Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: This is one of two smaller stories I work to finish on and off while pushing through my epic Changing Fates. Please feel free to read and review both stories. Thanks.
CHAPTER ONE – The Late Night Surprise
Hermione Jane Granger was afraid.
Not for herself mind you, this was the girl who just faced off against a horde of Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries. When a Death Eater named Dolohov nearly killed her, she wasn't afraid. You see Hermione, like her best friends Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, was a Gryffindor. She didn't fear little things like her own death, but tonight as she limped slowly behind her Head of House, Professor Minerva McGonagall, she was afraid. She was afraid something happened to one of her friends. She had been recovering in the Hospital Wing, so she didn't really know where Harry and Ron where. She didn't show it of course. She held her head high and tried to keep pace with the taller woman and their third companion.
All of the questions racing through her brain at that moment (and Hermione Granger's head always contains a great deal of thoughts at any given time) that didn't focus on Harry and Ron centered around the third companion. For all her studies and lessons, she didn't have a clue as to why she was with these two particular people. If something happened to Harry or Ron, why would Professor McGonagall go collect HIM and wake her in the middle of the night to meet with Dumbledore? She glared at his back and the smooth white-blonde hair reminded her of the taller man who attempted to kill her and all of her friends just a short while ago.
Keeping pace with the deputy headmistress, Draco Malfoy was not afraid. He was furious. Thanks to HER and her damn friend Potter, his father was on his way to a cell in Azkaban. If not for the presence of a teacher, he could think of any number of horrible things he could do to the interfering Know-It-All Mudblood. Instead he found himself walking through the dark hallways of Hogwarts well after curfew with his least favorite teacher and his third least favorite student. He glanced back quickly and sneered at her. Draco was of the firm opinion that no matter how far she out-stripped every other student here academically; there was no place at this school for her. Not only was she of common muggle birth, but LOOK AT HER! He was woken out of just as deep a sleep, but he had time to through on his Oxford shirt and dress slacks and a decent robe that still cost more than a Weasley's annual income. Here he was though, parading down the halls with a short, flat-chested girl wearing nothing but a hospital robe that didn't even cover her scratched up knees. Between that and her wild hair, she looked like she just finished traipsing through the forest.
"Are you sure he wants to see both of us?" Draco asked indignantly.
Without turning back, McGonagall shook her head and replied shortly, "Of course, Mr. Malfoy. The headmaster insisted on seeing you both immediately."
"But why?" Hermione asked. She was trying not to sound as tired as she felt. She was already trailing behind the other two by several meters and her breathing was labored.
When they reached the gargoyle, McGonagall turned around and waited for her to catch up. With a kind smile she said, "I'm sure I don't know. Now rest here a minute and I'll announce you."
McGonagall muttered the password and started up the steps to Dumbledore's office. Hermione limped over to a small bench and sat down. The young girl couldn't ever remember feeling this tired before. She glanced at the scowling face of Malfoy. When his eyes popped up and met hers, she tried to look away quickly. Unfortunately, he saw her and took this as an opportunity to harass her.
"So, I wonder why Saint Potter and the Weasel didn't get invitations to the big show," Draco mentioned. "I'd think all your little rabble would want to see this. But no, just me and the mudblood."
"See what, you insufferable bastard!" Hermione practically screamed. Even if she had always tried to be the calm one when it came to dealing with the eternal attention-seeker that was Draco Malfoy, tonight she was not in the mood. Not tonight, when her insides still felt like a wild boar had spent the evening pummeling her.
"My expulsion of course," Malfoy answered with a smirk. The truth was he had been digging to get a reaction out of the usually composed Gryffindor. But her yelled response to the last statement was somewhat shocking. She stared at him with her mouth hanging open for several moments before it snapped shut. The boy simply hovered over her and continued, "Come off it, Granger. I never thought so, but I heard once you were smarter than your average mudblood. It's called a power-shift. It happens, but don't get used to it. One of these days it will swing back."
"What do you mean power-shift? Dumbledore would never—"
"Oh, come off it, you idiot! First you and your bastard friend, Potty, get my father arrested and then Dumbledore and Potter are back in power and Umbridge and her lot are out. You must be having the time of your life, you worthless bit. Tell me, is all the Inquisitorial Squad being shown the door or just me?"
"I don't have the foggiest idea what you're talking about Malfoy. And if you think I'll apologize for your father and his cronies going to jail after nearly killing me, you're more an asshole than we could ever imagine," she replied. Hermione's cheeks were flushed red and her ribs felt like they were on fire, but come hell or high water she wasn't going to looked pained or weak in front of Draco fucking Malfoy.
"Well, Mudblood, I just hope you last long enough," Draco replied. He was almost standing over her now, looking down his nose with absolute contempt. "I hope you last long enough against You-Know-Who for me to get back from my next school. I'd hate to miss the show. I mean, I know he will probably kill Potter, but I wonder if you'll die before or after the Death Eaters steal your… womanly virtue. That might be a hell of a show."
"I honestly can't wait for you to leave, Malfoy," Hermione said, coolly. She didn't want to betray the somersaults her stomach was doing at the moment. "I have trouble imagining anyone here that you torture on a daily basis will miss you. You hated me for how I was born. At least I have the decency to hate you for how you act."
"So, the great goody-goody Granger hates me," Draco mocked. "How shall I survive?"
"Shut up, Malfoy," Hermione said quietly as she lowered her head and fought off another wave of nausea. "Shut up and go to hell."
"Hell? I thought you understood, Mudblood. I'm leaving your presence. It's all uphill from here."
Hermione felt even worse now than when the curse was cast. She barely muttered, "please shut up."
Malfoy bent his knees and leaned forward until the distance between them could be measured in a handful of centimeters. He whispered in her ear, "Come on Granger. Don't quit now. Of all of them I figured you at least had some spark. I deserve one more row before I depart your foul company."
Rather than respond in word, Hermione felt her breath hitch and the contents of her stomach raced at lightning speed up her chest and out her mouth. Malfoy saw her face turn green just in time to leap back out of the way. Rather than a face-full, the blast just hit the bottom of his robes. Still he melodramatically took them off and threw them to the ground. He quickly burned the robes and turned back to face the girl. She was leaning back against the wall and he noticed the color had drained from her face. Hermione didn't really focus on what he was saying next. Her head simply rolled downward to the ground. She took a couple of deep breaths and saw the pile of vomit before her disappear. She noticed Malfoy was still standing in front of her and did her best to look up at him and seem strong. The glazed-over eyes and drool didn't help her cause.
"How the bloody hell am I supposed to hold a decent row with something as pathetic as an under-the-weather muggle-born disaster. I certainly hope they dragged you out of what I can only pray was your deathbed for something more interesting than my final moments at Hogwarts," Draco said as he shook his head disapprovingly at her. Raising the wand he held in the air, he smacked Granger roughly in the head.
The result was a quiet stomach and an easier breathing pattern. Hermione's eyes came into focus and she blinked at the boy with an evil smirk on his face standing over her. He's going to hold this over me for the rest of my life, the git. Hermione took some comfort in the idea that she might never have to see him again if his suspicions were correct. A dull creaking noise brought their attention to the stone gargoyle as it leapt out of the way. Professor McGonagall came down the steps and looked at them both. Try as she might, Hermione couldn't read the older woman's expression. For an instant it seemed to be, sympathy. Then came the dreaded thought that her favorite professor and the headmaster knew that the prized student of her year had regurgitated all over the hall in front of his office.
McGonagall cleared her throat and spoke up, "If you would both please join Professor Dumbledore. I will see you in the morning."
"Goodnight Professor," Hermione offered. Draco made only the briefest of nods and started up the stairs. With a quick glance over her shoulder, Hermione followed the Slytherin up the winding staircase.
In Dumbledore's office, the silver-haired old man was sitting behind his desk enjoying a lolly-pop. The wide grin that graced his face and the sparkle in his eyes comforted Hermione and put Draco on edge. Hermione looked quickly around in wonder at all the knick-knacks the kindly man had scattered around. The headmaster was gesturing to the large comfy-looking chairs in front of his desk. Draco quickly took the seat nearest him off towards Dumbeldore's left. As Hermione walked around the couch towards the other chair, she took notice of the fourth occupant of the room. There was a brown-haired girl wearing Hogwarts robes and a Gryffindor tie that she had never seen before sitting on the couch opposite Dumbledore. She was very pretty with deep blue eyes and long, wild hair and was obviously taller than Hermione by at least half a foot. The unknown girl stared at her to the point of being rude and did the same to Malfoy. As Hermione sat down, the headmaster took a chomp of his candy and set it down on a small tray on the desk.
"Thank you for both coming so quickly," Dumbledore began. "I must say how pleased I am you were feeling up to joining us, Ms. Granger. Though I am sorry to disturb each of you so late, it seemed an urgent matter. I don't suppose either of you have much of an idea why you are here."
"Well," Draco answered in as detached a voice as he could muster, "I assumed I was going to be shown the door now that you are back."
"No, Mr. Malfoy. I don't believe you've done anything to warrant that. Although your abuse of power certainly reflects poorly on your character and Professor Snape and I will be discussing whether or not you will return as a prefect. However, I believe Hogwarts is a better place with you in it."
Hermione struggled to stifle down a laugh. From Malfoy's glare it was obvious she didn't do a good enough of a job. Dumbledore ignored it and continued, "Now this evening several young students and children found themselves at our doorstep with many questions and a great need of aid. I was hoping you would both spend some time with us to hear them out and help however we can. Now, young ma'am, I believe you know our students. Would you please introduce yourself?"
"Yes, sir," the young girl answered. She took a couple of deep breaths and looked up at them, her eyes quickly flying back and forth between Hermione and Draco. "Well, I'm… this is really weird, I don't…"
"It's alright, child," Dumbledore encouraged. "We will all learn to deal with this together. But if Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger are going to help, they need to know."
"Yes, sir," she answered politely. "Well, my name is Elisabeth. Um… I live in London with my parents and my five younger brothers and sisters."
"Six children, eh? You wouldn't happen to be named Weasley, would you?" Draco asked with a snigger. Hermione took a moment to stare daggers at him before giving her attention back to the taller girl.
"Heavens, it's weird to see you all act like this," she sighed. "Well, might as well put paid to it. I'm not a Weasley. My name is Elisabeth Jane Malfoy and my parents are Draco and Hermione Malfoy."