.:Refusing Truth:. A DM-HG fanfiction

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REFUSING TRUTH

: Felnezia Elaine Lloyd

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Summary: Hermione thought that she could not but hate Draco Malfoy after he ruthlessly left Ginny. But what happens when a strange twist of fate brings them together? And does Draco still harbour feelings for Ginny? And where exactly do Nott, Zabini, Boot, Krum and of course, Ron and Harry come in?

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CHAPTER ONE

THE BREAK-UP

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"Hermione! Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Of course, Ginny – and for a second and more."

As Hermione smiled at her, a faint answering smile flitted across Ginny's nervous face. Ginny fingered the border of her school robes and seemed to be considering what to say.

"Is it a person you want to talk about?" asked Hermione, wondering if that'd help Ginny to begin. Hermione felt a bit impatient because she had to finish these four long essays. But it'd be monstrous of her to not to listen to Ginny when it clearly seemed that she needed to talk to somebody.

"Draco... Malfoy," said Ginny, blushing furiously.

Hermione looked up sharply as she heard the name of one of the persons she hated most – Draco Malfoy. What had Ginny got to do with him? And why had she addressed him as 'Draco' initially?

Ginny seemed to flinch slightly under Hermione's piercing look.

"What about Malfoy?" asked Hermione, "He hasn't been up to something nasty, has he?"

"No, no," said Ginny hastily, "it is..." Ginny really seemed at a pitiable loss of words.

Hermione thought... But no! She was being crazy! How could...? Malfoy... Ginny? No, it was crazy! But the little contradictory voice in her head wasn't to be quietened so easily. "Why not?" Well, if she wanted to know than she ought to ask.

"Is there...?"

"Hey Hermione!" With an exasperated sigh, Hermione turned to see that Ron and Harry had just returned from their Quidditch practice.

"Good news for you, Ginny," said Ron, "Creevey has been quite injured and we need a Chaser. You'll have to play instead of him. If you play well tomorrow, you'll get to be on the team. You'll be able to play against the Slytherins – we are playing against them in the first match."

Harry and Ron thought that Ginny didn't look quite so pleased at hearing this news. Hermione knew for sure that she wasn't pleased at all. She had a shrewd suspicion that it was because Ginny didn't want to play against Slytherin – against Malfoy.

"I – I don't think I'll be able to play, Ron... I am not that good a Chaser," said Ginny, staring hard at the floor.

"I think you are quite an excellent Chaser, Ginny," said Harry bracingly.

"Yeah, you are," said Hermione, as Ron looked at her with a you-aren't- being-encouraging-enough expression on his face, which was curious because it was Hermione who usually wore that look.

"Oh, come on, Ginny! You know you have always wanted to be a Chaser! You kept saying so all summer!" said Ron impatiently.

Ginny went very white. Hermione saw that she was twirling her fingers as she usually did when she was uneasy. "I – I'll see you guys later," stammered Ginny and rushed away before anybody could stop her.

"What was that about?" demanded Ron, looking at Hermione with an unusually sharp glance. For someone with "the emotional capacity of a teaspoon", he was growing pretty perceptive of other's emotions.

"I don't know what you mean, Ron," said Hermione as she turned back to her Potions essay.

"I think you know very well what I mean, Hermione," retorted Ron. "Ginny always tells you everything – well, not quite everything, but more than what she'd ever tell us. She's ditched Dean and..."

"Listen, Ron," said Hermione, "It is her business – and if she does tell me things which she doesn't tell you... Well, it's obvious, isn't it?"

"What's so obvious?"

"If you don't know, I am not explaining!" snapped Hermione tetchily and picking up her books, she too headed towards the girls' dormitory. As she made her way upstairs, she was determined to talk to Ginny about whatever it was. '

"They've all gone bonkers, mate."

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An uneasy, long silence followed as Ginny finally confessed, "I think I like Draco... very much."

Hermione stared with unseeing eyes at the stone wall opposite her. Only one thing was repeating itself monotonously in her brain. "Is Ginny out of her mind?"

It was Ginny who broke the silence. "I am not in the wrong, am I, Hermione? What do you think?"

Ginny had been very dubious about liking Malfoy. She had faith in Hermione. Therefore, she had finally decided to consult her.

Hermione was startled at being questioned so suddenly. "Wrong? No, if Malfoy really likes you..."

"Yes, he does!" said Ginny fervently.

"So... I guess, well, if you... It's all right, I guess."

A relieved smile lit up Ginny's face. "I just wanted to be sure – you know, it's Draco – a Malfoy after all!" laughed Ginny, really light-hearted at Hermione's approval. "I don't know why Ron has to be such a nut! I don't know what he'd do if he found out."

"Well, he won't find out from me."

"I know that. Anyway, Percy's reformed. Isn't that good? He sent me these dress robes on my birthday."

Ginny's dress robes were of a shiny powder blue, tinged with emerald green. They seemed to be of a light, soft material and gave the impression of being liquid in dim light. They were edged with beautiful silver laces.

"Don't you think they are wonderful?" asked Ginny, her eyes reflecting the soft blue of her dress as she gazed at them lovingly.

"They are brilliant, Ginny," said Hermione, genuine admiration brightening her eyes.

Their talk soon drifted to other matters, and Hermione determinedly turned it away as far from Malfoy as possible.

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"Ron, no!" exclaimed Harry and Hermione together, as Ron lunged forward to get at Malfoy because Malfoy had something really nasty about Mr. Weasley.

Malfoy smirked as Harry and Seamus grabbed Ron's arms. "Good, Potter, at least you have the brains not to have riff-raff like him get into trouble by attacking me. You won't want to have Weasley not playing even the first match, eh, Potter? Not that it would make any difference. Ever since fifth year, he's been a complete loser. But I guess it is just a Weasley trait."

"Shut up, Malfoy! Don't you have anything better to do with your time than to waste it?" snapped Hermione.

Malfoy turned a lazy, scowling glance on her. "Didn't know you cared about my time, Mudblood. But I daresay that it is much better to care about it than about the scum you stay with."

"You are the worst person ever, Malfoy. No wonders, of course, considering what your father is," yelled Ron.

Malfoy's face turned very pale with fury. But before he could retort, Professor Snape's cold voice filled the dungeon.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor for bad language, Weasley."

"That's unfair! It was Malfoy who started all of it. He insulted Ron's dad and he used swearwords, too!" said Harry, angrily.

"You do not tell me what I ought and ought not to do, Potter. Another twenty points from Gryffindor for your cheek." Harry opened his mouth to protest, but Hermione nudged him hard. "Please, Harry, don't push it!" she whispered pleadingly.

"That's right, Mudblood. You've got to stick up for your little boyfriend," said Malfoy as he passed them to go to his seat at the other end of the room.

"He's not my boyfriend!" said Hermione irately.

"Miss Granger, once before too, you were informed not to discuss your love- life, however fascinating it might seem to you, in my class. There's another twenty points you have lost Gryffindor."

Hermione glanced angrily at the cool visage of Snape and then at Malfoy, who sneered triumphantly.

"I hate him. I really hate that Malfoy," muttered Hermione as she neatly sliced up the beetroot in spite of her anger.

"Cheer up, Hermione," said Harry, "we all do. Just wait for the Quidditch match tomorrow – we'll flatten them!" Hermione sighed and wondered yet again how Ginny could like such a nasty Slytherin.

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And Harry was true to his word. Gryffindor indeed flattened Slytherin in the match. As Harry caught the Snitch, Hermione noticed that Ginny slipped away and rushed towards the castle.

But Ginny wasn't anywhere in the Gryffindor Tower. Hermione wondered if she ought to tell Harry and Ron about Ginny. But finally deciding that it would be very awkward for Ginny if this was to do something with Malfoy, Hermione joined the celebrations with an unwilling heart.

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Finally, even the most enthusiastic Gryffindor had retired to bed.

But Hermione hadn't seen Ginny anywhere. What if something had happened to her? What if Malfoy had jinxed her or something?

Hermione got up and went downstairs to the Common Room. She paused irresolutely at the foot of the stairs. Then, heaving a deep sigh, she decided that she'd go to find Ginny, even if she got into trouble for it. And if Malfoy had done anything to her, then he'd better watch out because she won't spare him!

It didn't take long for Hermione to find Ginny. She had been sitting in an empty classroom, sobbing.

"Ginny!"

When Ginny looked up, Hermione was horrified to see her tear-streaked face and red eyes.

"Ginny..."

"Hermione, please leave me alone!" said Ginny hoarsely, turning away.

"But what..."

"Please! I want to be alone."

But Hermione wasn't to be put off so easily. She closed the door and went up to her friend. "Ginny, what did Malfoy do?" she asked in a sharp voice.

"Draco? He..." A sudden pained look came in Ginny's brown eyes. "Hermione, I want to be alone!" she repeated miserably.

"Do you think I would leave you now? When you so need a friend?" asked Hermione, sitting down next to her.

Ginny wiped her face with her sleeve and looked at her. "Draco... Hermione, I don't think he likes me." Ginny's lips quivered, but she didn't cry.

Hermione wasn't shocked – she had almost expected this.

Hermione was about to say something, when she heard footsteps coming down the corridor. She felt Ginny clutch her arm and whisper softly, "Draco." And indeed, when the door of the classroom opened a few moments later, it was Draco Malfoy who stood on its threshold.

"Ginny..." He stopped abruptly as his grey eyes met Hermione's brown ones. He looked from Hermione to Ginny, and his eyes darkened with anger.

Beside her, Hermione felt Ginny go cold and lean back for support. "Draco, I..."

"YOU TOLD HER, YOU –" Malfoy prevented himself from using coarse language. He continued in a quieter, but more dangerous voice, "I thought we could make up, Ginny. But I thought wrong – you didn't keep your promise of not telling about us to anyone. And now I have changed my mind about you. Goodnight, Miss Weasley." He said the last words acrimoniously and giving her one last dark look, stormed out of the room.

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Woohoo, nice beginning! 👏 Do update soon!

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CHAPTER TWO

THE TEMPORARY HEADBOY

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Hermione ran a practised eye down the shelf, searching for the book she wanted for reference for her Ancient Runes essay. Harry and Ron were out for their Quidditch practice. Professor Esther, the new Ancient Runes teacher, had given them a huge amount of homework the previous day. So Hermione, who honestly had no interest in Quidditch, had an excuse for not watching their practice.

As she finally found the book she wanted, and reached out to take it, a swifter hand brushed past her and took it instead. She turned angrily to find a smirking Malfoy standing behind her.

"Bad luck, Granger. It so happens that I need this book for – a month, shall I say?"

"Give it back! I need it for my homework!" Hermione said, flaring up.

Malfoy turned and made to go, when Hermione grabbed his arm in an attempt to retrieve the book.

Malfoy violently shrugged off her hand and with a swift movement, pulled out his wand and pointed it to her neck. "How dare you touch me, Mudblood?"

"It was done extremely unwillingly - give the book back to me, Malfoy," said Hermione, without flinching, but stealthily reaching for her wand.

"Filth like you aren't even supposed to be alive, Mudblood. You just wait! Before you know, you'll be reduced to what you deserve! And so will be your little boyfriends!"

"Think for yourself first, Malfoy!" said Hermione, pulling out her wand.

Malfoy, seeing that, was about to curse her...

"Mr. Malfoy! Miss Granger! Ten points from Gryffindor and Slytherin each!" Hermione and Malfoy turned to find Professor McGonagall staring at them with her typical dangerous look in her eyes.

"But, Professor...," began Hermione, but Professor McGonagall cut her off.

"You have no business shouting about in library and trying to hex each other. Now be off, both of you."

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"And I didn't get my book! On top of it I lost points for Gryffindor! And earlier Snape had taken off points for nothing! To think that I lost thirty points for Gryffindor in a single day! Me, the Head Girl!" Hermione groaned despairingly.

Ron said, "Oh come on, Hermione! You don't need to be so put out. Today's Quidditch practice was superb. Dean..."

But Hermione cut him off. "I am going to my dormitory, Ron – Harry, goodnight."

Ron looked very much affronted at being interrupted like this, especially when he was about to explain the really wonderful save he made.

But Hermione was in no mood. She could have done much better with a few consoling words, but with the first Quidditch match of the season in a week, Ron and Harry, along with Seamus and Dean, spent most of their time discussing Quidditch. Hermione could understand their excitement, but it seemed rather tiring to have nothing but Quidditch to listen to all day long.

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She sat cross-legged on her bed and pulled her Ancient Runes essay towards her. She frowned slightly as she remembered how Malfoy had taken the reference book from right under her nose. She had to submit this essay the day after tomorrow and though she would have been able to do without that book, she really wanted that her essay should be the best. She buried her face in her hands.

Malfoy had been more than ever spiteful towards her this year for she had become the Head Girl and Malfoy obviously hated the fact. He had been trying determinedly to make as much trouble for her as possible. He had, on a few occasions, literally followed her up and attacked at the right time and right place. Though Hermione was always innocent, it was just her and Malfoy who knew that, not the teachers.

She was really fed up of Malfoy. An hour ago in the library, she had felt the urge to seriously jinx Malfoy.

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"Hermione?" Ginny's voice broke upon her thoughts.

"Hi, Ginny!"

"Hermione, Professor Dumbledore has sent for you."

"Professor Dumbledore?"

"Yeah."

Sighing, Hermione got up to go.

"Any idea why?" she asked. "I don't know. But I saw Malfoy with him."

Hermione felt anger rise up in her – what had Malfoy done now? But she was also glad to see that Ginny pronounced Malfoy's name unflinchingly.

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She went slowly towards Professor Dumbledore's office, trying to think over what all could possibly go wrong. What could Malfoy have found out or invented, more likely, to get her into trouble with the Headmaster himself!

She found Professor McGonagall waiting for her outside the office. "Ah, there you are, Miss Granger. Shall we go down to Professor Dumbledore's office?"

Professor McGonagall gave the password, and a few moments later, Hermione found herself heading towards Professor Dumbledore's office.

Hermione saw, as she had anticipated, that it wasn't just Professor Dumbledore who was there – standing near him was Draco Malfoy. There was a nauseating superior sort of smirk on his face and he sneered as he saw her.

"Miss Granger," began Professor Dumbledore, "I thought it would be best for you to know this right now. Mr. Terry Boot, the Head Boy, has to leave Hogwarts until January for – for certain reasons. Therefore, we have decided to appoint Mr. Malfoy as the new Head Boy till then."

Hermione stared at Professor Dumbledore, dumbfounded. While she rather enjoyed working with Terry, she knew that it would be next to impossible for her to even try to be peaceful with Malfoy.

"But, Professor..." she stammered, not really knowing what to say.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" asked Professor Dumbledore, looking at her as if he did know what the matter was.

But when she didn't reply he continued pointedly, "I am sure that I can trust on you two to work diligently on inter-house unity."

He turned to Malfoy who nodded and said, "Yes, of course, Professor."

But Hermione noticed the evil glint in his grey eyes. She felt as if something heavy had just been poured down her throat. She couldn't move or speak, but only nodded her head feebly.

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"So, you've got to work with me, Granger. You are very thankful for this opportunity to work with me – a Malfoy, I daresay? Ah, but I lack your good fortune, I have to work with a Mudblood – and not just any Mudblood, but the know-it-all Gryffindor. Pathetic!"

"Shut up, Malfoy!" said Hermione faintly. She still didn't want to believe that Draco Malfoy was the temporary Head Boy.

"Telling me to shut up will not change the facts, Granger."

"Unluckily!"

Draco stopped in front of the library. "How's the essay going?" he sneered and went into the library, but only after taking out the same book from his bag and waving it mockingly at her.

Hermione raced up to the Gryffindor Tower. She didn't want to let Malfoy have the satisfaction of knowing that he had irritated her to the point of tears. But seeing her dash off like that, Malfoy knew only too well that she had finally broken down.

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"Mudblood!"

Hermione looked at Malfoy coolly.

"What?"

"McGonagall's called us right now."

"You want me to believe that? It so happens that I don't believe you, Malfoy."

"Are you calling me a liar?" thundered Malfoy.

"I wanted to refrain from using that word – but since you say it; well, I do call you a liar, Malfoy."

Malfoy glared at her. Harry and Ron took a threatening step forward. Malfoy raised his eyebrows and retreated back. "It's you who'll be in trouble, Mudblood," he hissed angrily and went away.

"You know, Hermione, it won't be a bad idea to confirm if McGonagall wants you or not," said Ron as they headed towards the Defence Against Dark Arts class.

"Yes, and Malfoy did turn down the corridor leading to McGonagall's office," said Harry.

"I guess it'll be no harm if I do," she said eventually.

"Yeah, and I'll tell Percy that McGonagall sent for you." Percy Weasley was the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and surprisingly, he had lasted for one year already. Ron often muttered that if Percy was in a job, he'd be stuck there like a pig. But they all had to admit that Percy was pretty good at the job and his classes were interesting in spite of his strict rules.

Hermione turned back and hurried down to Professor McGonagall's office.

When she entered it, she saw that Malfoy was already there along with Theodore Nott and Professor McGonagall regarded her with an angry look. Hermione apologized and McGonagall beckoned her to sit down next to Draco.

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Reviews would be cool at this point. ^_^

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GREAT!

CONGRATS ON SUCH A GOOD MASTERPIECE Felnezia!!!