Dream of Dreaming

Chapter 1

Hermione

It is November of my seventh and final year at Hogwarts. It's rather sad, but at the same time, it's exciting. It's also pretty stressful, what with this being our NEWT year and all.

This year, though, I've been made Head Girl, which I am utterly thrilled about. However, it was with great distress that I learned who Head Boy was. To my absolute horror, it turned out to be none other than Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin bully who had tormented me relentlessly each year for being a Muggle-born, a Gryffindor, and friends with Harry Potter. And to think that I would have to live with him!

I've been quite pleased to discover, though, that Malfoy hasn't been nearly as insufferable as I'd imagined he would be. For reasons unknown to me, this year, the Slytherin has changed. He hardly insults my friends or me anymore, or picks on first years, or talks back to the professors. This is in no way saying that he has become a complete angel. He can still be rather rude when he decides to be, though he hasn't called me a 'Mudblood' once this year. For the most part, he just ignores everyone, except for his best friend, Blaise Zabini. I often see the two of them out by the lake together, just talking. Malfoy appears to be going through something this year, and it seems that Zabini has helped take a huge weight off his shoulders. The only times I have seen the blond laugh or even smile have been when he was with Zabini. I have asked him about it a couple times when we have been alone together in the Head common room, but he has yet to give me a straight answer. Harry and even Ron have noticed his change, although of course they believe that it means that he is up to something.

I've actually gotten to know Zabini a bit, since Snape has made us partners in Potions for the entire year. He is actually rather nice and funny, for a Slytherin at least, not to mention that he is amazingly good-looking. We are by no means friends, but we get along pretty well.

As for Voldemort, he has been gaining more support each day, and Harry, Dumbledore, and the Order are not much closer to finding the remaining Horcruxes. It's rather frightening to think that while our enemy is only growing stronger, we are not. In fact, it seems as though we're quite stuck.

Harry, Ron, and I are now sitting in the Great Hall, having breakfast with the rest of the students. I can't help but notice that Malfoy and Zabini are strangely absent. I don't remember seeing the blond in the dorm before the meal, so where are they? I haven't got much time to ponder this, however, as at that moment, owls swoop in, coming to deliver mail. My friends and I each only receive the Daily Prophet, so we open them up and gasp at the headline: "MUGGLE FAMILY MURDERED IN DEATH EATER INITIATION CEREMONY".

"I knew he was up to something!" Harry growls suddenly, turning to glare at the Slytherin table. I frown at his words, not fully grasping their meaning, until he motions for me to continue reading. A moment later, I understand.

The article has accused Draco Malfoy of the murders. It states that late last night, Death Eaters kidnapped and tortured a Muggle family of five, before Malfoy killed them all as his test of loyalty to Voldemort. Then, apparently, the young Slytherin was branded with the Dark Mark.

Below the article, there are two images, one portraying a still photograph of the Muggle family, and the other showing the accused Slytherin and his father. Lucius has one arm slung around his son's neck, gripping the boy's shoulder, a proud smirk on his face. Draco's face is simply emotionless. He doesn't look proud or arrogant, like he usually does, but, then again, he doesn't look guilty either.

I shake my head in disbelief, feeling an incredible stab of betrayal. I believed he had changed for the better. In reality, he hadn't; he'd only become worse. But why do I feel so betrayed? It's not like we're friends or anything.

"Where is he?" Ron bellows, jumping to his feet and searching the Slytherin table for Malfoy, his face as red at his hair. "Where is he? I'll kill the bloody git!"

Predictably, much of the Gryffindor table, in addition to some Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, has reacted in the same way. Students are yelling, cursing, and jumping out of their seats, creating complete chaos in the Great Hall, while the Slytherins just sit there, watching calmly.

"SILENCE!" Dumbledore roars, standing up at the professors' table.

Immediately, all noise in the room dies down, and everyone looks to Dumbledore expectantly.

"My students," the Headmaster begins calmly, looking out at all of us thoughtfully. I get the impression that he is also searching for Malfoy in the process. "I understand why you are upset, but we mustn't jump to conclusions. This article has made quite a serious accusation. Regardless of whether it is true or not, I am sure that Mr. Malfoy is feeling a rather large amount of stress at this moment. I ask of you all to not confront him about this. The professors and I will look into this matter ourselves. Mr. Malfoy deserves a chance to explain. After all, this may simply be a huge mistake. Thank you."

With that, Dumbledore motions to Professor Snape, and the two of them walk quickly out of the room, no doubt going to find Malfoy.

A moment later, I stand up also, having a good idea where Malfoy has gone, and intending to get to him before Dumbledore and Snape do.

"I'm going to the library," I tell my two friends, and, thankfully, they believe it. After all, I suppose, it's not that surprising.

Once outside the Great Hall, I break into a run, sprinting in the direction of the lake. Malfoy and Zabini have been spending a lot of time there alone together, and since they are both missing, I assume that is where they have gone. I rush through the doors of the castle, and stop in my tracks, spotting two figures sitting out by the water, one with unmistakeably white blond hair, the other with tan skin and black hair – Zabini.

I walk swiftly towards the figures, and as I get closer, they turn their heads to look at me, and I freeze, gasping as I realise in horror that Malfoy has tears streaming down his face.

Silence descends over the three of us as I stand about ten feet away from the Slytherins, my confused and angry eyes locked with Malfoy's sad grey ones. I frown as I notice the colour of his eyes. I remember that they used to be a beautiful, deep, swirling silver. That was the only thing I ever liked about him – they were undeniably gorgeous. But now, they are a dull grey, and I wonder what could have happened to make them like that.

After a moment, Zabini turns back to his friend and gives his shoulder a quick, reassuring squeeze, before standing up and walking over to me.