, I'm fine," Harry reassured her. Hermione nodded, and then noticed what he had been doing.

"Harry! You should've told me that you needed help with you potions homework! This is Snape's class after all. He'll have your head!" she exclaimed.

"I'm fine. I've finished. I didn't want to put anything more on you anyways." Hermione rolled her eyes, not understanding what he was getting at.

"I think I can handle one homework assignment without dy...." Hermione trailed off  mid-sentence, understanding what he was talking about. She looked down at her lap. "Harry..." she said softly.

"Listen Hermione," Ron said taking her hand and giving it a squeeze, "Harry and I are worried about you. We're afraid. We don't want to lose you. Your condition- it is serious and it isn't something to be taken lightly-"

"You think I don't know that?!" Hermione interjected. "You don't think I think about it 24/7? You don't think I don't have nightmares almost every night? That I'm always stressed and worried about it? That I know I have to be careful? Don't you think that every single day I wish I was someone - anyone - else?" Hermione looked down. "I know of the dangers would surface if we had just one too many assignments. I know of what I would - will - leave behind. I know I am going to die. You think you are scared? I can't be afraid. If I am, it will only help pull the trigger. I wish I was someone else," she whispered the last part under her breath. 

"Oh, Hermione," Ron whispered sympathetically, hugging her tight. "No one should ever have to go through what you have, and no one should feel the way you do. I'm sorry Hermione," Ron empathized. Harry rubbed Hermione's back. Even though they were in class surrounded by others, no one seemed to really care or notice. Not surprisingly, almost everyone had herd about Hermione and Draco and no one could say they were really surprised. Just at that moment, Snape entered his classroom and dramatically walked up to the front. Draco slipped in just behind him.

"Silence!" he bellowed. "As of recent discussion, Dumbledore has moved the Christmas Eve Ball to January 5th, so more of you can attend," Snape said. "Now, shut it and turn to page 394," he snapped. The room was silent except for the flipping of pages. Hermione  took a deep breath, sat straight up, and flipped to the correct page in her text book.

After class everyone filed out, but Hermione got pulled aside by an unseen person. She was pulled through the crowd and to an empty corridor. She felt dizzy. When her head stopped spinning, she saw an angry Malfoy charging at her. He grabbed her shoulders and slammed her against the wall. Pain ripped through her body. 

"Granger! How could you? You dump me and then you go date the Weasel? What does he have that I don't? I can't seem to figure it out. I'm better looking than him and I have more money," Draco snapped. "I thought you were better than that. I thought you liked me." Draco leaned in to her face. "I can't believe I ever like you, you filthy mudblood," he hissed. Hermione struggled, but he held her in place tightly.

"You.....dumped......me," Hermione gasped. 

"Whatever," Draco said, releasing her. Hermione fell to the floor. He started to storm out, but then Hermione said something that made him stop in his tracks.

"I do love you Draco. With all my heart. I date Ron because I know he not only loves me, but he would never hurt me- physically or emotionally. At least not on purpose. He knows how to love me. You don't. Sure, you have money and looks, but Ron has a personality that doesn't match a black hole. Even if he knows I am wrong he will still support me. I love him, but rest assured I will love you forever. I love you more than I could say, but I just don't think you can love me in the way that I need. Ron can. Goodbye Draco. I honestly hope you can learn to love because in the end, it is you I want," Hermione said, getting up slowly. Draco looked at this girl who he was letting slip away. There was nothing he could do. He turned around and stormed off.

Hermione made her way back to the Gryffindor common room. Ron and Harry were already there. She slowly walked through the door and sat down, wincing in pain. She felt dizzy so she closed her eyes. Ron and Harry ran over to her. "I'm fine," she croaked.

"Oh, Hermione! If you think we are going to believe you for even a second, then for the first time in your life you are dead wrong," Harry whispered. "What happened?"

"Nothing, I'm fine. Just a little tired. My backs just been bothering me a bit. I fell in the corridor a few weeks ago," Hermione insisted, gaining some strength. "If you don't believe me, take a look." Hermione said, turning her back to them. Ron gave Harry a glance and then lifted up her shirt just above her mid back. Harry and Ron gasped in horror. Her entire back was covered in a huge, purple, black, and blue bruise. It was every shade of purple and blue and it was a bit swollen. Hermione winced at their worried gasps. Ron lightly brushed her back with one finger and Hermione had to bite down on her lip hard to hold back her scream. "Really! I am fine!" Hermione said, trying to hide her pain. She stood up and faced them. "See? Totally fine." Then Hermione turned gray and pale and collapsed on the floor, unconscious.