Chapter 2

Draco grimaced. Great. I bet she's figured out I'm here by now. She's not known as the smartest witch in our year for nothing.

Hermione cautiously made her way to the window. Was that a foot I saw? thought Hermione. She peered out into the darkness, searching the area around the tree. Her gaze halted on the very spot where Draco was hiding, barely breathing. Draco felt as if she could see to his very soul, even though he had the invisibility cloak.

At that moment, a beautiful snowy owl landed on the sill, startling Hermione. "Hedwig!" She said excitedly, "I'm so glad to see you!" Hedwig offered her a small peck of greeting and lifted her leg so that Hermione could remove the small parchment attached to it.

Hermione, I hope you're doing okay. Moony told

me there are rumors going around where he is

living now about your family. Please promise me

you will be careful, okay? If you can arrange it, I

would love to meet you for tea tomorrow.

Please send Hedwig back with your reply.

Harry

"Here, Hedwig, come have a snack while I write back to Harry, okay?" Hermione said while getting a packet of crisps off of her night stand to give some to the owl. She wrote a hasty message back to Harry telling him she would love to meet him for tea. Once Hedwig had taken back off into the inky black of the night sky, Hermione took one final look around the garden and then went to her bookshelf to get the romance novel she had been devouring the past few nights.

Outside, Draco breathed a sigh of relief. She almost caught me! If it hadn't been for St. Potter's owl showing up, I would have been discovered for certain.

Why do I feel so disappointed now?

Hermione read a few more chapters of her novel and reached to turn out her light. As she prepared to go to sleep, Draco Malfoy sat outside her window watching her and pretending to softly kiss her goodnight.

After the Grangers were all asleep, Draco disapparated with a small pop. He reappeared in a small, dusty house far away on Spinner's End. On the worn sofa sat none other than Severus Snape who was reading by candlelight.

"Evening, Draco. I've been expecting your report for the last hour. I don't accept tardiness."

"We aren't at Hogwarts any longer, Professor."

"Even so, I will not be kept waiting. Neither will the Dark Lord."

Draco sighed and sat down in an old moth-eaten chair. "There really isn't much to report. They don't suspect anything. They seem to not even realize the war is happening."

Snape's eyes narrowed a fraction. "You seem distracted tonight for some reason."

"I'm just tired, that's all." Draco averted his eyes.

"Then why is your mind closed to me?"

"Because I don't like you or anyone else invading my thoughts!"

"Remember, Draco, that the Dark Lord was merciful towards you only because I asked him to be. Since I am his most trusted advisor, he allowed me to have you assist me. Otherwise, you would be dead now. Would you rather that have happened?" Snape smirked as he said this last bit.

"No, Professor, I would rather live if you don't mind." Draco felt utterly defeated.

"Good. Let's keep it that way, shall we? Now, I feel we can put our plan into action fairly soon. The Dark Lord is patient, but he has waited too long for Potter. Have there been any visitors or contact from the Ministry or Dumbledore's Order?"

"No Sir. No one."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." A brief flash of Harry Potter's owl landing on the window sill tonight came unbidden to his mind.

"Excellent. You may go, and I will tell the Dark Lord that you have been most obedient. Tell me, are you going straight back to your post?"

"I wanted to check in at the Manor for just a moment first if that is permitted." Draco didn't feel he needed permission to check in at his own house, but he was living on borrowed time as it was. The best thing for him to do was to stay on Snape's good side, if he had one.

"As long as you don't tarry long. We don't want the Grangers sneaking out in the middle of the night, now do we? Please give my regards to dear Narcissa."

Draco left Spinner's End with another small pop.

Malfoy Manor was dark when Draco apparated into the parlor. Almost immediately, a ragged house elf appeared. "Master Malfoy! You're home! Can I fetch you some refreshment, Sir?"

"That would be wonderful. Whatever is left over from dinner will be fine." Draco waved away the house elf and went in search of his mother. Narcissa Malfoy was lying on a couch in her massive bedroom with her eyes closed and a cloth across her forehead.

Draco sat down beside her and stroked her hair. "Mother," said Draco, "what's wrong? Are you ill?"

"Just worried, Draco. I worry for your safety. I worry for your father's safety. What will become of us?" She sighed heavily and glanced up at him.

I am so sorry Mother. I tried so hard to make Father proud and bring glory to the family, and instead I have broken your heart and probably brought death to us all...

"Can I get you a calming drought?"

"No, Darling, but you are thoughtful. How long will you be staying?"

Draco looked away. He hated leaving her when she was in this state. "I only came by long enough to get a bite to eat and check on you. I have to get back."

"I don't suppose you can tell me where you are going?" Narcissa sounded hopeful but resigned at the same time.

"Mother, you know I can't do that."

"I know. Just please be careful. Don't ever do anything to fall out of favor with the Dark Lord."

If she only knew. Favor? Right. "I won't, Mother. I will be back soon."

Draco hugged his mother one last time. He then sighed and made his way to the kitchens. The house elf was there putting the finishing touches on his simple meal. She had procured a cold pheasant for him along with some treacle tart, some fresh fruit, and a bottle of butterbeer. He ate quickly. After saying goodbye to his mother who still had the cloth over her forehead, he prepared to apparate back to his post. Morning could not come soon enough.