1
Oh, darling, you once shone so bright.
Don't let go, don't give up on you just yet.
Let your numb body awaken,
Is that what they call growing up?
The ice in your veines killed your innocence.
Don't speak or the mirror might shatter.
Hold on, hold on tight.
Don't forget that little girl that seems so far away.
The silence is too loud.
The leaves under her feet made a crumbling sound as Hermione walked away from the tent and deeper into the forest. She needed some time for herself.
When Hermione was eight she once ran over a field in the small town she lived in. She had felt as if she was flying, the wind playing with her hair, the light blue sky ubove her, the birds singing in the trees and the flowers beneath her feet. There had been just her and nature. Looking back on it, it was such a pure moment.
She should've shaped her world before someone else did.
But being the best friend of famous Harry Potter caused everything in her life to get out of control in the past two years. As much as she loved Harry, it was hard. Being his friend was kind of the same thing as signing a life long agreement in fighting Voldemort and giving up her own life.
Hermione had had so many dreams.
She was just there, trapped in this hollow shell.
She sat down on the grass and leaned herself against a tree. It could be a beautiful place, if there weren't her thoughts, laying dark shadows over everything. She put her hand deep in her charmed bag, looking for the letter they had received three days ago. She found it and slowly unrolled the piece of pergament, closing her eyes in the hope to find a different letter the moment she opened her eyes again. A letter that didn't tell them to take Draco Malfoy on their mission.
Dear Harry, Ron and Hermione,
I need to tell you that there is a change in plans. I am writing this letter for you to receive after my death caused by the cursed Horcrux ring because I know that you wouldn't have understood the importance of this when I was still alive. Let's get straight to the topic. Draco Malfoy got lost in the Dark Arts but I see hope for him to get on the right path. He is acting under extreme pressure from Voldemort and his parents and I am ordering you to take him with you on the Horcrux hunt. I understand that it's a tall order but this is not about who you don't like, this is about who you can save. Initiate him into the plan as soon as you think he's ready. Draco is aware of his opportunity and if he decides to join he shall wait for you in the morning of 2nd August, which should be in two days, in the Shrieking Shack. The other envelope contains a reserve letter you will show the Ministry if they want to know why I decided to message you, nobody is allowed to know that Draco is with you. Voldemort wants him dead. You are sitting in the same boat, you must work together to not sink.
This is my last will, please do not disappoint me.
Albus Dumbledore
Draco Malfoy on a Horcrux hunting trip with them? Like Ron always said; Dumbledore was mental. Brilliant, but mental. Dumbledore had known just how much they hated him, why would he want his worst enemies to "convert" him? It just didn't make no sense and Hermione usually found sense in everything, which freaked her out. How come there's something she doesn't understand?
It had been a shock for the three of them when the Minister of Magic had not only given them the things they inherited, a Deluminator for Ron, the Snitch Harry had caught in his first Quidditch match and the original of The Tales of Beedle the Bard for Hermione, but also read aloud, that they should wait for an owl to bring them a letter of highest importance. That was everything said in the will. A letter of highest importance.
They had been so excited and had discussed for hours what Dumbledore had wanted to tell them after his death, they didn't even get to enjoy Harry's - by Mr. Scrimgeour interrupted - birthday party anymore. Harry had told Ron and Hermione about the ring whose curse first illed Dumbledore's hand, later the whole of his body. He had initiated the trio about the Horcruxes and their mission to destroy them because he knew he would die, and they had hoped for some more information about their mission in the letter. Of course Dumbledore had managed the whole thing so he could tell them something without the knowledge of the Ministry, but they hadn't expected anything like this.
At first they had thought about pretending they did never get that letter. But Hermione knew that they would never forget it, that the guillt of ignoring Dumbledore's last will would never leave them. None of them could understand how their old headmaster could have seen anything good in Malfoy, but at last they had decided on taking him with them. They didn't have to tell him anything, he'd just be there, nothing more.
They had decided, more forced Hermione, that she would be the one to share a tent with him.
She still couldn't believe it. But now he was already with them, there was no back.
Draco had been hiding in the woods and mountains of England for the last three months. McGonnagall had found him and had talked him into going on some special mission with The Boy Who Just Won't Die, the Weasel and the Mudblood. At first he was about to curse the old bitch to Australia and back but she didn't give up and even showed him a letter Dumbledore had sent her. It said that he had had an eye on Draco in the past year and that he got on the wrong path and whatever shit. Who the fuck did the old fucktard think he is? He seemed to be a bigger know-it-all than the Granger Mudblood and that had to mean something. But Draco had nothing; and the Dark Lord wanted him dead.
He had lost everything just because he was weak. Death Eaters weren't weak, he had been a stupid little git, he had been weak and confused and unsure. Why hadn't he just killed Dumbledore? Now Snape was the Lord's favourite and Draco had a price on his head. Nicey.
But he had to take the situation the way it was and his only chance in getting a warm bed and some food was to accept Mr. Beard Till The Moon And Back's "offer".
Draco had just had the first proper shower in months. He still felt exhausted from hiding in the mountains without anything to eat and sleeping under trees but the warmth was creeping back into his body with every second he spent in the tent. It wasn't really new and nothing compared with his family's tent, but it still had a small kitchen and bathroom and enough space for two. Two. Him and the Mudblood. Ugh. How did he even manage to sleep in the same room as her?
While wondering why he hadn't killed her yet, Draco stepped out of the tent and examined their hiding place for the next days. He was in an old forest with huge trees that seemed to lose themselves in the sky. The grass was still wet from dew this early in the morning and the first red and yellow autumn leaves covered the floor. The cold wind hit him in the face, but the sun was shining. Draco had never been much impressed by sceneries, there were more important things that mattered in his family. But at that very moment her almost appreciated the depth of the forest that seemed to swallow him.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter book series, but I'd like to be owned by that hot blonde Slytherin mentioned in it.
Author's Notes: It's quite short since it's only a Prologue, the chapters will be at least twice as long. There might be some grammar/spelling errors, tell me if you see some. I'd love to read some reviews - watch me get nothing. The italic part at the beginning are just some lines I wrote myself, some are inspired by something I read on tumblr. Each of the chapters will start with lyrics that fit, maybe I'll even use mine sometime. I'm quite proud of this, actually.
Love, Sori.
