Removing the memories from her mind, Hermione placed them in the Pensieve. Concentrated, she thought to herself that she needed the memories that would be most helpful. Not knowing which memories would emerge from her mind, she swirled them once with her wand. She needed a clue, a guide. Praying to find something helpful, she took a deep breath and plunged into the water.
I stomped to the Prefects carriage. These people were hopeless. I couldn't possibly control them by myself. Ron would obviously be no help either. I swear, Gryffindor will be in ruins. I entered the train car and sat down frowning with my arms crossed. I was the first one there. Of course that would happen. The first day of me being a prefect and the Gryffindors had already blown something up. Just my luck. Ron had run off to "investigate the crime" which most likely meant that he was off to congratulate whoever did it on their fine job.
I sulked and took out my new copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard. I didn't have time to start reading before Pansy Parkinson stomped into the carriage, with Draco Malfoy slinking in behind.
"Already studying Granger?" Pansy snickered. What. A. Cow.
Draco and Pansy sat down opposite me and smirked. Ron entered in perfect timing, and sat down beside me. I was incredibly relieved. Hannah Abbott, Padma Patil, Ernie Macmillan and finally Anthony Goldstein settled into the carriage from my year, and several other sixth and seventh years. I was happy to see at least a few friendly faces. At last, the Heads entered and began instructing us on what we needed to do. I quietly slipped out my quill and parchment. With a few snickers from the Slytherins present, I began taking notes. I ignored them and focused on my duties as a prefect.
About an hour later, with Ron in tow, I scanned the Gryffindor carriage for Harry. I would just pop in and say hi before I had to patrol. I had volunteered to go first, that way I wouldn't have to leave midway through a conversation. I knew it was a terrible idea as soon as Malfoy volunteered as the male to supervise first. I just KNEW he was going to abuse this power. It made me sick to think about.
Ron and I found Harry, and with a quick hello, explanation, and dropping off of what bags I still had on me, I was off again. Because there were only two of us patrolling for the first round, we would each take two house carriages and stop in the first year carriage every once and a while. After all, they WERE first years, how much trouble could they possibly get into without knowing any magic? I was in charge of the Gryffindors and the Ravenclaws. One upside to Malfoy volunteering is that I didn't have to even LOOK at the Slytherins. I was perfectly fine with that.
It turned out that it wasn't that bad. I had popped in to chat with Ron, Luna, Neville and Ginny a few times and the rest of the students weren't doing anything too bad. I did have to help a first year with his Galleons, as he was a muggle-born like me and didn't understand them yet. I remembered those times. The little first year seemed so nervous and embarrassed, but I assured him that there was nothing to be ashamed of and that he would get used to it soon enough.
Now there were only a few minutes left in my duty, and nothing disastrous had happened on my time. I figured it was okay to go back and see my friends. Walking down the hall, I was consumed in my thoughts. I had already seen everybody I wanted to and I was back for another year. Even though Cedric's death was still fresh in everyone's mind, we were back and we would be safe at Hogwarts. I doubt that everyone would be so welcoming to Harry. I bet that they would prefer to imagine that he was lying so they didn't have to face reality. But I believed him, and so did the people who should really matter to him. Ron, Ginny, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Fred and George-
I stopped dead in my tracks. Where were Fred and George? I hadn't seen them at all. That definitely wasn't a good sign. I turned around and peeked into every single Gryffindor seat that I could find, starting at the back of the carriage. About half way through, I began to panic. There was still no sign of them. I hadn't seen Lee Jordan either when I thought about it. I knew they were somewhere on the train, but if I hadn't seen them, they were obviously up to something.
Hurrying, I scuttled further and further until I was only one set of seats away from the Prefect's carriage. Taking a huge breath, I peered around the door. There was the trio. But they weren't alone. A group of younger students were with them.
"Guys? What are you doing?" I asked, trying to control my nerves.
"Not much, just sitting on the train, going to Hogwarts. You?" Fred replied with a grin.
"You know that's not what I meant," I tried to reason.
"You're right. Don't you think she deserves an explanation, Freddie?" George said turning and facing his brother. I beamed with authority that the twins might actually listen to me.
"Oh, very much so. Why don't we just step into the hall?" Fred replied. I noted that Lee looked very surprised.
I smiled and stepped into the hall. Promptly after exiting the carriage Fred and George each linked one of their arms with mine, boxing me between them.
I probably should have seen that one coming.
"Well Hermione, what we are doing is nothing personal," George grinned.
"Just business!" Fred chuckled. The pushed me through the door to the prefect's carriage. It was a light push, just enough to make me stumble forwards, but I still wanted to get them for it.
"Sorry," Fred said insincerely, with a huge smile.
"Yeah, really, we will let you out when we're ready for your lecture - if we remember!" George continued.
They closed the door just as I was about to push past them. I heard the click of the lock.
"Alohamora!" I tried, but it was useless. They had obviously thought ahead.
"What did you do now Granger?" a smooth voice asked from behind me. Just my luck. Locked in with Malfoy. I spun around to face him, but he wasn't sneering like I expected him to be.
"I guess we'll be stuck with each other for a while then," he said with a smile. He sprawled on one of the soft bench couches that filled the carriage. I didn't move. This was so uncharacteristic of Malfoy, something had to be up.
"Well?" he asked accusingly while patting the seat next to him, motioning for me to sit down.
The scene changed. I was standing in the Prefect's bathroom. Draco was standing in front of me.
"Draco, honestly, you can trust me." I cooed, taking a small, tentative step forward.
"No, I can't. You can't help me." he snapped at me.
"I'm not going anywhere Draco. I know you've been in the room of requirement. Please, don't do anything stupid. I can help you. We can do it together."
He let out an non-humorous laugh. "You don't understand. You can't help me."
"Draco," I whispered, stepping forwards.
"Just go. Trust me, you will show me no sympathy again. Not after tonight."
I padded the rest of the length of the room in just a few seconds. I wrapped my arms around him and closed my eyes, breathing in his spicy scent. I expected him to fight, but in typical Draco style, he surprised me. He didn't even act like he was going to fight, he just collapsed into me and began to cry.
I was holding Draco as he cried silently into my shoulder. He was hunched over me and was sobbing uncontrollably. Convulsing, we held each other tightly. Draco's sobs began to become more quiet and distant until they stopped completely. He squeezed me a bit tighter before letting go.
"You are such an amazing witch, Hermione." Draco whispered. "Stay in your common room tonight. Stay out of the danger. Please, please, remember that I'm not the one that signed up for this. I was chosen, I didn't choose. I never wanted this to happen. Stay safe. Try to remember these past years. How we became friends. You don't have to tell Potter and Weasel-y. I'll miss you when I'm gone and you hate me." He smiled. It was a sad smile just the same.
"Draco, I don't understand? What are you trying to say?" I was honestly confused.
"You will know soon enough. I can't tell you - but really, make sure you rub it in Pansy's space that you were the last one to comfort me. Not her." he dryly joked, referring to how Pansy had cheated on him with Blaise earlier this year. She was still in a shock that Draco had been fine with it really, and just dumped her on the spot. She was convinced that Draco and I were together, but in reality we were just friends. And unless my feelings were mutual, that was all we would ever be.
"Why Draco?" I asked, slightly whining. I hated it when I couldn't figure out something and somebody kept the answer from me. Draco sighed painfully and rolled up his sleeve, exposing the black dark mark etched into his arm.
The scene changed again. I was being restrained by Finir Greyback, and Harry was being held by Bellatrix in front of me. However, from where I stood in the memory, I was standing on the opposite side of the room from myself.
"Well?" she peeped.
"I can't be sure." Draco whispered.
"Draco, look closely son." Malfoy said to him, grabbing the back of his neck. He looked terrified. "If we are the ones to hand Potter over to the Dark Lord, everything will be.. Well it will all be better for us. Do you understand?" Draco shivered.
"Now we won't be forgetting who actually caught him, I hope, Mr. Malfoy?" Scabior slithered, stepping from beside Greyback and towards Malfoy.
"You dare to talk to me like that in my own house!" Malfoy screamed, his grip tightening on Draco's neck. I saw him tilt his head back a bit, away from the pain.
"Luscious!" Mrs. Malfoy hissed, stepping towards her son and spouse. Malfoy removed his hand from Draco, and Mrs. Malfoy gently dragged him away from Draco.
"Don't be shy sweetie, come over!" Bellatrix cooed, taking Draco's hand and bringing him closer to Harry. "Now, if this isn't who we think it is Draco," she ordered as Draco kneeled, "and we call him, he'll kill us all. We need to be absolutely sure."
Draco swallowed. "What's wrong with his face?" he asked. Normally, from a Malfoy, this would be taken as an insult, but Draco didn't say it like that. He said it so he sounded honestly concerned. Bellatrix obviously didn't pick up on this.
"Yes, what IS wrong with his face?" she demanded.
"He came to us like that. Something he picked up in the forest I recon." Scabior responded, almost sounding bored.
"Like ran into a stinging jinx? Was it you dear?" She questioned, pointing her wand at me. Greyback's grip tightened, and I didn't move. For a split second, I saw Draco's eyes leave Harry's face and look at the ground, as if trying to hear without being too obvious. He looked back quickly as Bellatrix began to shout again.
"Give me her wand! We'll see what her last spell was!" Bellatrix taunted. Draco leaned slightly back. He looked worried, and you could visibly see it in his face. His father tapped him on the shoulder, and he jumped at the touch. He stood beside his father obediently.
"Got you!" Bellatrix laughed, pointing at me. She continued to laugh until she suddenly stopped and gasped.
Talking to one of the snatchers, she gasped, "What's that? Where did you get that from?"
"It was if her bag when we searched her. Recon it's mine now!" he replied with a smirk. The sword of Gryffindor moved in his hand as he talked.
Bellatrix hit him with a spell, the sword flying into her hands and in one swift movement, she slit the throat of another snatcher. She entangled Greyback's neck with the black curtains that hung from the walls. He made a choking sound.
"Are you mad?" Scabior screeched. Bellatrix turned to him and at once, his throat was entangled too and he was making the same choking noises. She dragged him towards her, and the choking increased.
"GO! GET OUT!" she screamed at Greyback and Scabior, releasing their throats. Holding their necks, they didn't question, and began to teeter towards the door.
"Put the boy in the cellar! We need to have a little conversation!" Bellatrix shouted as Mrs. Malfoy dragged Ron away. She got so close to my face that I could smell the rot of her breath. "GIRL TO GIRL!" she cried. I was breathing deeply, terrified. Draco took a small step forwards, fear on his face, but he stopped.
Bellatrix pinned me to the floor and laid on top of me. "That sword is meant to be in my vault at Gringotts. How did you get it?" She whispered loudly, her face just inches from mine. The panic was evident on my face and I was crying.
"WHAT DID YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS TAKE FROM MY VAULT?" she screamed into my face. Draco winced.
"We didn't take anything! Please! I didn't take anything!" I sobbed. Draco whimpered a bit in the back of his throat. He was staring at the two of us on the floor, his mouth in an evident frown and worry lines on his face.
"I don't believe it." she spoke quickly, producing a sharp blade from her robes. She dug it into my skin. It went in so deep and it was so painful. I screamed, despite myself. Once I realized I had, I screamed again, louder. Draco closed his eyes and balled his hands into fists.
"Try again? What did you take?" she asked, cocking her head.
"Nothing!" I cried.
"LIAR!" she yelled, and dug the blade into me again. I started screaming anew.
"IT'S A FAKE! THE SWORD IS A FAKE!" I sobbed. Draco tilted his head back. I saw him mouth something to himself, but the only word that I caught was 'unbelievable.'
Bellatrix sat up. "Wormtail, fetch the Goblin." She choked. He departed and went towards where Harry and Ron had just been taken. "We will see," she said. Draco let out the breath that he had been holding in.
Again, the scene changed. I was standing slightly behind Harry in the room of requirement. I was in the row next to him, trying desperately to find the diadem that we so desperately needed. I was searching so hard, that I almost thought that it was my imagination when I heard his voice.
"Well, well. What brings you here Potter?" Draco asked. I let out a small gasp and peered around an old stack of furniture. It really was Draco. He had his wand ready, and both Goyle and Zabini were behind him, ready to cast as well. They looked especially menacing. I decided to stay quiet.
"I could ask you the same." Harry chose his words carefully.
"You have something of mine. I'd like it back." Draco said quickly; smoothly.
"Well, what's wrong with the wand you have?" Harry questioned, gesturing to the wand in Draco's hand. Please, please don't fight. I couldn't stand to watch that. If it got that far, I'd have to intervene.
"It's my mother's. It's powerful, but it's… not the same. Doesn't quite understand me. Know what I mean?" Draco sneered, tightening his grip.
"Why didn't you tell her, Bellatrix? You knew it was me. You didn't say anything," Harry pointed out innocently, but tauntingly. Don't Harry, please don't start another fight. Please, Harry. I knew he was a Deatheater, but he didn't want to be. He had no choice. Please spare him.
Draco looked down, and his hand shook a little, like there was something he was hiding that Harry had just put out in the open. There probably was.
"Do him Draco," Goyle whispered. Draco looked up. "Don't be a prick. Do him!" he spat wildly at Harry through crazed eyes. Draco's eyes narrowed a little and his grip tightened.
"Easy!" Draco said as Harry began to take his wand out of his pocket.
I jumped from my hiding spot. "EXPELLIAUMUS!" I yelled, pointing the spell at Draco. My voice cracked as I stepped in front of Harry. Draco gasped when he saw me, and turned and began to run.
"Avada Kedavra!" Goyle roared.
"STUPEFY!" I cried. The spells collided in the air, sending an object flying. When Harry too in his breath sharply, I knew it had to be the diadem. That was what he had been trying to protect.
Goyle and Zabini began to run after Draco. Out of nowhere, Ron came running.
"THAT'S MY GIRLFRIEND YOU NUMPTIES!" he screamed. I really did love Ron, but I had to admit that I was embarrassed and a little hurt that he had called me his girlfriend in front of Draco. But I had to smile at his wit.
I looked at Harry. He had began to climb the stack of furniture I had been hiding behind. He threw a chair out behind him. I stood and watched. I wanted to tell him about Draco, but I didn't want to distract him. He grabbed something and threw it out of the way. A flock of what looked like Imps flew out of the furniture, squawking loudly at Harry. He kept climbing. I began to go after him in case he needed help. Sure enough, the diadem was stuck under an old couch, which I helped Harry move just enough that he could pry it out.
"GOT IT!" He shouted.
We made eye contact and he knew something was wrong. Where was no time for him to ask, so I just told.
"You said that Ron fancied Chloe. Is it still true? Because Draco…" I started.
"As far as know," Harry said, climbing down. Both of us heard a small whooshing and distant screams. We jumped down and looked in the direction that they were coming from. I narrowed my eyes. There was a bit of a glowing, orange reflection on a stack of something ahead of us. I strained to hear what was happening as the screams got closer.
Ron sprinted around the corner, jacket flying out behind him. "AHHHH GOYLE SET THE BLOODY PLACE ON FIRE!" he screamed, as he grabbed my arm and kept running. We were sprinting through the halls, Harry was right behind us.
No longer paying attention to where we were running, we rounded several corners and passed various objects, Harry seemed to be falling further behind, but I knew that he would catch up. I wouldn't have been able to stop to get him anyway, Ron's grip was too tight on my hand. We rounded another corner with what looked like a hall with glass jars and potions. There was the Fiendfyre coming from there, so we turned. Every entrance was blocked by it. I began to pant a bit. I couldn't see any way out of this. Harry managed to hold it off for a few seconds, but we were doomed. Ron fell to the ground beside me. He stood up and picked up a few objects leaning against the shelf. A broom had never looked so inviting.
He tossed one to each of us. I still wasn't comfortable on brooms, but I mimicked the way the boys pushed off of the ground. Soon enough, I was soaring through the air, above the fire, at top speed. I was bringing up the rear of our trio, with Harry up front and Ron in the middle.
"Come on, this way!" Ron shouted. Just as he did, I saw two moving figures standing on top of a stack of furniture. I let out a small scream. I couldn't leave Draco, but what else was I supposed to do? The board on which they had been standing suddenly slipped. Both Draco and Zabini fell backwards, and I had so much terror inside of me that I couldn't even talk.
"We can't just leave them!" Harry called. My heart skipped a beat. We were already so far ahead of them that I had already started preparing myself to the fact that I would never see Draco again.
"He's joking right?" Ron yelled. I gave him a quizzical look, which I think he took as agreement. Harry banked hard, and we followed him.
Being in the back, I was switched to be at the front after we turned. I maneuvered to where Draco had been standing before, and reached over my broom. I wasn't balanced or practiced enough to lean over, so I just hoped. I saw Draco's hand come off of the stack and I felt his fingers brush mine, but I wasn't close enough. I looked back behind me and he was struggling to get that hand back on the stack. He was hanging at an extremely dangerous angle. I swooped back around.
"If we die for them Harry, I'm going to kill you!" Ron screamed. The boys were ahead, and I watched as Ron grabbed Zabini and as Harry grabbed Draco. I took the lead and dodged falling obstacles, heading to the door. I concentrated, and pushed the fire out of our way just long enough for the five of us to fit through.
The door needs to be open. I thought. Of course, being the room of requirement, the door opened at my thought. I soared through the doorway. There was only one problem. I didn't know how to stop.
I rammed the broom into the floor, and I went flying. I heard someone land behind me, and I turned just in time to see Harry and Draco make just as graceful an exit as I did. Rolling in a tangle on the floor, Draco bolted up. He searched around the hall once. He found my eyes, and after he did, he sprinted off.
The memories became a blur and I pulled up. What I had overlooked before had been brought out. I knew what to do. I ran from the headmaster's office to find Draco.