Draco and Hermione hurried down the corridor. They didn't dare look at each other. They were enemies, and they had nothing to do with each other. Neither of them knew why McGonagall had called them both to her office. They arrived there out of breath. You practically had to run through the hallways now. The Carrows all but paid the students to torture each other. Draco knew not a single person would dare try to curse him, but a misfired curse can hit anyone. Draco pushed open the door and walked inside McGonagall's office, purposely letting go of the heavy door so that it would swing back and hit Hermione. Unfortunately, for him, Hermione had expected a trick like that and caught the door. Giving him a look of pure hatred, she walked in after him.
"Granger, Malfoy. Sit down," McGonagall said, her voice was grave and both obeyed. "Draco, I've received a note from your parents. It involves both of you."
Draco wondered how a note from his parents could involve the mudblood.
"Draco, your parents have left You Know Who's side. They've gone into hiding. You are to remain here under my protection. They also seem to believe that Professor Snape will continue to protect you even after he finds out. I, on the other hand think that that would be unlikely. My guess is that Snape will try to throw you to the Dark Lord. I've devised a plan…"
It was at this point that Draco tuned out. His parents had left the Dark Lord's side? Could they get any more stupid? The Dark Lord will kill them! He'll not only kill them, but he'll kill me! Draco would never admit, but this thought scared him more than anything else did. Curse his parents! Didn't they realize that they would all die? What on earth made them do that? Draco mumbled a string of cuss words under his breath. He then noticed that Hermione was arguing with Mickey G, as Draco and his cohorts called her. He did a double take. Frizzfreak arguing with a teacher? That was something new. He tuned back in.
"I'm not going to go into hiding with him! Do you think I'm crazy?"
"Hermione, it's the only way. He Who Must Not Be Named is going after you. He wants to get to Harry and you are the closest way."
"Why can't I just go back to Harry and Ron? They need my help!"
"Hermione, you of all people should know the answer to that. If you go to them, the Deatheaters will follow you. Straight to Harry. If that happens…"
"I know," Hermione sighed. "But isn't there any other solution?"
"Not that I can think of. They know that you're here and they know why you're here."
"Of course they know why I'm here! They're the ones who put me out of commission in the first place! Still, do I have to go with Malfoy?"
"Hermione, there's no other option. The two of you have to go into hiding and this is the best way to do it. Now, Draco, Hermione, listen closely to my directions. Your lives and others' depend on it. Your flight is tomorrow. You will take a port key to my friend's house. She lives quite close to the airport. From there, you will walk to the airport and get on the 10:50 flight to America. Here are your tickets. Hermione, I trust that you'll help Draco fit in. Whether you want to or not, you two have to work together if you want to survive. Here are the directions for when you arrive at your destination. Follow them carefully. I want both of you packed tonight. Do it while everyone is asleep. No one must know where you have gone. Do you understand? Malfoy, I want your word that you will not mention your destination to anyone."
"Like that's worth much," Hermione whispered under her breath.
Professor McGonagall gave her a stern look but didn't say anything.
"Whatever," Draco said, not quite sure what was going on.
"The two of you need to be in my office at 5:30 tomorrow morning. Based on your previous years, I am certain you will be able to get here without being caught. Now go. Get packed, get some sleep, and I'll see you at 5:30. Oh, and pack light. Bring only what you can carry on yourselves or in a small bag." She waved them away.
When the two of them got into the hallway, Draco turned to Hermione, "So what did she want?"
"Did you not here a single thing she said? Jeez Ferret face, I actually thought that you were a little smarter than that. You and I have to go into hiding because the Deatheaters are after us. McGonagall thinks it will be best if the two of us go into hiding together. We're leaving for America tomorrow morning."
Draco stared at her, his jaw hanging so low that it was all Hermione could do to keep from laughing at how stupid he looked.
"Y…You, m… me – America?" Draco stuttered.
"Oh, so you do have ears. Well I suppose that's good."
Draco started to walk away.
"By the way, McGonagall said that we are going to have to disguise ourselves as Muggles."
That stopped Draco, "WHAT? Is she insane? Does she really think I'm going to disguise myself as a Muggle?" He said the last word with a note of disgust.
"You don't have any choice. Neither do I. If either of us wants to survive, we have to work together. Trust me; you're the last person I would want to go into hiding with. In fact, you're the last person I would want to be in the same building with, much less living in the same house. Well, we're leaving tomorrow. I actually want to get some sleep tonight, so I'm going to bed. Oh, and Malfoy, you can only bring one bag," Hermione grinned and walked on down the hall.