The Morning Letter
Hermione did what she always did. She wore her school skirt with her knee high socks and her Oxford shirt. She braided her hair back and wore her Gryffindor colored tie and her black colored robe. She held her book bag over her shoulder and she walked with her head high. The silver from her cross glistened with the corridors lighting, and everyone turned to stare at her. The spell that she used on herself to hide her puffy eyes only slightly worked. Apparently she cried so much that no magic could conceal it completely. People were whispering about the bookworm's red eyes, but she ignored it with years of practice and refused to glance over at the Slytherin table.
"Oh come off it, Harry," Ron groaned as they took their seats at the table for breakfast. Harry had spent most of the morning in the common room telling them all about how he overheard Draco in the train's compartment the night before about him being a Death Eater. Neither of them noticed the way Hermione went frigid at his words and paled. "Why would he brag about something like that?"
"I didn't even realize you left the compartment," Hermione chose to say instead. She spent the last two years lying to her best friends, so she knew she could look Harry in his eyes and tell him that Draco wasn't a Death Eater and she would get away with it, but she didn't want her tears to betray her at the moment. Lindsey's letter was tucked into her pocket, a fresh reminder of the betrayal.
"Well you were busy crying, weren't you?" Harry pointed out. "I mean you didn't even notice that I came into the Great Hall with a broken nose, did you?"
Gasping, Hermione flew her hands to her mouth. "Harry! Who on earth broke your nose?"
"Malfoy," eying Hermione suspiciously, Harry looked over at the Slytherin table where Draco looked as if he hadn't gotten any sleep the night before. "I told you guys all about it once I sat down."
Sighing, Hermione pushed the plate of food away from her and shook her head, "I'm sorry Harry, I guess I just wasn't paying any attention."
"Oi! This is the second time that an owl is delivering an early letter," Ron was pointing at a pale colored owl with eyes as stormy as the rainy season.
Watching as the owl landed in front of Hermione, Harry cocked an eyebrow, "Aren't you a busy girl, Hermione."
Blushing, Hermione gave Reid's owl a strip of bacon and told her to fly into her room and wait for a reply. "It's from a friend."
Sweetheart,
Hermione smiled when she read that. It had been two years since she heard his affectionate nickname for her in person, but it still warmed her heart to read it on paper in his elegant handwriting.
I can't believe I let it slip away from me, but I had other things on my mind since the death of Sirius. Draco's sixteenth birthday was June 5th – he's a Death Eater now. I only remembered about it because Tyler was telling me about the gift he was planning to get you for your sixteenth birthday! Stay away from him, Sweetheart. I know I told you I agreed with you wanting to save him, but it's too late now. He had to kill someone in order to bear that mark and you're still their number one priority. I know it's going to kill you to do so, but please Sweetheart, stay away from him. My birthday is coming up soon and I'll be able to leave here, please wait for me until then. He needs to kill you and if he ignores the order, it will kill him. I'll think of something…
I love you and remember to be strong!
Draco was allowing Pansy to be all over him again and this time Theo and Blaise let it go. After Pansy gave Draco his necklace back, they cornered her and demanded to know what she was talking about. It seemed like they weren't the only ones in Slytherin who hated the Dark Lord. Pansy admitted to suspecting Draco with Hermione for a while, but that she still made moves for him because as long as it looked like she was trying for Draco Malfoy, the rest of the boys in Slytherin left her alone. Pansy admitted that she didn't really hate Hermione, but that she would be killed if the rest of Slytherin thought she was being weak.
"Did you send her something else?" Pansy whispered into Draco's ear.
Turning to where Hermione grabbed the letter from the beautiful, albino looking owl, Draco shook his head, "No."
Luna and Ginny were the only two who noticed the watchful gaze from the four Slytherins, and they both nodded their heads at each other: Draco still loved Hermione and it was obvious enough from this scene that Pansy felt nothing for Draco. It sickened them to think that Draco would stoop so low as to put on a show with Pansy just to hurt Hermione, but soon their thoughts were erased when Hermione jumped from the table and ran out with her hands over her mouth while tears poured out once again.
Draco watched as Ginny and Luna jumped up and ran after the hysterical Hermione, and he noticed that Ron and Harry didn't move to get up. Pansy whispered in his ear that maybe it was time for them to go, and Draco nodded his head. Nobody noticed as the four Slytherins followed the three girls out of the Great Hall, and nobody noticed as Draco bent over and picked up the letter from the ground.
"Fuck!" Draco hissed.
"What is it, mate?" Theo asked.
Thrusting the letter into Theo's hands, Draco felt sick, "She knows."
Theo read the letter then handed it to Blaise who then handed it to Pansy. "Who is this from?" she asked him.
"I don't know," Draco scowled, "But he called her Sweetheart, and told her that he loved her. You don't think she was cheating on me, do you?"
Blaise and Theo exchanged looks, but it was Pansy who shook her head, "Of course not, love. I don't know who this bloke is, but I know that Granger would never actually cheat on you. You could always see the love for you in her eyes – which is why I don't know how you two managed to keep it a secret for so long."
"Do you think she'll understand then?" Blaise asked. "Why you had to break up with her? Do you think she'll understand it now?"
Theo sighed, "She's a smart girl, mate. She'll understand why you had to break up with her, but she won't understand why you had to be a prick to her and why Pansy's wearing her earrings."
"It's better that she hates me," clenching his fist until the paper was cutting into the palm of his hand, Draco clenched his teeth. "But the only people that know the ritual to get a dark mark are other Death Eaters."
"Which means," Blaise paled, "That whoever is warning her against you is most likely going to try to kill her."
"I don't get it," Pansy frowned. "I mean I know that they want her dead because she's a muggle-born, but why is she their number one priority? I thought that they wanted Potter killed?"
"Your father's a Death Eater and you don't know this stuff?"
"Father wants me to be the perfect little Death Eater's wife," Pansy shook her head maliciously. "That means I don't ask questions and I stay the hell away from their business."
"Those are good rules," Blaise nodded approvingly.
Sighing, Draco pulled them into a hidden alcove. Placing a silencing spell around them so that nobody could hear anything that they were saying, he took in a deep breath. He thought back to the holidays after their third year and he remembered how his father told his mother to pack him a bag for the states. He said that he needed to blend in with the muggles and that he would be gone for a while, so he needed lots of things. He also told her to pack him bags of refillable blood so that he could make deals with the vampires. When he was leaving, Lucius looked down at his son and smirked. Draco still shuddered at his words; when I return son, you'll have one less Mudblood dirtying up your school.
"It was the summer after third year," Draco started to explain, "Father went to America to recruit vampires and demons for the Dark Lord. Dumbledore expects us to recruit dark creatures, but he's only thinking inside of the box and trying to beat us to the ones in the wizarding world."
Theo had a thoughtful expression at this information. "That was actually smart of your father," he hated to admit it, but it was true. "No one from the Order would be expecting American creatures to become involved with our war."
"Exactly," Blaise shook his head. He knew this story already. He was over at the Malfoy Manor when Lucius returned from his trip. "But that isn't the only reason Lucius went to LA. He knew a certain witch was on vacation there, and he felt that he could kill two birds with one stone. Literally."
"Because I'm always complaining about Granger to my father, he realized that she's the reason Potter's still alive-"
"And it didn't help with everyone from Slytherin complaining about her… soon enough all of the Death Eaters realized it," Theo added in recognition.
Pansy nodded her head to show that she understood what they were all saying. Her face was blank from all emotions. "Kill Granger, then Potter's an easy target. So Lucius followed Granger to the states then?"
"It didn't work out exactly as he planned it," Draco snickered, "It seemed like she was ready for his attack and she wasn't alone. She mocked him and taunted him, and Father lost his cool – he slapped her."
Pansy gasped and rubbed both of her own cheeks out of instinct. Being a female, she knew what it was like to anger a Death Eater and become victims to their hits. "But she seemed perfectly normal when she returned to Hogwarts that year."
"Well…" Draco was still snickering, "As I said, she was expecting him. After Father slapped her she only laughed it off then continued to mock him. She had two friends with her –Father said that one of them was a vampire, but he froze him, and for some reason Granger knocked out the second one."
"He was probably a muggle and she knew that he would be killed for being in the way."
"That's what we said too," Blaise nodded his head to show that he agreed with what Pansy was thinking.
"Father crucio'd Granger," Draco clenched his fist again and his eyes narrowed as he thought of the girl he loved being tortured like that – by his own father. "And by some miracle, she stood up from it," Pansy's eyes were wide and she didn't know what to say. "She ended up disarming him when he was least expecting it and she managed to paralyze him and woke up her two friends. One of them was about to say something, but she had enough sense left in her to know that Father could still hear them and she warned him to keep shut. They took Father's wand."
"Is that why Lucius came to my father when he returned from his trip, for a spare wand?"
Draco nodded his head, "Exactly. They still have his wand."
"Have you talked to her about this?"
Now Draco shook his head. "She knows that I know about it, and she realized that all those time I was insulting them I was really giving them warnings. Other than that though, I don't know how much she knows."
"Well apparently," Pansy grabbed Draco's hand and flipped it over to show the letter, "She knows enough. And whoever this person is, he knows a lot too."
"Too much," Draco growled.
Ginny and Luna were both working to calm Hermione down. Hermione was now in her room, throwing all her things everywhere that it could possibly reach. She was muttering things under her breath, but it was too soft and too jumbled for them to understand what she was saying. Sitting on the edge of Hermione's bed, Luna shoved Ginny towards the hysterical girl; urging her to grab her – after all, Ginny had known her longer and Hermione would be less likely to attack Ginny for trying to pull her out of whatever mood she was in. There were tears falling from her eyes the way water falls out of a faucet, but neither girl could determine whether they were tears of anger and frustration or the tears of a broken hearted girl.
"Hermione," Ginny spoke calmly, trying to slowly inch her way closer to her distraught friend. "Hermione, hun… what did the letter say?"
Shaking her head, Hermione didn't even realize that she lost the letter or that Draco was now in possession of it. "How could I be so stupid?" she cried out, falling to her knees.
Looking at Luna for help, Ginny frowned at Hermione who was now sitting on her knees with her face in her hands. "You aren't stupid," Luna spoke up, also unsure of how to react in a situation like this. Ginny told her all about Draco breaking up with Hermione – at least that's what they think he did – but it was clear enough that whatever was in that letter is what was truly upsetting their friend, "You're the brightest-witch-of-your-age."
"Some bright witch, I am," Hermione snorted. "I can't believe I forgot."
"What did you forget?"
"That he was already destined to become one of them," hiccupping, Hermione pulled away from Ginny; not wanting to be helped up. She wanted to just stay there on the ground forever.
"What are you talking about?" Ginny asked.
Luna looked nervous. She had an idea what the letter said, but she was scared of the answer. "What did the letter say, Hermione?"
"He took the mark," Hermione sighed. Ignoring the gasps from Ginny and Luna, she called to the owl, "Hades, bring me a quill and piece of parchment."
Dropping onto the bed next to Luna, Ginny watched as the owl followed the order, "Hermione, who wrote to you? What the hell is going on?"
Placing a silencing spell on the room, Hermione stared her two girlfriends in their eyes, "Can you two keep a secret? I mean, Harry and Ron can't know this. I've kept this from them for two years, and if I have to I'll obliviate the both of you plus whoever you tell."
Seeing the seriousness in Hermione's eyes, Ginny and Luna both nodded their heads, "We promise."
"I'm writing to Draco's brother," Hermione confided in them. "It all started during that summer after third year. Let me send this out to him then I'll explain everything."
Ginny looked at Luna and Luna stared at Ginny. Hermione was still kneeling on the ground, but now she was furiously writing something to the brother that they've never heard of before. Ginny blinked her eyes and Luna nodded her head. Within seconds they were both kneeling next to Hermione and reading over her shoulder.
Reid,
I know! Lindsey owled me last night, and I understand a little of it now. I also forgot what you told me. Are you mental? Stay away from here. He's sixteen now. Once you ascend he'll be sent to kill you – don't be foolish, don't make it easy for him. I don't want you here. Lindsey's on the run – I doubt he wrote to you, but only I can get a hold of him through my owl; something about runes and the firm trying to kill him or whatever. Don't worry about me, Draco broke up with me yesterday – I think – I went to tell him happy six months on the train ride back to school and he demanded to have his earrings back for that pig faced twat, Parkinson. He then called me a Mudblood and said I look like a slag. At dinner he gave me a necklace and I gave it to Parkinson to match the earrings. He called me a bint! You don't need to worry about me protecting him anymore; I'm going to cut off his bollocks with Destiny then I'm going to shove them up his arse and suffocate him with something equally horrendous – I'm thinking a dungbomb. Yes, I'm going to suffocate him with a dungbomb, and laugh as he slowly dies! So I'm sorry to tell you, but your brother will be dead soon and I'll probably be in Azkaban. Tell Tyler thank you for whatever he's planning to send me. Also, give my love to Caleb and Sarah as well as Pogue and Kate – I hope she liked the everlasting rose that I sent to her while she was in the hospital.
Love always,
The Sweetheart
"Explain," Ginny said, once the owl was gone, "Now!"
Sighing, Hermione shook her head. "I have two more letters to write then I promise I'll explain everything."
"You said that you would tell us everything after you sent out this one letter," Luna pointed out.
"I know," Hermione nodded her head, "But according to Lindsey's letter last night, he already told Faith and William what was going on, and I need to let them know I'm alive. If I don't write to them then Hogwarts is going to have a very pissed off vampire and slayer."
"Vampire and slay-" Ginny's jaw dropped while her eyes bulged. "What the hell happened two years ago, Hermione?"
Faith,
I'm alive – you will be happy to know that I'm going to use Destiny for once. I can't say much because class is going to start in an hour and I'm about to tell Ginny and Luna everything. I sort of had a bit of a mental breakdown in the Great Hall again. Draco broke up with me last night and he's going to meet Destiny. So it doesn't matter that he's a Death Eater – I'm going to kill him either way. Give Connor lots of kisses for me, and give Angel and Cordy my love. I'm giving William his own letter because Lindsey told me he's worried about me.
Love you,
Doll Face
"First Sweetheart, and now Doll Face?" Ginny smirked. "Now, I really want to know what's going on."
"Just one more letter," Hermione rolled her eyes. "And trust me – this is the most important one."
William,
First of all – I don't know how much Lindsey told you, but I'm alive! See! I'm writing to you and everything. He wrote to me last night and told me that he got his hand back – YAY! He also told me about the contract and everything, but you don't need to worry. Draco and I aren't together anymore,-
"Why aren't you telling him the whole Malfoy broke up with you thing like you told the other two people?" questioned Luna.
Hermione shook her head, "Are you mental? I can't tell William that. He would kill Draco in a second."
"Isn't that what you want to do anyway?" Ginny grinned.
"It's different."
"How is it different?"
"I don't want William to kill him."
"Then what's the point of-"
"The quicker I send out this letter, the quicker I can tell you two everything."
"Please continue."
-so I won't be alone with him anywhere. No more secret rendezvous for us, you'll be happy to know. I'm back at Hogwarts which is the safest place to be. He can't hurt me while I'm here so don't worry about me-
"Why are you sugarcoating everything for this William guy?" Luna asked her.
"Yeah?" Ginny also wanted to know.
"I don't want him to know the truth."
"Will that Faith girl tell him?"
"She's not stupid."
-because I'm alive. I know you're more worried about me since Sirius's death, seeing as how only Remus knows the truth now, but don't worry anymore. I'm telling Luna and Ginny the truth. I decided that you were right and that I should have people who are close by me that can help to keep me safe-
"Liar! You're only telling us everything because you had a mental breakdown and let something slip out."
"Well I'm not about to tell him that. He doesn't need to know the exact reasons; just as long as he knows that I'm not alone."
-I'm telling them right now, so I can't write long because class starts in an hour. I hope you're having a better time with Buffy; Cordy told me that you were in Sunnydale for a whole month – good news, I hope? Well, I'm waiting for your annoying reply back!
Keep out of trouble, stay blonde, and remember that I love you,
Scarlet
"Scarlet?" Luna asked, watching with wide eyes as the owl flew out the window.
Crossing her arms over her chest, Ginny flopped down onto the bed. "Now, I really want to know."
Walking alone to class, Hermione rubbed at her forehead, trying to make her headache go away. Ginny and Luna believed everything she told them, and they both promised to not tell anyone, but they asked so many questions. It's like the idea of her summer in LA excited them both. Groaning at the idea of having two more people know the truth, Hermione walked into their Defense Against Dark Arts class, and things just got worse. Professor Snape finally got the position he had wanted for years now, and Hermione took it to be an omen. Every professor that had this position so far, had to leave for some reason – she had no doubt in her mind that Professor Snape would be the next to go.
"Watch it, Mudblood."
Biting her bottom lip until she could taste blood, Hermione stared into the steel colored eyes that had been haunting her since she was only thirteen. "Shove off, Malfoy."
Draco wanted to soften his glare and hold the witch in his arms, but if he did so they would both be killed. He debated on if he should return the letter back to Hermione or not. A selfish part of him wanted her to know that he knew she knew the truth, but then he saw the pain in her eyes as she kept his gaze. That was his brave stupid little witch; she would never back down – even if she was losing. "I saw you storm out of the Great Hall again," Draco chose to be cruel instead. "What's the matter Granger – boyfriend break up with you?"
Hermione felt her nails digging into the palm of her hands and she took in a deep breath. Theo and Blaise just approached them, and they both looked shell shocked at Draco's words. Pansy leaned against Draco and stared at Hermione with an unknown glaze in her eyes, and Hermione fought back the urge to punch them both. "Yes," she ended up saying instead, thinking back to the nights of silly banters before killing their victims, "He decided that he'd rather do whom everyone else is doing. He likes his blood pure, but his twats filthy," smirking at the gasp Pansy made, and the amused looks in Theo and Blaise's eyes, Hermione raked Pansy's body with her eyes then flipped her hair. "His new slag puts the word Mudblood to shame."
"If I'm the new slag," Pansy knew that Hermione was hurting because of what Draco did to her, and she understood that Hermione would hate her more now than she did before, but her words caught her off guard and it hurt her a little, "Then that makes you the old trash."
Laughing, Hermione shook her head, "Oh sweetie," she smirked, "You really need to come up with better lines than that," then winking at Theo and Blaise, Hermione grinned, "Boys," turning away, she walked over to her desk.
"I was going to hex you for stooping that low," Blaise chuckled, shaking his head while leading the still stunned Draco to his seat, "But it looks like she handled it quite well."
"I can't believe she said that I'm dirty and overused," Pansy huffed out.
"What the bloody hell did I just do?" Draco groaned, slamming his head onto the desk.
