So! This is my second chapter. I'm really glad you guys liked it. Thank you, THANK YOU! For reviewing. I am really overwhelmed! sniff, sniff I love you all! Anyway, hope you like this one.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
"Good." Remus Lupin replied, and then took his wand out. "Refreto," He said, and then suddenly a bright light flashed, which caused her to close her eyes momentarily. Before her was London, inside what seemed to be a floating fishbowl shaped television. After six years in the wizarding world, there were still some things that awed her.
"We have received reports that You-Know-Who has recruited young death eaters." He said, pointing to the screen. The scene zoomed on random faces, each going about their different businesses. "Some, your schoolmates." Suddenly the screen showed the exterior of Hogwarts castle, then the Slytherin crest. "As you already know, Draco Malfoy is one of them." The screen showed a picture of Draco, which caused Hermione to redden in anger.
"That slimy git," She muttered under her breath. "What do you want me to do?" She asked.
"We want you to go undercover. Since you are still quite young, he will not be expecting you to be working for us. You will live in a house in Knotsville, one of the most prestige subdivisions of wizarding London." She saw a peaceful neighborhood, one with rose bushes everywhere and luxurious manors filling the space. "You will pretend to be interning with the Daily Prophet, as the alibi you told your parents."
"So, I'm going to catch death eaters?" She asked, quite thrilled by the idea.
"You can put it that way. We want you to report to us people whom you think may be death eaters. Your Slytherin schoolmates, naturally. I'm not saying that all of them are, but some of them have given in to him. Look for suspicious behavior or rituals." He said, and then with a flick of the wand, the screen was gone. He smiled warmly and patted her back.
"As for your safety, your house is protected by a powerful charm, one that is unbreakable even to the most clever of wizards; care of Alastor, of course. We have set up a communication system so that you may easily call us if you need help. Floo powder is of unlimited supply in your fireplace, and expect me or some other member of the order to drop by twice a week, for updates. Feel free to use unforgivable curses if you must, Hermione. Drastic times call for these measures." His face softened, and a hint of the old Remus Lupin was seen.
"Nymphadora will be coming for later. Only Harry knows where you are, but Ron and Ginny will be briefed by Molly in due time." He looked out the window, as if knowing that someone was watching. "I have to be going now. And Hermione, do be careful." He said, then disapparated with a loud crack.
"I will." She whispered. She went out to see Mrs. Weasley dusting furniture, looking very flustered.
"Oh dear!" She said, pulling Hermione in for an embrace. "Please tell me you said no." She said, looking into Hermione's brown eyes. "You're too young to be working for the order!"
"I'm sorry," She said, and tears fell fresh from her eyes. "If it's to help our cause, I will." She buried her head into Mrs. Weasley's shoulder and continued to sob. "Could I possibly… die?" She asked, knowing that what she was about to do was deadly dangerous. And she was alone.
"I won't let that happen. No one will." She said, wiping the tears from Hermione's cheeks. She smiled at her. "Now go pack. I sent Ron and Ginny on an errand, so you have time." She pushed her gently, motioning for her to hurry.
She hurried up the stairs to put back in her suitcase the clothes that she unpacked yesterday, never minding if she was just piling them all in. She heard a couple of footsteps walking in, and knowing that it was Harry's, she ran to him.
"Hey," He said gently, stroking her hair to console her. "I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine." She said, smiling. "This is an honor, to be fighting by your side."
"And I'll stay by your side, no matter what happens." He said, then walked towards her suitcase and put in whatever was left. "We'll come and visit you, and Mrs. Weasley said that she'll be sending food over everyday." He said in an effort to cheer her up.
She zipped her suitcase up, and then heard a loud crack. She laughed. "We'll be like James Bond, or something like that." She said, going out of the door. She saw Tonks, her hair bright yellow, waiting for her. Harry gave her a kiss on the forehead, a friendly one, then helped her with her other suitcase.
"Hiya, Harry." Tonks greeted with a bob of her bright yellow head, and then took the other suitcase. "Hold on tight, Hermione." She said.
"Be safe." He said, then a loud crack signaled that they were already gone.
The next thing that Hermione saw was a beige living room, adorned with antique furniture. A big, golden couch was sitting in the corner, and behind it was an enormous glass window with sheer white fabric draping over it. An enormous stone fireplace stood in the middle of the room, with flower carvings all around it. An elegant Perisan carpet covered most of the marble floor, and a long table bore different pictures of her loved ones.
"Like it?" She asked, dropping Hermione's suitcase. "It's my Great Aunt Janella's. 'Couse she died already, and left the will to any member of her family. I was the only one they found, cause the other lot probably became death eaters." She took her wand out, and muttered a simple spell to send Hermione's things upstairs. "I put everything muggle in here to make you feel at home, from those marsasines to that bloody tlelanavon. I even hooked you up in what Remus called a nable, or something like that." She smiled at her. "I have to be off now. Take care, Hermione."
He ran as fast as he can, faster than he has ever ran in his whole life. He couldn't be one of them, no, he just couldn't. He despised the thought that he might just like be his father. He hated his father; he was the one that caused him to be like this. But now he was gone, and he thought that he and his mother could live on happily.
The treacherous light of the moon followed him as he searched for a path, any path that would lead him away from them. He couldn't hear footsteps, maybe he lost them, or maybe the Dark Lord was complacent that he would soon find this young runaway. He saw a familiar light, a lamppost, on the corner. He recognized it, and thought that he must be nearing home. Finding a majestic oak door, he pounded hard, wishing for the lady inside to come to his aid.
"Who is it?" A small yet comforting voice answered from within.
"It's me, mother." He answered, sounding very pained. He was limping while he ran, and blood oozed from the wound he got from hiding amidst the thorn bushes.
"Draco?" She asked, and immediately opened the strong wooden doors. There lay his precious son, all dirtied and bloodied from running. Despite these, she ran to him and captured him in a tender embrace. "What have they done to you?" She asked, ushering him inside. She conjured up a towel and a basin of warm water, and lay her son down in the couch.
"Forgive me, my son!" She cried, wiping off the mud from his face so he'd look at least halfway decent. The sparkle, to her, was lost in his eyes and replaced by a cold and empty stare.
He put Narcissa's hand away from his face. "I fled, mother. I just couldn't." He fell into his mother's arms, looking for the warmth and the love that she had. "I don't want to be like him." He said coldly.
"You won't." She consoled, and conjured up again a mug of hot cider. "Rest, Draco." She said, offering the cup to him.
"No." He said sternly, sitting up. "You must hide, mother. Anywhere where he couldn't find you. Please!" He pleaded.
"And you? Where will you be?" She asked, concerned. The fire crackled in the fireplace, which made him look towards it.
"I will be safe, I promise." He gave his mother a short embrace and a peck on the cheek. "You must go now." He said, looking out the window. "They are coming."
"Come with me!" She said, holding his hands and looking at him with a kind of look only a mother with love can give her child. "Draco…"
"Please understand." He said, and then he heard a couple of rustles from outside. "Now."
A blast of sparks went through the window, shattering it. Narcissa ran for cover, but then she saw the plea in her son's eyes. She smiled at him, and he smiled back, and she disapparated quickly, giving in. Draco, on the other hand, ran to the kitchen to go through the back door. A hooded man followed him quickly, and just as he was about to mutter an incantation, Draco raised his wand and beat him to it.
"Crucio!" He bellowed coldly, seeing just in time the hood fall of his head. It was Hathorne Nightsent, a close friend of his father's. He closed his eyes for a moment, realizing what he had just done to a friend. Instinct pulling in, he ran out into the night, not expecting the surprise he would get in the next door that he would knock on.
Whose door, exactly? My guess is as good as yours. Next chapter? Please Review!