In the Snake Hole
Chapter 1
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Hermione edged stealthily through a row of hedges surrounding the dark and silent manor, which was not fated to remain silent for much longer. Hermione strained her eyes to see the top of the tallest tower of the manor. After about twenty minutes of waiting, she finally saw the small white flash.
That's the signal. Harry must've broken in. Hermione raised her wand and sent out a pinpoint of blue light of her own. On cue, Ron, George, and Neville crept quietly toward the manor from their various hiding spots.
After wading through what felt like an ocean of thorny rosebushes, Hermione finally reached the stone wall of the east wing of the manor. Her enchanted gloves and boots allowed her to easily climb the wall until she was hanging comfortably from a second story window ledge.
Securing her grip with her left hand, she dug out five galleons, each inscribed with a name. Harry's had already turned white, as had Neville's and George's. Hermione touched her own coin with the tip of her wand. It too became white to show that she was in position. She could almost feel three of her four teammates holding their breaths along with her as they all waited for Ron to give the OK.
Suddenly, Ron's coin lit red. He was in trouble. Hermione took a couple breaths and tried to remain calm. We planned for this. We practiced this. If one of us is caught, the other four continue the operation then try to secure the lost teammate. Their mission was too important to fail because of one capture. Hermione tried to be brave.
The Ministry had been hesitant to entrust such an assignment of such a vital nature to four 17 year-olds and an 18 year-old who had never fully completed his education. But no one could deny, these five were the right pick for the job. They shared a loathing, a want for vengeance, and a responsibility to protect the wizarding world. Tonight they would avenge their lost and settle the score. Tonight, according to plan, they would take out a handful of Voldemort's closest Deatheaters and one Draco Malfoy.
Be brave, be strong, Hermione coached herself. Then she vaulted over the ledge, knowing she had already wasted precious moments with mental preparation. The window was conveniently already open, so Hermione landed right on the plush carpeting of the fancy room.
"What the hell!" A very surprised Draco Malfoy let out a couple of expletives and stood up, knocking over the chair he'd been sitting in. He whipped out his wand and sealed the door to his bedroom where Hermione had cornered him. He was holding a strange glowing small purple orb. He clutched it protectively to his chest then closed his eyes in concentration. He's trying to disapparate, thought Hermione amusedly. Draco opened his eyes and found that he was evidently still in his first location. Harry had tied all the loose strings of the net they had been slowly weaving around Malfoy and his friends. No one would be able to apparate or disapparate thanks to the wards placed around the manner.
In the distance, Hermione heard the crashes and screams her friends were causing as they took out their designated targets and all moved towards the main location: Draco's room. "What are you doing here Granger?" said Malfoy, backing towards the far wall, still cradling the purple orb.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "What do you think I'm doing idiot? I'm doing what I should've done a long time ago. I'm taking you and all the Deatheaters down." Hermione closed and locked the window with a sweep of her wand.
Malfoy pulled out his own wand and pointed it at her. "Leave now Granger," he said, warningly. Hermione frowned. Why hadn't he hexed her already? He seemed hesitant. Hermione heard the thumps and sounds getting closer.
"Expelliamus!" Hermione knocked Draco to the floor and caught his wand. She took a millisecond to admire the nice craftsmanship. Very smooth and polished. "Draco… Malfoy…" said Hermione, most uncharacteristically being cruel. But it was high time Malfoy got his just reward, and Ginny and Fred and all the other innocent deaths be avenged. "Your wretched, sneaky, miserable life ends tonight. How does it feel? You're going to be killed by a Mudblood. The lowest of the low."
Malfoy seemed nervous. Who wouldn't be in his situation? But he still managed to meet her eyes. His light blue eyes begged for mercy, for redemption. "Granger… Hermione, this is a mistake. Don't do this."
Hermione heard Harry's voice yell a stunning curse from just behind the door.
Hermione laughed. "You're pathetic." Hermione conjured ropes that bound Malfoy's hands and feet. He rolled pitifully so that he could shelter his mysterious violet ball.
"What is this anyways?" asked Hermione, bending down and picking up the purple sphere.
"Don't touch that!" Malfoy yelled.
The door rattled, then gave way to reveal Neville and Harry, closely followed by George who was holding an unconscious Ron. Harry pulled out his wand and pointed it at the bound Malfoy. "Potter. This is a mistake," begged Malfoy, but he had already given up. Hermione could tell.
Hermione had been planning to kill Draco herself, but Harry deviated from the plan.
"Ava-" Harry started, a green light already forming at the tip of his wand.
"REVEALUS!" Draco screamed before Harry could finish.
The purple orb that Hermione was holding suddenly became searing hot. Its purple glow intensified until it nearly blinded her. Her body felt all tingly she could no longer feel the ground beneath her feet.
Hermione felt sort of like she was traveling by floo, only hundreds of times faster. Her head was spinning. Then suddenly she was dumped unceremoniously back onto the plush green carpet of what was unmistakably Draco's bedroom. There was only one difference between the room now and the room she had left. The room she had been dumped into was completely empty except for her.
She glanced at her arms. Her entire body seemed to be radiating the same purple glow as the orb she had previously been holding. Hermione suddenly had a horrible thought as she gazed at the empty room. What if the incantation Draco had yelled just before she was whisked away had activated some sort of magical bomb concealed in the purple misty ball.
What if he killed everyone, all my friends and himself, and I alone survived because I was holding the orb. Hermione started shaking. No. No, I've already lost my father, Ginny, Sirius, and Fred. Not Harry! Not Ron! Just as Hermione was going to start crying, the doorknob turned. Hermione found her wand and braced herself. It was probably a surviving Deatheater.
Hermione almost fainted when who should walk in but Draco Malfoy himself. Except… No, that's definitely him. He just looks so much younger. The Draco who had just entered the room looked no older than ten. Malfoy did not so much as look at Hermione. It was almost as if he didn't see her. Hermione started as she saw that Draco was carrying the purple orb that had brought her to this strange time, or place, or whatever.
"Malfoy?" Hermione called. "Is that you?"
The young Draco ignored her and flopped down on his large bed, slipping his mysterious ball beneath his pillow.
"Draco Malfoy!" yelled Hermione, angry about being ignored. He still didn't respond. Hermione walked over to the bed, intending to give Draco a slap or two to get his attention. Hermione raised her hand to hit him, then brought it down… And straight through his head. Hermione gasped and pulled her hand back out of her arch-nemesis's cranium. She examined the still present purple glow. Then she attempted to smack the bedpost. Her hand waved through it.
Am I… Am I a ghost? Hermione gazed first at her spectral-like figure then at the young Draco. What's going on? Could I be in a memory? Hermione still hadn't stumbled upon the correct answer, but that was as close as she got.
Hermione's attention was drawn to the young Malfoy as he began talking to himself. "Talk about a lousy birthday," he muttered bitterly. Hermione rolled her eyes. Now she got to hear the inner musings of her enemy. He probably didn't get a pony for his birthday, the spoiled git. Hermione gasped as Malfoy pulled up the sleeve of his robe to examine his upper arm. There was a huge burn mark stretching from his elbow all the way up to his shoulder.
"You're the only good thing, orb. Still, I suppose I shouldn't complain. At least I made it another year without being branded with the dark mark. I really thought Father was going to do it this year…" Draco rolled over onto his back and gazed at the ceiling. Someone rapped sharply on the door.
"Draco! Open," commanded the unmistakable voice of Lucius Malfoy. Hermione saw Draco tense with fear. Her obeyed however, and lifted the latch to admit his father, seven years younger than the Lucius Hermione knew. "Draco, why are you being so difficult."
"I don't want to be a Deatheater, father," said Draco defiantly but still rather timidly.
Lucius growled in frustration. "Draco, you do not understand. It is an honor. You must join now to prove our family's loyalty to the Dark Lord. Things are happening. People think the Dark Lord has been vanquished, but that is not true. He will return soon, stronger than ever, in need of loyal followers."
"I don't want to be a Deatheater," Draco repeated.
"We will discuss this more later," Lucius said, striding towards the door. He was about to leave when Hermione saw him turn back. "Crucio!"
"Aaaargh!" Draco's shrill scream pierced the air. After about twenty seconds, Lucius seemed to deem the agony sufficient, and left Draco gasping ragged breaths. Draco rested for a few minutes more before he retrieved the purple orb from beneath his pillow. "So concludes my less than cheerful first entry. I'll write… er, say, or whatever, more soon."
Draco slid the purple ball beneath his bed. So am I inside Draco's diary? That snake. Now I'm forced to go through his childhood memories. In his house, no less. They'll probably be some at Hogwarts too. Now I'm seeing through the eyes of the snake. I'm trapped in the snake's hole.
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Author's Note- So…. How's Chapter 1? Love it? Hate it? Want more? Review and let me know if I should bother writing more.
