|| Hecre's Theory ||

Written by Coretta

Disclaimer: Anything recognisable belongs to either J.K. Rowling or C.S. Lewis. Everything else belongs to me.

|| Chapter One ||

Hermione Jean Granger was angry. She was angry, she was mad, she was livid, she was furious…she was all those things and more. Why, on this thoroughly normal and unimportant day, was she so full of emotions? Because Harry James Potter had cheated.

"Argh!" she screamed in frustration. "Harry, why can't you see how this is wrong? It's a book! It's got mysterious writing in it! Didn't you learn anything from our last experience with something like that?"

"I did, actually," Harry replied coolly. "I learnt that if I hadn't read Tom Riddle's diary in the first place, Ginny would've died." Ron, who was watching the two of them bicker back and forth as if he was watching a tennis match, felt his face pale at the reminder. "Anyway, you're just annoyed because I beat you in class for once." It took a few seconds for what he had just said – combined with Hermione's horrorstruck face – to sink in, and when it did, he immediately regretted it. "Hermione, I'm sorry-"

"That was low, Harry," she said quietly. "You know how hard I try, and I know exactly how hard you don't try."

Harry looked sheepish. "Yeah, I guess." He tried to look pleading. "But Hermione! Come on, just this once, can't you be happy that I'm attempting to get better?"

"Only because of that stupid book," Hermione hissed. "If you want to show me you 'attempting to get better', get a new Potions book and throw that one in the fire."

Ron gasped. "Damage of school property, 'Mione! Blasphemous!"

Hermione shot him a look. "Oh, shut up. The school has plenty of textbooks. I'm sure one potentially dangerous one can be spared."

"I'm not throwing it, Hermione," said Harry stubbornly. Hermione gave him a withering look, but he stood his ground. "I'm serious. Drop it."

They stared at each other for a long time, before Hermione finally sighed and dropped her gaze. "Fine. I'll drop it – for now. But if something bad happens, I reserve the right to sing 'I told you so' in your face for the next month."

Harry rolled his eyes and cracked a smile. "I'm sure your singing would be even worse than whatever bad incident happens."

"Harry!"

When Ron saw they were no longer fighting, he changed the subject. He wanted to side with Harry – the Potions text book was dead useful – but Hermione would skin him alive. He didn't want to give her another chance to pester the black-haired boy. "Oi, look!" Ron said. "Malfoy! And Parkinson and Zabini, too. They look suspicious, don't they, all huddled up there, whispering?" Harry's head shot up from studying the ground, and when Ron saw his eyes widen and shine with determination, he knew he had said exactly the wrong thing.

"Ronald!" Hermione hissed to him, watching as Harry assumed a 'stalking stance', and he shrugged apologetically.

"I'm gonna see what's up," Harry said lowly.

"Harry-"

"Hey mate, I don't think-"

"I'll meet you guys later," Harry said abruptly, and without waiting for their answer, he fished his Invisibility Cloak out from his pocket and threw it over himself. When he disappeared around the corner after the three Slytherins, Hermione punched Ron on the shoulder.

"Nice going, Ronald!"

"I'm sorry! No need to get violent, witch!"

|| Break ||

Harry's eyes were fixed on the platinum blonde hair of the Malfoy heir as he stalked them as quietly as possible under his cloak. At the moment, Parkinson was chattering happily about some ball or another that her family would be holding during the next holidays, and Zabini and Malfoy walked steadily beside her. They looked thoroughly bored, but listened anyway.

"- and Mother asked me to write up guest lists, you know, 'cause she knows I always know the best people to invite, and I was wondering if you two wanted to come?" Parkinson's voice was hopeful, and the two made noncommittal grunts. "Oh, thank you, boys! Your parents as well, of course they'll come. Actually-" her voice was lowered now, and she conspicuously looked around, before continuing, "-I was wondering if perhaps…the Dark Lord would want to come?" Harry had to creep closer to hear, and at the last sentence, both he and Malfoy tensed up at the same time. "Because, you know, Draco, he's staying at your place and all."

Harry's eyes widened. Voldemort was at Malfoy Manor? At the place he was most likely to be searched for? He was supposed to be smarter than that…he was smarter than that. It made absolutely no sense. In fact, it seemed almost too easy. Harry moved even closer, ready to catch the rest of the conversation.

"I doubt the Dark Lord is willing to go to a petty party, Pansy," Malfoy replied stiffly. "He has much more important things to deal with. And aside from all that, he and Father are…away. Out of the country. On business."

Parkinson made a disappointed sound. "Fine, but…"

As the Slytherin girl chattered on, Harry felt horrified. Not only was the Dark Lord with Malfoy Senior, but apparently he was actively doing something, too, instead of just waiting for Harry like all the other years. What was it? Was he building a weapon of some sort? Looking for more knowledge on the Dark Arts? He was out of the country…which didn't bode well. Dumbledore had told him that Voldemort had travelled when he was younger; that was when he gained much of his knowledge on the Dark Arts.

"…and Draco, I was wondering how you were going with your mission." Parkinson sounded expectant. Harry's thoughts jerked back into the present situation as he heard Parkinson's last exclamation in her high-pitched voice. Mission? What mission? Could it possibly be a Death Eater mission? So many questions were assaulting Harry's mind that he was finding it hard to control them.

They stopped as Malfoy hissed, grabbed Parkinson's wrist and looked around hurriedly. His eyes lingered for a moment on the spot where Harry was trying very hard to stop breathing, and for a moment, he thought he might have been spotted. However, after a few seconds, the Slytherin's eyes passed over him and he slowly exhaled, relieved.

"Don't exclaim it in public like that!" Malfoy growled. "Anyone could have heard!"

"Ouch," Parkinson said. "You're hurting me, Draco!"

Malfoy snatched his hand away from Parkinson as if burned and began walking again. Harry crept along after them. "It's going fine. You know I'm not supposed to tell you anything. Just know that it'll come into play at the end of the year."

Zabini spoke up for the first time. "So long, Draco?"

"It isn't anything easy, Blaise." Malfoy's voice was steel. "Stop asking me questions. We might get overheard."

That was all Harry needed. As soon as the trio rounded another corner, Harry began sprinting back to where he had left Ron and Hermione. They were still there, talking quietly. When they heard footsteps running towards them, they immediately stopped whispering and sprung back from each other. Both glanced in Harry's direction, looking guilty. Harry wondered what they were talking about but shook his head. That wasn't important at the moment. Taking off the cloak, he revealed himself to them, face going red with anger and determination.

"Ron, Hermione," Harry said urgently, slightly breathless. "I just heard Malfoy…he's got a mission!"

"Yeah," Ron snorted. "To make our lives miserable, the bloody git. We knew that already."

"No!" Harry said impatiently. "He's got…a Mission." The way he phrased it and the particular emphasis on the word 'mission' were enough for Hermione to know what he was talking about.

"Mate, I heard you the first time, and I still think-"

"You're not serious, Harry?" Hermione asked in almost a whisper, sounding horrified. "You must have heard it all wrong, perhaps they were talking about something else."

"I didn't hear it wrong," Harry said forcefully. "Parkinson was talking about a party, said she wanted to invite Voldemort-" the other two flinched, "-to play – fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself – and then she said, 'Oh, and how are you going on your mission, Malfoy?' Or something like that, anyway."

"All the same," Hermione retorted, "it just isn't possible. Malfoy is sixteen years old. Sixteen! Last I heard, even V-Voldemort wasn't desperate enough to recruit underage wizards." She looked immensely relieved to have finished the sentence, and bit her tongue; that was the very first time she had said the Dark Lord's name. For a second, Harry looked proud and Ron looked at her as if she had grown a tentacle. "What?"

Harry shook his head, seemingly to clear his thoughts. He looked determined again. "Anything is possible with Voldemort, Hermione. Just come help me confront him this once, and I promise I'll stop talking about it." Hermione opened her mouth, closed it, and then opened it again.

"Why is it I always give in to you, Harry?" Hermione grumbled. Harry smiled brilliantly and began dragging her down the hallway. Hermione snatched Ron's arm in the last second and pulled him with them.

"So we went down here, and they turned this corner and- HA! MALFOY!" Harry bellowed his rival's name across the long corridor. Malfoy was on the other end of it, about to disappear from sight, but when he heard Harry, he froze. Harry ran down the corridor towards him.

"You!" Harry shouted. "You evil git!" He grabbed the back of Malfoy's arm roughly and Malfoy instantly gave an angry snarl. He threw Harry's hand off of him, turning around.

"What are you talking about, Potter?" Malfoy spat. Hermione and Ron made it to the end of the corridor and watched the impending fight quietly. Neither really wanted to get involved. Looking at each other, they silently communicated. They would not step in unless it got out of hand. Knowing Malfoy's penchant for trouble, though, and Harry's hotheadedness, it probably would.

"I'm talking about your mission," Harry hissed. Malfoy's eyes widened imperceptibly – so small that Hermione only just caught the movement – and he instinctively hid his left arm from their view.

"I don't have time for your nonsense, Potter," Malfoy snapped. "I have things to do." He turned to leave, but was once again grabbed by Harry. He got Malfoy's left arm this time, and the blonde winced from the contact. "GET OFF ME, POTTER!"

"Not until you tell me what you're doing," Harry replied stubbornly. Malfoy laughed coldly and snatched his arm back.

"Do you really think I'd tell my enemy anything of what I'm doing? You think I'm stupid, Potter, but I'm really not." He glared at the Boy Who Lived and took his wand out. "Now, don't be hasty, Potter. Don't try to touch me again. If you do…" The blonde stroked his wand thoughtfully, suddenly not angry anymore. Instead, he seemed to relish the moment. "If you do, I'll have to curse your bollocks off. And that wouldn't be pleasant, now would it?"

"You're trying to distract me," Harry growled. "It's not working, and I won't listen to empty threats. You don't think I won't go to Dumbledore and give him the memory of me overhearing you talking about Voldemort?" Now Ron, Hermione and Malfoy flinched. "Too bad, Malfoy. I'm only too willing."

It happened almost too quickly for anyone to do anything. Malfoy shouted 'Stupefy!' in Harry's direction and then began running. Harry barely dodged it in time, taking his own wand out.

"MALFOY!" Harry roared, and he tore after him.

"Should we follow them?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"Nah," Ron shrugged. "I doubt it'll get too deadly. They're bound to run into Snape soon enough. We're near the dungeons."

"But-" Hermione sighed and reluctantly took out her wand. "Come on, Ron. You never know with them two."

Ron took his wand out and they dashed after the other two. They found them shooting spells at each other two corridors down.

"Incendio!"

"Aguamenti!"

"Serpensortia!"

"Finite incantatem!"

"Diffindo!" Malfoy's last spell flew towards Harry, and he managed to spin away from most of the damage. However, there was a long gash on his arm, red blossoming where the spell had got him.

"Incarcerous! Incarcerous!" Hermione shouted. The spells hit their intended targets, and both went down. "Alright, alright. That's enough, you two." Malfoy began shouting colourful phrases at her – mainly ending in Mudblood – and Harry yelled at her for incarcerating him. "You two need to go to the Hospital Wing." The blonde, now that she looked, had a black eye and was bleeding from the nose, and Harry had the slash on his arm and a deeper cut on his forehead.

"Nah, Harry needs to go to the Hospital Wing," Ron muttered. "The blonde git can stay here and bleed to death for all I care."

"Ron! We can't leave him here! He might die from blood loss!" Hermione snapped. Ron raised an eyebrow, as if to say 'that's what I just said'. "And anyway, if a teacher finds him, they'll want to know who did this to him, and that'll be Harry."

"You wait, Potter!" Malfoy shouted. "Snape will be hearing of this!"

"Shut up, Malfoy," the three snapped. Hermione turned to Ron. "You unbind Harry, and see if you can't do anything about his cuts. The spell is Episkey." Hermione breathed in deeply and approached Malfoy, wand raised.

"What, Mudblood? You're going to get me while I'm down on the ground, is that it? What a Gryffindor you are," Malfoy sneered. Hermione ignored him, and pointing her wand at his nose, muttered, "Episkey." The gushing of the blood stopped, and with a quick 'Tergeo', it was gone. She glanced at his black eye for a moment, overlooking the look of pure astonishment on his face at the fact that she had helped him, and thought for a moment. She concluded that she didn't know anything to clear that particular injury up, and so shrugged. He looked better with it, anyway.

Glancing at Ron and Harry, who the redhead had somehow managed to fix all up, she crouched down beside Malfoy at his head. He didn't look too angrily or venomously at her, which she thought might be because he was still in shock. Looking solemn, she mustered up her courage, and, even though she knew it was terribly wrong, she slapped him on the face. Not too hard, but enough for him to feel it. "That was for calling me a Mudblood."

Behind her, she heard Ron and Harry give whoops of delight, but Malfoy's eyes darkened considerably. Hermione automatically grabbed her wand in response to his enraged expression, although she kept her face blank. "How dare you touch me, Mudblood," he snarled. She raised an eyebrow and tried to turn away, but he somehow managed to grab her arm through his bonds. She gave a pained shout; his grip was like an iron vice. "How dare you even-"

He didn't get to finish his sentence. A terrible sound drowned out his voice, a heart-wrenching sound of pure sorrow. Hermione mused for a split second that it sounded like a horn. She exchanged a panicked looked with Ron and Harry, Malfoy still holding tightly to her, when suddenly…

...they were gone.

|| Author's Note ||

Whoooooo! The action begins!

I rather liked this chapter. :) I know Draco seems a bit OOC when you consider that this is their sixth year – and we all know how poor Draco was then – but I can't write mopey, brooding Draco. I like my Malfoys with fire. ;)

Did you think the others were OOC, though? I tried to keep them as in character as possible except for Pansy and Blaise. I don't really have much of a grip on their personalities, so I made them my way.

Thank you to my reviewers! You made me so happy, because I honestly didn't think I'd have much of an audience for a pair as rare as this one. I'm trying my hardest to get chapters out to you guys as soon as possible! Please note, though, that although I updated with this chapter a day after the last, I won't be updating this quickly in the future. I tend to get excited at the start of a story, and then slow down after a few chapters.

One slightly irrelevant note: I watched this video on Youtube about Edmione (add this to the end of the Youtube URL: watch?v=fiBVc9dH4g4) and it was amazing. Literally 4 minutes of feelings and adorableness and yeah. Especially at the part where Edmund proposes a truce and looks back at Hermione and Ron looks so jealous and omg.

Anyway, I absolutely cannot wait for the next chapter, and their inevitable encounter with the Royal children in later chapters. I'm literally bouncing in my seat at the thought, and I hope you are, too! Please, read and review. 3 I promise I read all reviews individually. I don't have much spare time to be very honest, so I can't reply to every review personally. I hope this doesn't offend you guys!

Thanks for reading!

Love,

Coretta