Chapter 1 ~ Bitter Sweet

disclaimer~ I do not own any of the Original characters in JK Rowling's wonderful universe, or her universe for that matter. I only claim any original character that may wind up entering her universe.

AN~ I do hope you enjoy my fiction. This is my first go at writing anything, and I do appreciate feedback, or constructive criticism. I don't expect this to be to everyones liking, bit I do hope you give it a fair chance and all reviews are welcome so I know how I'm doing. ^.^ thanks!

KAII

Bitter Sweet

The decent from the head masters office was somber and quiet. Unlike before the war, when you could feel the static and electricity in the air, it was now cold and as silent as a graveyard after midnight. Harry was deep in thought as Hermione, with silent tears sliding down her face, and Ron, with cold and blank eyes, followed a step behind him. All three of them walked down the few levels and stair cases on auto pilot not thinking of where they were headed, but all knowing what they were headed to do. The Death Stick, The Wand of Destiny must be returned before this could truly be over and settled for the three of them. This whole war had taken its toll on the three young adults physically, mentally, and emotionally. None of them had felt losses so great. In all their lives they never thought it would turn out as bitter sweet as it had.

The deaths of so many loved family members and close friends weighed heavy on their hearts and minds. It was a strange sensation knowing you were free… that no one was going to be constantly hunting you, your family, and friends down. But at what cost. Growing up they had heard of all the terrible things Voldemort had done and what his followers were capable of doing. Your family told you all of the stories about how much they lost, and about losing the people they loved the most. But it never really sinks in until it's you who's lost the ones you love most. When Harry had returned from that graveyard in their 4th year and announced Voldemort's return he and his two friends knew what they would have to do. They were very aware of what it may take to destroy the evil that was now upon them. They were willing to lay their lives down if it meant gaining freedom for their families. They were committed and dedicated to winning a new life for everyone close to them. They had finally succeeded, and only now did they truly know what it was like to win and lose at the same time. Bitter sweet.

"Harry… We're here." Hermione's voice cut through their silent thoughts. They could hear how hollow her words sounded, distant and echoing, but the castle grounds were so quiet it sounded as though she had shouted them. She walked up to Harry, placed a soft hand on his shoulder and looked up at him.

"Did you want our help?" She looked at his face as several emotions ran across it… nervous, scared, determined… Lost.

"Come on, we'll do it together then."

"Yeah mate, come on." Ron said quietly but encouragingly at the same time. Harry looked up and gave him a weak smile, which Ron returned. He could never have hoped for better friends in all his life. But here they were, right beside him, like he knew they always would be. Like he would always be to them, loyal to the end.

The three of them walked up to the marble tomb and stopped a few feet away from where Dumbledore's perfectly preserved body lay visible through a gaping crack down the middle of the lid to his casket. None of them moved any closer for a few moments while they gathered their composure. Finally Harry pulled from his cloak The Elder Wand. He looked at it for a few moments examining it. It was in perfect condition but was obviously well worn from years and years of use. Now it would finally be able to rest with the one person who truly deserved to rest in peace.

Harry turned to Ron and then to Hermione who both nodded their approval. Slowly Harry walked up the steps toward the marble casket. Finally he was looking down upon Dumbledore. So many memories flooded his mind, memories of all the times he looked to Dumbledore for advice and direction. He used to seek comfort in the man laying before him. Dumbledore was always there, always wise, always like a light in a dark place. He was like a grandfather to Harry in a way, giving him advice, even though sometimes it wasn't obvious at the time. But also letting him choose for himself what he was going to do, and letting him learn from his own mistakes.

He looked so peaceful, as if he were only taking a well needed nap, and would wake up at any moment, look up and him with those shocking blue eyes and smile his knowing smile. Harry's heart contracted painfully because this, he knew, would never happen. He supposed it was just wishful thinking. Harry took one last look at the Elder Wand, this was the right thing to do.

"Harry… I was thinking" Hermione said as she walked to his side. "Maybe this would be better. Just incase, you know?"

As she said this, she took out her wand and flicked it at the wand in Harry's outstretched hand. For half a second nothing happened, until he felt the wand begin to warm and watched as it transfigured into a beautiful white lily. Hermione always knew what to do. Harry looked at the flower, it was perfect in every way. No one would ever know what it actually was, he marveled at how brilliant she was.

"Thanks Hermione." He gave her a smile and squeezed her shoulder. "Alright, it's time." He turned to Dumbledore and laid the lily under his folded hands on his chest. He took one last look, then the three of them raised their wands. In only a few moments the casket and tomb were resealed and looked as though they had never been touched by anyone.

With what they came to do finished, the three of them turned away from the tomb and walked back to the castle. It was done, the war was over and won, they could finally live their lives as they each saw fit.

They were just entering the great hall when Harry stopped dead in his tracks making Hermione and Ron nearly run into him, Ron was the first to speak.

"Oi, mate, Give a man some warning would you?" He said in a half playful half irritated tone. "What's the idea?" He asked without looking up from straightening out his shirt.

Hermione however looked up immediately, startled at Harry's abrupt stop. She saw Harry's face and knew something was wrong. Following his line of sight she saw exactly what was wrong… Draco Malfoy was walking towards the far side of the hall, as they watched he slipped through a doorway at the back of the hall, unnoticed by any of the few people remaining in the room except for them.

"Malfoy" Harry practically growled the name as he started to walk across the hall towards the door Malfoy had just disappeared through.

"Harry wait! Wait up!" Harry was walking so fast that Hermione practically had to run to keep up. Ron on the other hand, had no problem keeping up considering his height and the length of his stride. They reached the door before she did, and she heard Harry speak first. "Malfoy! Where are you?"

As she rounded the corner into the room Ron spoke."Oi, Malfoy' get out here!"

She walked farther into the room, which looked to be used as a parlor room, any other time Hermione would have been excited to explore the room. But at the moment she was far to intent on the events that were unfolding before her.

"We saw you come in here Malfoy, now where are you?" Harry was half way into the room when, at last, Malfoy appeared.

"Calm down before you give yourself a stroke, Potter, I'm right here." Malfoy's voice was so cold and calm, if it hadn't been so full of venom, one may have thought him to be joking around with an old friend. Malfoy stepped around the corner of a banister that led up to another section of the room. He was wearing all black, as usual, and had his hair free of any product leaving it soft and resembling sheets of silver surrounding his face.

He looked, at first glance, to be very put together. However as Hermione, now standing behind Ron and Harry, took a closer look she could see his worn out expression. He had a dark reddish-purple hue all around his eyes as though he had been lacking a lot of sleep. His clothes were dirty, which for Malfoy was very unusual, and they had quite a few singe marks all across them. The once white blond hair was now ashen and streaked with soot in places. He had black ash across one side of his face directly on top of a bleeding cut that ran from his ear down to the middle of his cheek. He had obviously not been hiding like she figured he would have been, given his usual cowardice in the face of a challenge. According to her prior experience with Malfoy, he never entered into any fight or battle that looked even close to one he might loose. He could call it whatever he liked, but she knew it was because he was afraid to be hurt or shown-up by someone of a lower status than he considered worthy of his time.

"Well I haven't got all day, Potter. What do you want?"

"Shut it Malfoy! You've got enough to worry about without your attitude causing more fights."

Harry was obviously worn out and was not in the mood for any of Malfoy's cheek.

"Now you listen, and you listen good." Harry was now pointing a finger and jabbing it in Malfoy's direction with each exclamation.

"I don't know what part you've played in all of this but I've got a pretty good idea, and as soon as I figure it out and go to the Order about what you've been up to you're going to have the same end as your dear father, you understand."

Draco had looked slightly amused until Harry had mentioned Lucius. He instantly looked as if he could lunge at any moment. Hermione tightened her grip on her wand preparing for what she though was inevitable. But almost as soon as it had come the look was gone, replaced with his usual cold mask. Hermione was slightly confused by this but kept her want at the ready nonetheless.

"You must really think your special, don't you Potter, think you know all the answers. It's rather sad, really, how incompetent you actually are. Especially when you assume you've got any idea as to what I've been doing.

"If you really had even close to a clue about it we wouldn't be having this ridiculous conversation."

As Malfoy spoke, Hermione noticed a change in his body language. He started out sounding very condescending and full of vengeance. But as soon as he started speaking of the role he played and Harry's assumptions about him, Draco looked distant, almost as if he was talking mostly to himself. He looked hurt, or upset, maybe sad. Hermione couldn't figure it out exactly. The look in his eyes was so out of place as he stared off. Then he snapped his eyes back to Harry and Ron's faces.

"Just because you seem to have some sort of insane luck that has kept you alive through all of this, does not mean you know everything about what it actually took to get the whole job done Potter."

Harry looked so angry Hermione stepped back.

"Don't even try to weasel your way out of this one you slimy little ferret! You're the one who doesn't know what had to be done to destroy Voldemort. What we had to sacrifice to end this… What Dumbledore had to do to help our side, while you what? Hid in the shadows plotting how to get your sadistic aunt into this castle? Figured out to kill the only man who though you might still have some good left in you? Don't sit here and try to convince me that you're innocent! I'm no fool. I saw the whole thing the night he was killed. You'd been trying all year to kill him. First Katie, then Ron. I knew it was you all along. I even told Dumbledore what I knew after Katie, and he told me not to worry. You may not have cast the spell but you're just as guilty as any other Death Eater."

Harry was shaking with rage as he spat each sentence at Malfoy. Ron stayed quiet while Harry was speaking. He had his wand out in front of him, ready for any action, as did Hermione. Harry was so upset he finally was at a loss for words, which allowed for Malfoy's response to be heard.

Hermione couldn't believe her ears at first. Was Malfoy actually… laughing. She looked between Ron and Harry to see if her ears were indeed telling her the truth. She found Malfoy sitting on the stairs with his head in his hands and his elbows on his knees. He was shaking his head back and forth and, yes, laughing. He sounded hollow. Almost defeated. Malfoy finally gazed up at them with an exasperated expression.

"Wow, Potter. You really have it all figured out don't you?"

He ran one hand through his ashen blonde hair and looked past the boys straight at Hermione whose pulse jumped into gear. She couldn't figure out why, but her breathing sped up in response to her heart as she looked into his steel blue eyes. She could almost feel the pain radiating out of them and was forced to break his penetrating gaze.

"Potter may be thick, but you, I would have thought you would have been smart enough to figure it out.'

Hermione was completely taken aback. She snapped her eyes back to his face and studied his expression. He sounded disappointed with her by his tone, but by the way he was looking at her he looked almost hopeful. Like he hopped she would remember some secret hints and puzzle them together to prove him innocent. She was so startled by his penetrating eyes that she forgot how to speak properly.

"I…Buhh…wha…" But before she could even get out a proper sentence, Ron cut across her stuttering.

"Don't you even talk to her! Don't even look at her. You have no right, you bloody git!"

Ron had raised his wand level with Draco's eyes, finally, he broke eye contact with Hermione allowing her breathing to return slowly to normal.

"I may speak to whomever I please, Weasley. You and your hot headed leader haven't a clue as to what I've really been 'up to,' as you put it," Draco snapped through gritted teeth.

But as soon as the harsh words had left his mouth his emotions were back in check once more.

"My actions over the last two years may have regrettably looked to be cold and calculated murder plots, but the three of you are functioning under the delusion that my actions were a product of the Dark Lord's wishes. This is where you've made your first mistake."

If Hermione were to guess, she would only be able to assume he was actually trying to be…nice. Each time he looked close to snapping he seemed to almost, in an instant, change his emotion back to being calm. She couldn't figure out why he was acting this way. He had never been one to pass up the chance to sling obscenities at any one of them. But here he was trying to be civil.

"What are you on about Malfoy?" Ron spat.

"More mind games I suspect," Harry sneered.

"Go on then, let's hear it since you're already feeding us your story. Let's see you snake your way out of practically being caught red-handed, shall we?"

Harry's tone was very sarcastic and condescending. Hermione knew Harry was only letting Malfoy continue so he could watch him squirm under pressure, since she was sure Harry expected Malfoy to be grasping at straws to explain himself.

Hermione studied Malfoy's features as Harry was speaking. Her breathing was back to normal but now she was trying to figure out exactly what that reaction was and more importantly, why she had it. She could see in his eyes that he was relieved that he could say what he had to say. But there was also worry and anger there too. She was secretly surprised at how well she seemed to be able to read Malfoy's emotions. But she gave credit to all the months she spent reading Harry and Ron's emotions while they were hunting Horcruxs. As he started to speak Hermione saw irritation in his expression.

"Look, Potter, I have no desire to continue fighting so there is no need for snarky comments."

Harry's face immediately changed from mocking to angry, but he kept quiet. Hermione watched Malfoy as he started talking again.

"That in mind, please listen - just hear me out."

He looked exhausted and his voice sounded very worn out. Both Ron and Harry made no movement to show that they would just listen, even though Malfoy paused to allow a response. Seeing their lack of a response, Malfoy continued his speech.

"Ok then, as I said before, everything you've witnessed me doing and or suspected that I've been 'up to' as you put it, has not been on the orders of the Dark Lord." Malfoy used air quotes to emphasize the 'up to' portion. Hermione laughed internally at Malfoy using air quotes. It looked completely out of the ordinary and almost comical coming from him.

At this Ron and Harry both snorted their disbelief but didn't continue any farther than that. Malfoy, slightly irritated at their outburst, clenched his jaw but said nothing in return. Hermione, if she was going to be honest with herself, was actually very impressed with Malfoy's ability to remain calm and not be snyde or snap at Ron and Harry's actions.

"I'm not going to lie to you, sixth year when I got to Hogwarts I did indeed have every intention of trying to find a way of killing Dumbledore. But that was only because the Dark Lord threatened to kill myself and my Mother. And while I may seem to be cold and heartless to everyone else, Potter, you can believe me when I say that above all else I do love my mother."

At this he looked directly at Harry.

"If it had been my father's life in question on the other hand, I may not have done what I did. I was, however, desperate to keep my mother alive. She was never out of his sight, I couldn't just act as though I was trying. I had to show attempts, give results, report to him. I tried not to let anyone on to who was behind the attempts… but Dumbledore knew what I was up to from day one. I knew the minute he gave our 'welcome' speech at the start of term. But I had to continued trying. My mother had no choice in this whole mess. She tried so hard to keep me from it but the Dark Lord sought me out. For years she begged and pleaded with my father to not follow the orders of a mad man, at the time I was so young I didn't know who she spoke of. However, as I got older I heard and understood more of what was going on.

"I always tried to please my father as a child… until my fifth year. That's when I realized my mother was right. I didn't want any part in this war. My father was the only reason we were forced into doing his bidding. He invited the Dark Lord into our home with open arms, as my mother begged him not to. My mother was forced to act as a servant to that foul evil creature. I could not bare to watch her in that situation. My mother deserved better. The Dark Lord saw how much his ordering my mother around bothered me. I couldn't hide my reactions because my feelings were too strong. That is when he decided to use her as his leverage over me. What was I supposed to do really? I never though anyone would help us, especially since my own father wouldn't. So I told him I'd do the job if he just left her alone. I didn't want him to touch her ever again. It was hard to try to kill a man that did not deserve to die.

"After my try with Katie, which was sloppy and very poorly executed out of desperation, he hauled me into his office. I had to look the man right in the eyes and lie to him about my attempt on his life and I knew he knew I was lying. But I had no choice, or so I thought. Dumbledore told me that he wanted to help me, that he would protect my family if I changed my allegiance and became an informant for your side. There he was, reaching out to me, and I just slapped his offer away thinking that I could handle the situation better than he ever could. After all I thought I knew what I was doing I knew how The Dark Lord would react if he read my thoughts and saw me making a deal with Dumbledore, I couldn't risk it. I had to do this on my own.

"After I poisoned the mead, that Slughorn was supposed to give to Dumbledore, and Weasley got poisoned instead I didn't know what to do anymore. I couldn't use the killing curse to do it. The cures would not have worked, I would have had to really want the person to die, and as much as I didn't like Dumbledore, I certainly didn't want him dead either."

Neither Ron nor Harry made a movement as Malfoy spilled out his story, apparently not sure what to believe. Malfoy ran a shaky hand through his hair and paused with his hand on the back of his head looking down at the empty space in front of him.

"It was the next day that altered the course of mine and my mother's lives. He came to me that night, in my dreams.

"He told me that since I had, thus far, been unsuccessful in my endeavor he had decided to make my task easier for me. He changed my task into finding a way to get my aunt and some Death Eaters into the castle, then after i got them into the castle they would back me up as I killed Dumbledore. And for my apparent inability to follow orders my mother would face the punishment that would have been mine. Not death, but a very severe beating, which…"

Malfoy's voice became softer and more shaky as each word left his mouth. As much as Hermione couldn't stand Malfoy, her heart was breaking for him. She had been watching his face as the muscles contracted and relaxed, his eyes and their deep truth… she knew in her heart of hearts that this was no lie. Malfoy let out a heavy breath

"Which he enforced as I was forced to watch but unable to do anything."

Malfoy sounded like a broken man as the sentence left his mouth.

"I watched curse after curse wrack her frail body as it gave in, screams, tears, but even that wasn't enough for him. He wanted blood, he struck her with the back of his hand as she tried to get off of the floor causing her nose and lip to purge her vibrant blood.

"And finally I was let lose, just as I was afraid to go… I was not sure i'd ever see her again, I didn't want to wake. I was screaming for her to move, but she just lay there. My panicked screaming woke me out of my sleep. I headed straight to the head master's office. I knew my plan was not working, I now understood that I needed help. If I was going to save my mother I needed help. I was desperate. I don't think I ever truly understood what people meant when they said 'just imagine if it was your family, what would you do then.' I always figured that I'd be what my father considered to be strong, and just not care.

"With my father it was always 'if The Dark Lord wishes it' and 'what The Dark Lord does is for the greater good, you must obey his orders'"

Malfoy gave a hollow, exasperated laugh.

"I cant believe I was so stupid to follow him so blindly. I just accepted it, no questions… what a fool."

He was now talking mostly to himself. He placed both hands over his face as he sat on the steps. He began to rub his hands over his closed eyes, then removed them and looked at Hermione. All she could see in his eyes was regret and extreme sorrow.

"I tried for years to be what my father wanted even when I did not agree. I was afraid to disappoint him, to be a disappointment to the Malfoy name, dishonor my family."

His eyes contracted with anger, but he remained calm.

"That was until I was forced to bare witness to my mothers torture, it was then that I realized the only person I was most afraid of losing, dishonoring, or disappointing was my mother and it would stop now.

"To my amazement, when I arrived at the headmasters chambers, he was awake and seemed to be waiting for me. It was slightly unnerving in a way."

Hermione smiled as she held Malfoy's gaze, she knew exactly what Malfoy meant. Dumbledore always just seemed to know.

"We had a very long and exhausting discussion, i'd never felt so exposed in all my life. But it felt comforting at the same time. Like some kind of weight had been lifted from my chest."

Malfoy sounded like he was in awe at the memory of that feeling.

"I told him of my situation, as I have just told you, as well as of the dream that had finally opened my eyes. As I expected he asked me to use veretasyrum to prove I was indeed telling him the truth. I knew he would ask, how could he not after I had been attempting to kill him for over half of the year."

He had a sad smile on his lips as though he were reliving the memory in his mind; not just telling a story.

"He explained to me that if I wanted his help I would have to do exactly as he asked. If he said to run and hide, I would. If he said I was to fight, I would. If he said to do anything at all, I would have to follow him without any hesitation. If I did this, I would have his word that he would keep my mother safe, I took it. I gave him my word to do anything he asked, if he just saved her. His first order was for Snape to teach me occlumency. I needed to perfect my skill in order to fool The Dark Lord. I, of course panicked. Snape was on The Dark Lords team after all. He would see what I was planning and rat me out to The Dark Lord, or so I thought. I was totally blown away at how well Snape had played his part, it was completely flawless. We were all fooled, every single one of us. I was astounded.

"I knew then that I had done the right thing, and that I was not alone. Both brought to the light by the love for someone very dear to us. I knew I could do this. I learned, and I learned well. I could block even Dumbledore's attempts at penetrating my mind. My next orders, however, confused me."

Malfoy wrinkled his brows and shook his head slightly as if he still couldn't believe the orders he was given.

"He told me to fix something, a vanishing cabinet in the room of requirement. He said that I was to fix the cabinet and let The Dark Lord know I had found a possible way for the death eaters to enter the castle, as were my orders. I was always brought up to not ask questions, but really, how could I not. It was not until after I had fixed the cabinet that Dumbledore and Snape finally told me what our plan of action was.

"So far it just seemed that I was supposed to act as if nothing had changed, that I was still a good little minion, and that his punishment had worked to keep me in line. After all I was now producing results, useable results. But I soon realized that my acting skills were going to have to jump from decent to excellent if I were going to help them pull off what they had planned.

"I had been working almost every waking minute I could spare to fix the cabinet, at the same time Snape would always be close by working on brewing various new potions and strange spells that I had never seen or heard of before. In all the time that we spent working in the same room I never once asked or suspected what they were trying to accomplish. I did not like their plan, how was he going to keep his word If he was dead, how could our side possibly win with him gone.

"I was extremely… Vocal… about my doubts and my unhappiness with their idea. But Snape explained to me that this had been their plan all along, only now having me with them made it much easier for them.

"Instead of me attempting to kill Dumbledore on my own and them having to try to work around me to make the whole thing run smoothly, without me messing it all up unknowingly, I would be acting as though I was going to kill him as a show for the Death Eaters to witness. During the part of my act where I was supposed to kill Dumbledore, Snape would appear and tell me to stop in front of all of them, that way it would look as though I were one hundred percent prepared to complete my part of the task, but I had been told by the Dark Lords trusted servant to stop. Snape would then deliver the killing curse in my stead.

"it was fool proof really. We would both look as though we had done exactly what the Dark Lord had asked of us. We'd be accepted back at the manor with no questions asked about our allegiances, and above all else my mother would be free of him.

"I had gotten to know the old man though… he really was a good person inside and out… acting as though I was not upset about his impending demise in front of the Death Eaters was very difficult. I used my being upset and blamed my emotions on being afraid for my own safety.

"But that was not the case, I didn't want the man that had helped me so much to die. But I had given my word, he had not failed me, I could not fail him. I told him I'd do anything he asked of me, and this was no acception to his rules.

"Dumbledore told me the date and time you two would be leaving. And I, in turn, was to tell the Dark Lord the same date for their arrival, the time would be determined by Dumbledore based on how long the two of you would take. He was to send me a message using this." As Malfoy spoke he held up a small gold coin which all three of them recognized at once, a DA coin.

"He told me when you were safe and headed to Hogsmead, that's when I would send for Bella and her lot. Once I got his message I let the Death Eaters through the cabinet. I immediately left before they were all the way through and headed straight to the tower where I was told to wait for the two of you to arrive. Once I heard you talking and he sent you to get Snape I was supposed to show up.

"He wanted us to act as if I were going to kill him, I was to tell him how id gotten the Death Eaters into the castle, I would disarm him as I spoke, and tell him that I had to kill him in order to save myself from death.

"He knew you would be listening to us and wanted you to think I was being forced to kill him by the Dark Lord. Shortly after, while I was giving my speech, the Death Eaters would arrive. After they were all there to bare witness to me having Dumbledore disarmed, seemingly helpless, I would act as though I were about to cast the curse.

"Just as I was inhaling before saying the words Snape would appear and stop me, then he would use the killing curse to end Dumbledore's life. These few very choreographed and precise moments would be enough to secure our place and our safety among the Dark Lord, and his most trusted disciples who were there to witness all of these events. None of them would have any doubt that we were on their side.

"Then of course he also left us with orders for after he was gone. My lying about your identity at the manor was not a stroke of luck, Potter. I was told to help you in any way I could without giving myself away to the Dark Lord. Those were my orders from Dumbledore. Snape was to return to Hogwarts and take the position of Headmaster in Dumbledore's stead. He was to convince the Dark Lord that he should go back to Hogwarts to make sure that the future of the wizarding world would be taught correctly from here on out. While at the school he was to try to keep the students as safe as possible without giving himself away.

"Both of us were to keep the order as informed about the Dark Lord, and his movements or decisions, as possible. I would relay any information that I had acquired from the Death Eaters straight to Snape, and he would decide what to do with it. Our correspondence went unnoticed, of course, because we were very skilled at occlumensy by this point and we also had the coins.

"Very handy work by the way Granger, saved us on more than one occation." Malfoy finished his story and was now twiddling the gold coin between his fingers.

Hermione was taken aback at his honest praise of her work, and truth be told she was a little proud too.

He looked relieved to Hermione, like some terrible burden had been lifted off of his shoulders. She could see it in his face and in his posture. He didn't look as broken and tired anymore. He looked more hopeful than he had through out the entire time he had been speaking. Hermione hadn't noticed how much time had passed by, but she could see the sky turning darker through one of the small windows above them.

There was a span of thick silence between all of them, so thick Hermione was surprised that she couldn't see it floating in the air. Ron looked confused about the whole series of events that had just been told by Malfoy. Hermione was more concerned about Harry's reaction though, Harry's face was not very readable.

It startled her to see an expression she hadn't seen in a very long time, and definitely not coming from Harry. He was looking at Malfoy as if he had sprouted a pair of antenna at first. Then he started to look more and more amused until he was almost laughing. Looking at Harry's almost hysterical display was worrying her, he had never acted this way… not that she could remember anyway.

Malfoy's face now looked confused as he watched Harry's reaction. Hermione was also confused as she looked at Ron who had the same puzzled expression that herself and Malfoy now adorned. She finally decided to speak.

"Harry what's so funny? Why are you laughing?

Harry turned to her with his hand outstretched, palm up, toward Malfoy, who was behind him "Can you believe this load of rubbish, listen to him! He actually thinks that anyone is going to believe he switched sides." He snorted his own disbelief.

"That's completely laughable! He's a Death Eater for Merlin's sake! He's wired to lie, its ingrained into his DNA. He's a natural' an expert at it!" Harry snorted again.

"Besides he's had a whole year to think up this whole ruse. And isn't it just so convenient that BOTH Dumbledore and Snape are now dead and can't defend or deny his claims!"

Ron was now slowly nodding his head as Harry's words sank in. "Yeah! How do we know your not just trying to save your own skin Malfoy? This does seem completely unbelievable, and really far fetched, even for you" Ron smirked.

"I mean, the Slytherin Prince, taking orders from the leader of the good side. Not likely. Who would ever believe that, that's just… ridiculous!"

Harry was nodding at Ron's words "Yeah, I mean you've never once made ANY attempt at being good, or helping anyone at all… for anything. You've always done what you could to save your own skin. Only helped someone if it was a way to help yourself. I bet this whole story is just that, a story. I doubt you or your mother ever were innocent in any of this. She was probably just as willing to follow Voldemort's orders as your stupid father."

Hermione wasn't expecting Malfoy's reaction. He moved so quickly, like wind through trees, Hermione hardly saw what happened before it was too late.

Harry was stumbling back towards her with his hand on his jaw. Ron had his wand pointed directly at Malfoy's chest, and Malfoy looked as though he could kill with his bare hands. He had completely foregone using his wand, turning instead to his fists for his retaliation. Hermione was stunned by how fast and agile he was, but she was mostly stunned because it seemed so… muggle of him.

"Don't you DARE sit here and think that you know a bloody thing about my mother and I, you ignorant fuck!" Hermione was shocked at his sudden outburst, he had been able to control himself so well up until then. She'd never seen such beautiful fury… he was practically shaking with rage over Harry's comment about his mother.

"You sit there, self-righteous and perfect, and have no idea of what danger we've put ourselves in to help your sorry ungrateful arse. You disgust me!"

Malfoy was spitting the words with such passion and malice that Harry could only stair shocked at Malfoy's completely unguarded behavior, no mask, no cool collected retorts, no calm calculated reaction… just unbridled fury.

"STOP! STOP IT! The both of you!" Hermione was scared, and in complete awe of Malfoy's anger and conviction. Shed never seen him so open, even if it was in rage. She had tears in her eyes and was now standing in front of Harry and Ron.

"Put your wand down Ron, stop it! Haven't we had enough fighting to last a life time!" She panned her eyes up to look into the steel blue orbs that were Malfoy's eyes.

"Please, I cant take any more fighting! Its over, its done…" She was almost sobbing now as she finally let the reality of that sentence sink in.

Malfoy held her gaze as she spoke, his eyes softened as they looked at her pleading expression. He gave her an almost unnoticeable nod and backed away from Ron's wand. She mouthed 'thank you' to no one in particular as Ron lowered his wand.

The silence returned as Hermione tried to get a grip on herself, while Ron and Harry walked to another part of the room to be farther from Malfoy she assumed. When she finally got her breathing mostly back to normal she spoke to Malfoy, a thought had occurred to her.

"Malfoy…?" He looked up from where he had taken a seat back on the stairs. "Did Snape ever tell you what potions and spells he was working on when you were working together?"

He looked confused at her question. His brows knitted together as he thought back to the sessions of cabinet fixing.

"No, I never asked. I remember him writing stuff down in some book, and a few odd words here and there… but no… I never found out what it was for." He was quiet for a while contemplating the memory.

"Come to think of it I remember one Latin phrase, I think it was Latin anyway. It was something like 'victus vel in nex' or something like that. I heard him say it while I was taking a break one day.

"I thought it sounded odd, he seemed to use it quite a bit… but now that I'm thinking about it… I wonder." He was now talking out loud to himself. "He couldn't have, he would have said something… unless…"

He snapped his eyes up to Hermione with the strangest expression. "Unless!" He was smiling now, he looked completely excited as he started to pace.

"Dumbledore didn't know! that's the only explanation… it has to be!" He got up and began to pace while talking in broken sentences to himself.

"I cant believe I didn't place the words until just now… of course! Of course! He couldn't possibly tell him… he would have immediately put a stop to it… how on earth did he ever think of it?… he had to have used occlumensy there's no other way."

While he was rambling on Ron and Harry were shooting him irritated glances from across the room while talking to each other. Hermione was watching Malfoy intently, trying to pick up what he was rambling on about.

"Malfoy?" Hermione held up a hand weakly, trying to stop his pacing "What did he do? What was Snape doing?" She asked when he finally stopped walking and acknowledged her.

"It's the only explanation I can think of. The phrase means something like 'life and death' or something like that my Latin isn't so good. I cant quite place it." He was speaking feverishly fast.

"What if he figured it out. I mean, it wouldn't be the first spell he invented right?…" Malfoy was whispering to Hermione now. He seemed to be trying to only tell her and not Ron or Harry, who were both now staring at her and Malfoy looking very angry.

Hermione figured out why quite quickly after a brief search. She hadn't even noticed until then, but Malfoy had placed a gentle hand on her upper arm while they were speaking. She hadn't even felt him touch her. She immediately turned beat red and inconspicuously moved away from Malfoy's hand without him seeing why.

"Hermione…"

She felt her heart race again when she heard him use her given name instead of her sur name. he'd never called her by her first name. he looked her right in the eyes.

"What if he figured it out?"

She was running what Malfoy had said over and over in her mind and it finally clicked. Her eyebrows, that had been scrunched together in confusion, now sprung up into her hairline as her eyes shot up to see Malfoy looking at her intently.

He had been watching her thought process with a smile on his face. She spoke quietly and softly.

"Oh… My… God… you don't think?…" Right as she was about to finish her sentence Ron came over and grabbed her arm.

"Hey, what's going on over here? He can't be trusted Hermione, don't be so daft. He's lying to us"

She was just staring at Malfoy, her mouth slightly open, transfixed as her thoughts took over…. how could this be, why wouldn't Snape have told us, told Dumbledore, something….

"Hermione! Snap out of it!" Ron was now shaking her roughly. She turned her head towards him and blinked a few times before she realized that his firm grip on her arms was beginning to hurt.

"Ouch Ron! Let go!" She jerked her arms away from him.

"What's gotten into you Hermione? Huuh?" Ron was glaring between her and Malfoy.

"Huuh? No… Nothing, nothing has gotten into me. I'm fine." She finally fumbled the words out, as she looked up at Malfoy. He was still smiling slightly with a hopeful look.

"It's nothing Ron, seriously." Hermione did her best to convince Ron that she was ok. She decided to try to change the subject instead.

"Come on, we need to get some sleep, we are all very tired. This can wait until later cant it?… Malfoy isn't going anywhere…" She turned to Malfoy. "Are you?"

He looked pleased with himself at her apparent concern. "No I'm not leaving anywhere until tomorrow when I return to the manor with my mother"

"See." Hermione turned back to Ron and Harry. "Please can this just wait? We are all exhausted and can do with a good night sleep, for once in our lives.

"We will have time to think all of this over, and then we can handle it tomorrow morning, ok?"

Hermione gave her best pleading look to Ron and Harry… and at last, it worked. They both gave a short hard nod and then turned towards the door they had all entered through. Harry and Ron left before Hermione, which gave her a chance to steal one last glance at Malfoy.

He was watching her, Harry, and Ron exit the room. As soon as she turned around and caught his gaze he looked at her with only one question left. Screaming at her through his steel blue eyes, begging an answer from her was 'do you believe me?' It was etched across every inch of his face, in every worried wrinkle in his forehead, and most definitely in his eyes.

"Hermione come on!" Ron yelled from out side of the doorway causing her to jump slightly.

She held Malfoy's gaze a moment longer, studying his eyes. She finally decided she saw nothing but truth in them. She relaxed her shoulders slightly and gave him a small smile, and nodded her head once to confirm her belief in him.

His expression changed immediately as he broke eye contact and sat down on the stairs. He placed his elbow on his knee, and his head in his hand. He looked sad but very relieved as she turned the corner to join Harry and Ron.

Her mind was absolutely racing with all of the information she had just absorbed from Malfoy. One thing she knew for sure. She was going to have to visit the library in the morning before they left for the burrow.

~*KAII*~