Chapter two

Hermione was out of breath when she finally pushed open the entrance to the Gryffindor Common Room. It was getting dark, and already the light that filtered through the large windows weren't enough to eliminate the entire room. The fire had been lit, and the old oil lamps that hung on the walls offered a comforting golden glow, making the space appear large and welcoming.
She was pleased to see that the room was mostly empty, apart from a few second years who were playing Exploding Snap in the corner, and a dark haired girl who was reading a book with the title 'Rare types of magical fungi & where to find them'.
Hermione quickly scanned for Ron and Harry, and spotted them in front of the fire, leaning against their favourite armchairs engaged in what looked like a fierce game of Wizard Chess. She made her way over and gently pushed Ron out of the way with her leg, falling into the seat that he had been resting against not so long ago. After an annoyed look on his part, he shuffled around to face the chessboard. She was about to start telling them both about what she had overheard when Ron beat her to it.
"We waited in the Great Hall for you for a bit, but you were taking ages, so we left. Sorry" He didn't sound the slightest bit sorry at all, instead eyed the board with concentration. Suddenly he grinned and announced with triumph "Queen to A4. That's checkmate Harry"
Hermione felt a twinge of annoyance at Ron as she watched his chess piece tackle Harry's pawn, before it started beating the pawn with its sword.
"I took so long Ronald, because I ran into Malfoy on my way back from Professor Vector's office." she said haughtily, waiting for their reaction. Unsurprisingly, Harry was the one that sat up first at the sound of Malfoy's name.
"What happened" asked Harry quickly.
With that, Hermione launched into her story, explaining everything that had happened up until she had been interrupted by her Professor.
"So, wait, Malfoy was crying?" crowed Ron, with unmistakable glee, "Actually cryin-"
"That's what he's been doing in the Room of Requirement!" interrupted Harry excitedly. "And you know what this means don't you? It means that he's definitely working for Voldemort. I told-"
"We know, you were right" groaned Ron, "but it doesn't really matter now does it? One word to Dumbledore and he'll be shipped off to Azkaban, wont he."
"Ron, that's a horrible thing to say!" Hermione cried, "even if he is working for...Voldemort." she shuddered at the name, "I mean, it's not like he has much of a choice in the matter does he?"
There was silence after she said this, with only the sound of the laughing second years and Crookshanks as he jumped onto Hermione's lap, purring.
"Dumbledore will deal with it" said Ron after a period of time. "He'll probably even find out what Malfoy's mission is..."
"But Dumbledore's not here" Harry said automatically. "He's gone out again. I don't know when he's coming back either, he didn't me."
"We would need somewhere for he could hide..." Hermione trailed off, her thoughts on Malfoy.
Ron looked confused, but Harry answered her. "You can't hide in Hogwarts, someone would find you." His eyes drifted to his pocket in which the Marauders Map was tucked safely.
"Well, we couldn't get him out of Hogwarts, he would be seen, and-"
"Wait a second, are you actually talking about helping Malfoy!" Ron exclaimed loudly, finally catching on. After receiving a curious look from the girl reading, he lowered his voice and continued. "I mean, seriously? That git has never done anything for us, has he? And I can tell you now, if our places were reversed, he wouldn't do a bloody thing to help us out! Hermione, think of all the stupid names that he's called you. You would help him after that?"
Hermione didn't say anything, instead surveyed Ron's shocked expression before answering.
"True, he's done some awful things, and he really is a horrible person, but I don't think that anyone deserves to be killed."
Ron didn't say anything, but Harry looked at her and gently said "Herm, I know that you don't like it, but when Dumbledore comes back, I'll tell him everything. None of the other teachers will believe us and until then I'll keep watching him on the Map. No matter how powerful Voldemort is, he can't kill him while he's at Hogwarts." He paused before saying lightly, "Now, shouldn't you be worrying about that Essay that Snape gave us on the uses of Unicorn Horn? It's due in next week, and you don't want to get the reputation as a slacker."
Hermione nodded, and Harry relaxed slightly. But although she appreciated Harry's speech, she had the nagging feeling that he was more interested in finding out what Malfoy's mission was then worrying about Malfoy's health.
Hermione stayed with them for another 10 minutes, before excusing herself for bed. As she walked up the flight of stairs that led to her dormitory, she couldn't stop thinking about how Malfoy's voice had sounded, so defeated and afraid. Completely different in tone to when he usually talking to her. The Malfoy in her head followed her as she got ready for bed, and then that night, pierced her dreams with his trembling voice.