Cruel to Be Kind

Chapter One

Love was never considered a necessity at Malfoy Manor. Lucius Malfoy would march around, barking out orders like an angry rottweiler. There was always an edge to his voice, warning people not to mess with him. Even when he was calm he spat every word at the receiver like they were a disobedient house elf. Draco was taught from a young age that there were only two things a man needed. Satisfaction was the first; and while this often involved women, it never meant love. The second was power, and that was all. With those two things, a man had everything he could want. Lucius Malfoy had those things. A beautiful, obedient trophy-wife who satisfied him and quite clearly displayed his power. Wealth, for sure. His house was one of the grandest in all of Europe.

And then there was Draco.

Lucius had mixed feelings toward Draco. He was obedient, yes, but Lucius was a perceptive man, and he could see that beneath the obedience lay a rebellious streak. Draco did not think his father could see him roll his eyes when he was scolded. But Lucius saw and he did not like it. Perhaps if Lucius had tried a touch of kindness. Perhaps if he had shown Draco love and care, the simmering rebelliousness in him would have been quelled. Instead, Lucius became more and more ferocious and unappealing.

Draco's mother loved her son. She, like Lucius, believed in discipline and not love. It was for his own good, she reminded herself, every time she was forced to speak sharply to him. Every time she watched Lucius hit him across the arm, or strike him hard across the shoulders with his cane.

As Lucius grew harder and crueler Draco found himself withdrawing to his school life more and more. At first it was just staying at Hogwarts for Easter, but then Christmas would come, and Draco would find himself reluctant to go home, despite the fact that none of his friends were planning to stay.

But Draco did go home. His father would be displeased if he didn't. His father wanted everyone to think that his home was desirable. At least to immediate family.

It was the summer bridging the gap between Draco's fifth and sixth years at Hogwarts. Harry Potter had foiled yet another one of the Dark Lord's plans and although Draco didn't consider himself a supporter of Voldemort, he was quite bitter about Harry being thrust into the spotlight once again.

It was a miserable summer for Draco. His family stayed at their holiday manor by the sea, but Draco had been taught that it was not acceptable for him to be 'gazing at the scenery like some half-wit arty farty twit.' Lucius only bought the house to display his wealth and power yet again.

None-the-less Draco liked the sea. The inconsistency of the waves and the currents were a welcome escape from the strict monotony of his life. This year Lucius insisted Draco invite some of his school friends to visit their house. Perhaps he was unconvinced that Draco's friend's parents knew just how wealthy and powerful he was.

Draco spent his whole summer sitting in his house by the beach with Crabbe and Goyle. One can only imagine the intelligent conversations that went on over that period.

Needless to say, Draco whole-heartedly welcomed his return to Hogwarts. Crabbe and Goyle really were disgusting. He only kept them around because they were big and scary, and because he had no other friends.

Despite all this, Draco was an admirable, strong young man. On the outside, he was unaffected by everything. Never once had he let his cocky demeanor falter, and that was exactly the way he wanted it to stay. Every insult was followed quickly with a comeback. Draco made sure that everyone believed that he didn't give a damn about anybody, and didn't give a damn that nobody gave a damn about him.

~**~~**~

The Hogwarts express lay restlessly beside platform nine and three quarters. Draco said goodbye to his mother and quickly boarded the train near the front, where he would be sitting with his fellow prefects. He pushed impatiently through the swarms of students and stepped on the train, only to be bumped right back off by Ron Weasley.

'Oh sorry!' said Ron, not realizing who he had just knocked to the ground. When he did, his apologetic face changed.

'Malfoy,' he snarled, withdrawing the hand he had offered.

'Hello sunshine,' said Draco, pushing some blonde hair out of his face and standing up.

Ron narrowed his eyes and pushed past Draco again, making his way to his mother and older brothers who were waiting to farewell him.

Draco boarded the train and plunked his bag down beside the other Slytherin prefects. He was in the middle of a discussion with Blaise Zambini about O.W.Ls when Harry Potter, the plan-foiler himself, strode in. He was noticeably more tanned than the previous year, but looked immensely grave, like nothing in the world could ever make him happy again. Draco was taken-aback. His arch-nemesis always seemed so cheery in the past. It was slightly disconcerting to see him so...unaffected. Draco wondered fleetingly what was wrong with Harry, but asking would be showing that he cared, which he sooo didn't.

'Morning Potty,' he drawled, 'this is the prefect's carriage. Are you lost? You certainly look horrible.'

Right on cue, Blaise chipped in, 'But what's new?'

Harry just couldn't be bothered. He ignored Malfoy completely and threw his bags down.

'Well, how rude!' said Draco with mock-indignation. 'But seriously Potter, don't tell me our idiotic Headmaster has made you a prefect.'

Harry turned around lifelessly and pointed at his chest where there was pinned a prefect badge.

Ron and Hermione entered the carriage holding hands. Everyone stared. Even Harry's mouth dropped open.

'What...what are...what??'

'Well...we're together now,' said Hermione, blushing furiously.

'Ew just imagine their children...' said Draco, shuddering

Hermione frowned. Ron looked excited at the prospect of recuperation with Hermione.

Harry stared a bit more. Draco, who much preferred Shocked Harry to Unresponsive Harry, grinned broadly.

Sometimes, the things that shock you the most are the ones you expected all along. Everyone knew Hermione and Ron would get together eventually, and yet the entire carriage was silent as everyone gaped at them. Hermione, looking uncomfortable at the sudden attention released Ron's hand and sat down beside Harry. Everyone, including the Slytherins watched Ron to see where he would sit.

'Puh-lease people, have some dignity!' said Draco, 'Blaise, I'm appalled. Can we please be mature here?'

Draco shook his head and folded his arms, trying to look serious. Then he walked over to Ron and put his hand on Ron's shoulder.

'Gook luck mate,' he said. 'You'll probably need it...'

Ron shrugged Draco's hand of his shoulder.

'Sod off Malfoy!'

Draco snickered and sat down again, re-engaging Blaise in their conversation about O.W.Ls.

~**~~**~

'Wow,' said Harry, staring out the window at the scenery as it went whizzing by. 'Finally!'

He smiled at his friends and Ron grinned back. Hermione watched Harry with a frown. She could see right through Harry's weak smile. It barely covered the grimace that had been plastered on his face all summer, and it didn't extend to his eyes, which remained empty of all emotion but grief.

He had loved Sirius so much.

'So, how did you guys do in your O.W.Ls?' asked Hermione, in a desperate attempt to distract Harry, who had returned to gazing sadly out the window.

'Alright,' said Ron. 'Only two 'Os' and they were in Care of Magical Creatures and Defense Against the Dark Arts.'

'Well I got seven 'Os'' said Hermione. 'Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, History of Magic, Transfiguration, Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts.'

'That's quite impressive Granger,' sneered Draco from across the carriage.

Hermione ignored him. 'What about you Harry?'

'I got four. Defense Against the Dark Arts, Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration and would you believe it, Divination.'

Draco sauntered over and joint their conversation.

'Wow, good one Harry!' he said, 'I got seven, like Hermy. Potions, Herbology, Arithmancy, Transfiguration, Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Umbridge was a great teacher, wouldn't you agree? I personally am very sad to see her gone.'

Harry stared out the window, not even noticing Malfoy's provocation. Ron's lip curled up in a snarl.

'I thought I told you to sod off, Malfoy.'

Draco looked from Hermione, who was staring angrily at him, to Ron's snarl.

'Alright, I can tell when I'm not wanted!' he sniffed loudly and walked away.

'What is with him this year?' said Hermione. 'He seems to be particularly determined to annoy us. I mean, more so than usual. He's actually creating opportunities now, rather than just seizing them. And he's so damn happy. It's incredibly patronizing.'

'I hate him,' said Ron.

~**~~**~

Harry left the hall immediately after the Sorting and Welcoming feast had finished. Ron followed, but Hermione stayed behind. She was talking happily to Parvati and Lavender, who suddenly seemed interested in her now. It was obvious why; Hermione had really sorted herself out over the summer. Her normally tangled hair was curly but tamed, falling in loose ringlets down her back. But more than that it was an indescribable new quality. Somehow she'd lost the bookworm, know-it-all air she used to have, and now shone with a new friendly approachability. Plus, now she had a boyfriend.

Draco was watching Crabbe and Goyle chow down plateful after plateful of food with a half-disgusted half-amazed look on his face. Soon, Parvati and Lavender went to bed, and Hermione, who wasn't feeling particularly tired, opened a large book and buried herself in it. When she looked up again she saw Malfoy's pale face mere inches from her own, a big smile lighting up his handsome features.

She squealed with fright and dropped her book.

'Everyone's gone Granger.'

'Thank you, Malfoy, Mr-State-The-Obvious. I'd noticed.'

'Had you though?' He said, picking up her book. 'You seemed quite engrossed in, uh Brilliant Witches of the Twentieth Century'

Hermione snatched the book from his hands, brushing some hair off her face.

Draco cocked his head at her and furrowed his eyebrows slightly, still smiling.

'I'm sorry, you know,' he said.

Hermione narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him, and tucked her book under her arm.

'Why?'

'For calling you a Mudblood in fourth year.'

A startled look flashed across Hermione's face, but her expression quickly returned to suspicious and doubtful.

'What do you want Malfoy?'

'What do I want? I don't know. I've never apologized before, but I just watched Crabbe and Goyle eat their weight in pastry. They're both pure-blood, and yet they're the most disgusting people I ever met. And then there's you...'

He looked her up and down, then smirked and said, 'Actually, on second thought, I take it back. I don't like this whole apologizing thing.'

Hermione smiled and stepped closer to Malfoy.

'Draco...' she said softly, bringing her face to his. 'You are such a wanker.'

She kneed him hard where it hurts the most and he doubled over with pain.

'You stupid Mudblood bitch!' he gasped. Hermione smiled wider and strode out of the hall, leaving Draco moaning in pain.

~**~~**~

Chapter Two

Malfoy lay stiffly on his four-poster bed in the Slytherin sixth year boy's dormitory. He lay unnaturally, on his back with his hands straight on either side of him. His eyes were closed but he wasn't asleep.

Crabbe and Goyle walked in, and Draco moved his hands instinctively to cover his tender bits.

'Malfoy?' grunted Goyle in his deep, troll-like voice.

'What?' Draco replied sharply, not opening his eyes.

'How are your balls?'

If Draco's eyes had been open he would have given Goyle his special piercing-look-of-death.

'They're terrific, thank you Goyle, how are yours?'

Goyle looked dumbly and Crabbe and they backed slowly out of the room.

Damn Granger thought Draco bitterly; I'll teach her to kick Draco Malfoy in the tenders.

~**~~**~

'I'd just like to clarify one more time' said Ron, 'You DID kick Draco Malfoy in the balls?'

'It was more like kneeing, but yes.'

Ron clapped his hands together and hooted. Hermione grinned and shook her head, watching her boyfriend as he danced manically around the Gryffindor common room. She turned to Harry, who was sitting staring thoughtfully into the fire.

'Harry, I...' Hermione trailed off, unsure what to say. She had just felt like she should say something.

'I'm really really glad that you hurt Draco Malfoy's balls, Hermione,' said Harry, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically.

Then his smile disappeared and he turned back to the fire.

~**~~**~

Malfoy walked the halls slowly, wincing every now and then. He scowled as two Gryffindor fourth

years giggled madly as he made his way to Care of Magical Creatures.

Hagrid looked up from the cage of scorpion-like creatures he was showing his class as Draco arrived.

'Malfoy, yer late.'

'No?' said Malfoy sarcastically.

'Hagrid, you'll have to excuse Malfoy,' said Ron. Then he added in a perfectly audible whisper, 'He's had his manhood damaged.'

Even Hagrid joined in the gales of laughter from almost all the Gryffindors.

Draco narrowed his eyes. He did not like to be mocked, but he was not about to let anyone notice that he was bothered by it. He glanced at Hermione, and was surprised to see that she was not laughing, but smiling half-heartedly. He quickly averted his eyes as she looked in his direction.

In all honesty, Hermione was feeling bad about hurting Draco. Of course, she could never admit this to Harry or Ron, who were relishing it like they would be dead tomorrow. Hermione thought a lot about it that day, and decided that she didn't hate Draco Malfoy after all. She didn't like him, but she pitied him. On several occasions, Hermione had met Lucius Malfoy, and to put it nicely, she wasn't particularly fond of him. She tried to imagine what it would be like to live with someone like that, and concluded that she would probably have turned out just like Draco Malfoy. A lonely boy barely masked by his thin, sneering disguise.

It bothered Hermione all day, and that night she could not sleep. The constant nagging guilt meant that, finally, at eleven o'clock, Hermione slipped silently out of bed and into the boy's dormitory. She snuck over to Harry's bed, the light padding of her footsteps masked by Neville's loud snoring. She pushed open the lid of Harry's trunk and rifled through until she found the things she had been looking for. The Marauder's Map and Harry's invisibility cloak.

It wasn't like she was doing anything wrong. Harry had given both her and Ron permission to use these things whenever they wanted, although perhaps this wasn't exactly what he'd had in mind.

Hermione was pretty certain that Harry had meant for her and Ron to use the cloak together.

Hermione crept silently back down to the common room, where she flung the cloak over her herself and whispered 'I solemnly swear I'm up to no good,' pointing her wand at the old parchment.

From beneath her wand tip a detailed map of Hogwarts spread. She quickly found the Slytherin dormitories, and wasn't at all surprised that there was no 'Draco Malfoy' blob there. She scanned the map quickly, and discovered two things. The first was that Draco Malfoy was sitting beside the lake. The second was that Madam Pomfrey was in Dumbledore's office. With Dumbledore.

Hermione shuddered. Bad mental images.

~**~~**~

Draco watched as another pebble broke the glassy surface of the lake with a small 'plip.'

And then another. Only Draco hadn't thrown that one. With amazing speed for someone with an injury such as his, Draco leapt up and spun around, at the same time drawing his wand and pointing it right at...

Granger.

'What are you doing here, mudblood,' he snarled, his wand still pointed at her heart.

Hermione didn't seem to notice his hostility.

'I wanted to talk to you.'

'Which in your books means whack me in the tenders, I suppose?'

'Tenders?' said Hermione, with a small smirk. 'No, actually, that's not what it means.'

'Well that's what you did last time I trie...last time I spoke to you.'

'Yes...that's why I'm here. I don't like you, Malfoy, I want to get that straight, but I'm still sorry.'

Draco slowly lowered his wand and sat back down on the bank, his back to Hermione.

Suddenly he picked up a stone and flung it hard, letting out a short, angry yell, like a tennis player returning a particularly difficult backhand. The pebble soared high over the water, disappearing into the darkness. He bowed his head slightly.

Draco's pale skin and golden hair almost glowed in the moonlight. Hermione's eyebrow's furrowed and she cocked her head to one side, as she often did when she was surprised by something. And this was a big surprise.

Draco; Sneering, vindictive, evil Draco... looked beautiful.

For a brief moment Hermione was infatuated by the sight of him, head bowed, his hair hanging loosely around his face. From where she was standing, she could see most of the back of his head, and the left side of his face. Dark shadows accentuated his cheekbones, and his eyelashes didn't flutter once.

Beautiful.

There was no other word to describe him. It was not the kind of beauty that could be found on the catwalk, where majestic women paraded around in luxurious clothing. It was the beauty of sadness, the beauty of innocence. The kind of beauty which makes you realise how lucky you are to be alive, and changes your life with a mere glimpse of it. It wasn't human, or at least, Hermione had never seen such tragic beauty in a person before.

She forgot that this was the boy that hated her purely because of her parentage. She forgot that it was the sneering, cruel person who ridiculed her boyfriend for not having much money. Her heart yearned to know more, see more of this beauty. She was completely absorbed in it.

She fell in love with it.

'Granger?' said Draco quietly, turning his head ever-so-slightly, although he was still not looking at her.

'Yes?' Hermione breathed, her lips barely parting.

'Fuck the hell off.'

~**~~**~

Chapter Three

That would be it. The end of Hermione's friendship with Ron and Harry. They would forgive her for a lot of things, but never for falling in love with Draco Malfoy. She couldn't tell them. Couldn't tell anyone. She would just act normally and no-one would ever have to know. Fine. Good. Perfect.

Except it turned out that it wasn't fine, wasn't good, and it certainly wasn't perfect.. Every time Hermione saw Draco Malfoy, her stomach flipped. Not only flipped, but performed an entire series of acrobatics before trapeze-ing around her rib cage and landing on her large intestines. Then she turned into a walking puddle of slosh, and even the walking wasn't very accurate.

She saw him in a whole new light. The old Malfoy was completely gone in her mind, so very far gone that he could never come back, and she wouldn't recognize him even if he did.

Hermione found it very difficult not to stare. This new, beautiful Malfoy sometimes caught her off guard, and Ron or someone else would ask, 'What are you staring at?' To which she would reply 'Nothing!' and busy herself with her work or her meal.

Love makes people act differently. When Malfoy was around, Hermione found herself putting up her hand and then realising she didn't know the answer, and hadn't even heard the question, or spilling her dragon blood all down her robes. On one occasion, Malfoy asked her to hand him the powdered asphodel and Hermione knocked her entire potions kit to the floor reaching for it.

She was putty around him.

~**~~**~

Things were going well for Draco. He was getting good marks in all his subjects and had been particularly effective with his comebacks in the last few days. What more could he ask for? But then he got the letter. The letter that would change his whole life.

Draco

The Dark Lord has requested that you return home for Christmas for your initiation ceremony.

Your Father.

Draco had not been looking forward to this day, but knew it would come. Call him crazy, but Draco wasn't too keen on devoting himself to evil when there was a high chance he would get killed or thrown into prison. So it was crunch-time. Draco was feeling quite poetic about the whole occasion. 'To join or not to join, that is the question.'

This was a very important decision. Draco wasn't dumb; he could see the benefits of joining Voldemort, and that's why it was such a hard choice to make. What he didn't need was a distraction.

~**~~**~

'Draco, can I talk to you?' said Hermione, three weeks after falling in love with Draco Malfoy.

Draco regarded her with obvious dislike. 'Must we?'

She had followed him out of the Great Hall and stopped him just as he was making for the Slytherin common room.

'Well, uh, not right now I guess, no,' said Hermione.

What was wrong with that girl? She was acting strangely...idiotically. Silly mudblood. Draco supposed she wanted to reprimand him for being so deliciously evil to Ron.

Hermione looked at her feet and bit her lip hard. Malfoy stared at her.

'Fine,' he said, 'but make it quick.'

'Not here,' said Hermione, looking nervously around at the Slytherins, her teeth digging deeper into her lip. If she bit any harder she would surely start to bleed.

Draco allowed himself to be led outside, where it was just getting dark, out of sheer curiosity. His stomach rumbled. He thought that kidney pie had tasted funny...

Hermione stopped.

'Ok, I'm just going to tell you this.'

Draco shrugged. 'Ok...'

'I love you. And I know it sounds stupid because I'm meant to love Ron and you probably hate me but I can't help it, and I don't know if I should be telling you but I had to know if, if there was maybe even the slightest chance that you might feel the same.'

'Right...well...' said Draco, unsure what else to say.

Hermione sighed. 'I'll take that as a no. Well I guess that's good. Probably for the best, I mean, yea sure,' she said sadly and turned slowly to walk back to the castle.

Draco stood completely still, thinking about what Hermione had said, or babbled rather.

'Wait Granger,' he said.

Hermione turned around and looked at him. 'You can call me Hermione.'

'Hermione. Right. I guess I should say something to that declaration. I don't think it would work between us.'

Hermione bit her lip again, forcing back tears. 'Yea.' Then she bolted, running as fast as she could back to Gryffindor tower and not stopping until she collapsed on her bed.

~**~~**~

Cut him some slack, what was the poor boy supposed to say? He had no feelings towards Hermione, he told himself, except maybe the odd stab of extreme hatred. But he couldn't help feeling sorry for her. She was quite pathetic really. It was fair to say that Hermione lost every ounce of composure she ever had in Draco's presence. How could someone have those sorts of feelings for walking slosh? And even the walking wasn't all that accurate.

Draco had been momentarily distracted by Hermione's confession, but his thoughts quickly returned to his own future. He just couldn't decide. In the end he resorted to plucking the petals of a flower, saying, 'Join the Dark Lord, don't join the Dark Lord, join the Dark Lord, don't join the Dark Lord...'

As it turned out, the flower decided that Draco should not join Voldemort, although Draco had cheated by counting the petals before he started.

That night he sent a succinct letter to his father. Draco liked to be brief and vague, it was annoying.

Dearest Father,

Please pardon my refusal of the Dark Lord's offer to join the ranks of evil.

I completely understand if you feel it necessary to renounce me as your son and destroy all my cherished possessions. Just to remind you, that statue in the entrance hall that you're so fond of is in fact mine and you really would have to get rid of that too, just to be thorough.

All my love to you and Mother,

Draco.

Draco felt the letter did its purpose and would definitely infuriate his father. He hesitated slightly as he reached for the leg of his eagle owl. He knew very well that by sending it, he would be destroying all chances of an inheritance. It seemed that Draco would actually have to earn his fortune now...

He watched his owl soar into the distance, wondering what response it would bring.

~**~~**~

Chapter Four

Hermione was devastated. In one moment she had fallen in love with Draco. In three weeks she'd thought about him endlessly. Then in one moment Draco had smashed it all to pieces. She kept playing his words over in her head...

I don't think it would work between us.

And of course, Hermione thought, he was right. There was so much wrong with the idea. What would Ron and Harry say? What would the Slytherins think of Draco? Dating a muggle-born? It was unthinkable. Hermione understood that, but it didn't stop the pain, sitting deep in her chest like a heavy lead boulder.

She hid it well, smiling and going about her normal routine. Not even Harry or Ron noticed, although Harry seemed to have other things on his mind, and Ron was about as observant as a doorknob. Hermione kept up the act for six whole weeks, and in that time, grew accustomed to functioning around Draco. She didn't act any different when he was around than when he wasn't.

But she couldn't stop herself watching him. When Hermione entered a room, Draco was the first person she searched for. Her eyes automatically picked his platinum head out of the crowd and stared at him until either he, or she herself, left.

Ron may have been as observant as a doorknob but even doorknobs notice when their girlfriends' are constantly staring at the enemy.

'Hermione, what are you looking at?' Ron demanded as they sat in the Great Hall on the evening of the last day of term. It was getting to be a familiar question.

'Nothing,' said Hermione, looking down at her food.

This time, however, Ron refused to accept this answer.

'No, it wasn't nothing,' he said angrily. 'It was Malfoy. You expect me not to notice you staring at the Slytherin table every meal time? Was I just supposed to ignore the fact that you, every time, without a doubt, put the wrong ingredients in your potions because you're too busy watching Malfoy to read the god-damn bottles? I CAN'T JUST IGNORE IT, HERMIONE! You have some sort of...sick fascination with the bastard. Why, I have no idea. Hermione, he's repulsive! He's a slimeball! He's foul!'

'Shut UP, Ron!' yelled Hermione, tears burning in her eyes. She couldn't stop herself. 'Don't say that about him.'

'So what,' said Ron sarcastically. 'You love him, I suppose? Wouldn't that be ironic.'

Hermione said nothing, and looked down at her plate, the tears now rolling down her cheeks in a continuous flow.

'Oh,' said Ron, 'Oh, fan-fucking-tastic! My girlfriend loves Malfoy! I thought you had standards! I thought you were my friend. But obviously,' he spat, 'obviously you're not. A real friend wouldn't fall in love with someone who calls their 'friends' names, who does cruel things and thinks its funny, who-'

'Ron, please stop,' said Hermione faintly, standing up. Without looking at him, she ran quickly from the hall.

~**~~**~

Hermione didn't know where to go. The common room meant facing Harry with tears streaming down her face, and she didn't feel quite up to it. She could go to the library, but the stuffy heat in there was anything but comforting. Instead Hermione headed quickly to the spot by the lake where she had seen Draco as if for the fist time. It seemed like an eternity ago. She couldn't even remember the time when she didn't love him. She couldn't remember ever having hated him. She sat by the lake, weeping silently, staring through blurred-vision at the mass of water as the first night stars began to shine.

'Hey, Granger, that's my spot,' said a voice behind her.

Hermione spun around.

Draco.

Just the person she didn't want to see, and yet at the same time, always wanted to see. When Draco noticed her tears her looked slightly uncomfortable.

'Not crying over me, I hope?' he said jokingly. He had presumed that by now, she was over her silly little crush. She had been a lot more composed around him since he'd told her he wasn't interested, although he had caught her staring at him once or twice.

'Well, not directly,' said Hermione quietly.

'But indirectly?' asked Draco, a bit shocked.

'I broke up with Ron,' Hermione explained. 'He-he hates me because I...' she trailed off.

'Slept with Seamus Finnegan?' suggested Draco.

'..Love you,' Hermione whispered.

Draco paused, staring at Hermione as she looked at him with big brown eyes. Her cheeks shone with tears and she didn't seem to notice gentle wind blowing strands of hair across her face.

'No you don't,' said Draco, suddenly very serious. 'And if you do, you shouldn't. There isn't a chance in hell I'd ever be seen with you. After all,' he added, 'you're a mudblood. If you run to Weasley now he might just take you back, but if you don't, I'm prepared to bet you'll lose his, and Potty's friendship forever.'

Hermione looked shell-shocked. She said nothing and just stared at Draco with tear-filled eyes and her mouth slightly open. Draco turned on his heel and walked away, not looking back.

~**~~**~

He had done the right thing, he told himself. Here was everything he had ever wanted, sitting right in front of him, and practically begging him to take it. Here was love, respect, friendship, kindness and loyalty; everything Draco longed for, and everything he'd been deprived of his whole life. What he had done had been the most, and possibly the only, selfless thing Draco had ever done. He had wanted more than anything to move close to her, wipe the tears from her face and promise her that it would be ok.

But it was a promise he could never make her. Being with him would have ruined her life. She would have lost all her friends; none of the Gryffindors would forgive her for that, not after everything Draco had done to them. And Draco wasn't sure he was even capable of loving someone, after how he'd been brought up. He wasn't sure love could exist for him.

He had done it for her. Like he had told her, she still had a chance with Ron. She still had a chance at a life filled with love.

Sometimes, Draco thought, you have to be cruel to be kind.