Disclaimer : I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters, only the plot…the rest is all J.K.Rowling's…
A/N: This is a sequel to 'Slytherin versus Gryffindor'… It takes place 5 months after the Big Game (check out 'Slytherin versus Gryffndor' if you're lost)
Here is the first chapter… Enjoy!
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Hermione Granger and her friend, Ginny Weasley, slowly walked towards the Headmaster's office.
'Do you think he has found a cure?' a very red-eyed Ginny asked.
Hermione shook her head in negation. 'I don't know, Ginny. But I sure hope so…' She sighed as she thought of that fateful morning…
Flashback:
Ron, Hermione and Harry were at the Gryffindor table, enjoying a quiet breakfast. Laughing at something Ron said, Hermione reached out for her pumpkin juice, only to find that Harry had snatched it away from her.
'Harry!' she said playfully 'Give me back my juice!'
'Sorry, 'Mione' the latter answered 'Finders keepers'
Hermione scowled at him, but then turned to Ron, asking sweetly 'Ron, be a sweetie and give me your pumpkin juice, will you?'
'Nah' Ron answered, winking at Harry 'Sorry, Mione, but it's mine!'
With a toast to Harry, they both drank their juices, emptying the glasses. Then, Harry's eyes lit when he saw Ginny enter the Hall, and he got up and waved to her.
'Oy, Ginny! Come and join us!' he shouted.
Then, his vision blurred, and he felt unsteady. He saw Ginny's worried expression, then, looking at Hermione, all went black, and he fell on the floor, unconscious.
'Harry!' Ginny yelled as she ran to him, taking his head in her hands. 'Harry, please, speak to me…' she pleaded, tears filling her eyes.
Just then, she heard another scream 'Ron!'
Ron had also fallen unconscious, his head on the table. Hermione stood beside him, shaking his shoulders in an unsuccessful attempt of waking him.
'They've been poisoned' she whispered.
Her horror filled eyes looked in desperation at the teachers' table, only to find Dumbledore's anxiety-filled ones. Without a word, he nodded, and sent for Mme Pomfrey.
End Flashback
It had been a two weeks since the incident, and Hermione's fears had proven true. Harry and Ron had been poisoned. The poison, however, was intended for her and Ron, Harry's best friends.
She and Ginny had stood by their side as much as possible, and the teachers had told them that they could catch up later with their homework.
However, none of them cared.
The only thing they cared was the health of their respective boyfriends.
After the incident, Dumbledore and Hermione had explored every book in the library, but had found no cure.
Now, both of the girls had been asked to come to the Headmaster's office immediately. Finally, the gargoyle came in view, and Ginny whispered 'Chocolate Frogs', as it was the password.
They knocked on the door, and entered. Dumbledore was at his study, looking more tired than ever, but still, a bit refreshened.
Hermioen and Ginny discovered, with surprise, that he was not alone. Two boys were seated in front of his desk. Two very familiar boys.
'Granger? Weasley?' the blonde one turned around and asked. 'What are you doing here?'
'We could ask you the same question, Malfoy' Ginny replied.
Since the game of Truth or Dare, they hadn't been so much of enemies. They kind of ignored each other as much as possible.
'That's none of your business, Weasley' Blaise, Draco's best friend, said.
'Please' Dumbledore's soft voice interrupted them. 'I have news' he said to Hermione and Ginny, who seated themselves on the two other chairs present in front of Dumbledore's desk.
'As you know, Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley have been poisoned by one of Voldemort's followers.' When Blaise and Draco nodded in aknowledgement, he went on 'For the past few weeks, I have researched for a cure, and finally found one.'
Hermione and Ginny stiffened. They had the feeling this was not going to be so easy as it seemed.
'I have found a cure' Dumbledore repeated 'but it is very difficult to obtain. The poison in your friends' he gestured to the girls 'bodies is called deminutio vita. I deduce, by your gasp, Miss Granger, that you have heard about it.'
'Yes, Professor. It's a very rare poison, and it does not kill the victim immediately. For a month, it takes away little bits of vital energy, never restoring them, until there is no more. Then, the victim dies.'
'Yes, that is correct' Dumbledore said. 'If my suppositions are exact, Lord Voldemort wanted to discourage Mr. Potter by forcing him to watch his two best friends die slowly, without being able to do anything.'
'With all due respect, Headmaster' Draco interrupted 'What do we have to do with this?' he said, gesturing to him and Zabini.
'Ah, yes, I was getting to that. You see, the cure to this poison is a little golden-silver plant that you can only find at the deepest of the Forbidden Forest. However, there is one catch. Only an enemy of the victim can get it. So, in order to get to it, you need a loyal friend and an enemy.'
Draco's eyes widened as he realized what the Headmaster was asking of him. 'No, I won't do it! I don't care, but I won't risk my life for Potter's sake!'
'Mr. Malfoy, please' Dumbledore pleaded, but Malfoy was already up and heading towards the door, closely followed by a shocked Blaise.
'Well, I'm afraid that didn't work very well' Dumbledore sighed.
'Is this really the only way, Professor?' Ginny asked him.
'I'm afraid so, Miss Weasley.'
'Then Malfoy better change his mind', Hermione said with a determined look.
After a bit of talk with the Headmaster, she and Ginny went down to the Great Hall, to eat something before heading to the Hospital Wing.
Draco observed her and Ginny whispering. He thought about Potter, and that night at the game. Of the truce they had called. Of his helpful hand. Finally, not vbeing able to take it anymore, he sat up and walked to the Gryffindor table.
Hermione was playing with her food when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She looked to see who it was, but her eyes hardened when they met gray ones.
'What do you want?' she asked Malfoy.
'I'll do it. And Blaise will come too' he said his cold eyes not betraying any emotion.
Hermione's gaze immediately softened, and Draco saw, for the first time, how tired and hopeless she was.
'Y-you will?' she stammered. Then, before he had a chance of answering, she hugged him, whispering to his ear 'Thanks'
Then, without another word, she took Ginny –who had been observing the scene incredulously –by the hand and headed out of the Great Hall.
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As she watched Harry's pale face, Ginny felt tears stream down her cheeks. For the first time ever, she felt grateful to Malfoy. But she didn't care. Not as long as she could save Harry.
Squeezing his hand, she bent down and kissed him softly on the lips.
'I promise I'll come back with a cure, or die trying to get one' she whispered..
'Come on, Ginny' Hermioen said 'we have to leave tonight, and we have a bit of packing to do.'
Ginny nodded and then followed Hermione out of the Hospital Wing, still thinking of Malfoy and Zabini.
Never would she have thought she would depend on them. The Slytherins. Their official enemies.
No, not enemies, she thought. Allies.
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Two hours later, five shapes were at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. The four companions and Dumbledore.
'Now, remember. Be careful on the way, and never despair. Think of your loved ones whenever it happens.'
Hermione and Ginny nodded, then, with one last look at Hogwarts, the four of them entered what will be their greatest adventure yet.
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Well, hope you liked it… As far as I'm looking now, I think this story will have about 15 chapters… Tell me what you think… I hope the plot is good…
Tigerlilystar