A/N: Send me some reviews and tell me what you like and do not like! A lot of you are following, but not a lot of you are reviewing. Also, a few notes…Dumbledore is still head, Snape is still Headmaster, but Harry and Ron have the real locket Horcrux. They had Harry's birthday and Fleur and Bill's wedding, which means Hermione has the Tales of Beetle the Bard, Ron has the Deluminator, and Harry has the Snitch. However, the wedding ended happily, not with the attack on the Ministry. I think that's about all that I changed…

Disclaimer: Not it!

Chapter Four: The Acting Face

Malfoy and Hermione landed in a crumpled heap on hard cement, and immediately, Malfoy shot up. His face, normally pale, had a greenish tinge.

"Apparate out, Granger," he hissed desperately. "Quickly!"

Hermione, sensing danger in his voice, turned quickly on the spot, no questions asked. Nothing happened. Malfoy looked devastated.

"This is it," he groaned. "This is where I die."

Hermione had a sneaking suspicion. "Where are we, Malfoy?" He looked like he was going to be sick. Hermione paused for a second before continuing. "We're at the Death Eater headquarters, aren't we?"

"Granger, unless you want to die, you need to hide. Now," Malfoy was ignoring her completely. He couldn't hear anything past the rushing sound of his blood in his ears. "Hide –"

"Well, well, what do we have here?" A familiar, silky voice asked.

"It was an accident," Malfoy hissed. "She grabbed me when the Mark activated."

Snape looked smug, in full Death Eater charcter. "Well, it's too late now," he shrugged. He turned to Hermione, "Miss Granger, would you rather become a Death Eater, or die?"

Hermione raised her chin. "Die."

Malfoy groaned and Snape grabbed her arm. "Wrong answer," he yanked her close. "You can either come up with a believable story as to why you want to be a Death Eater, Granger, or you will die," his eyes glittered. "And we all know you love life too much to die."

Hermione was horrified. Snape wanted her to become a Death Eater? She looked up at Malfoy, who appeared as dumbstruck as she felt. How on earth could she get out of this? If she owned up, Malfoy would die. If she acted like herself, she would die. If she didn't answer soon, they were both going to die. Then it dawned on her.

"Can I be…like Malfoy?"

Snape's head snapped to Malfoy so fast that Malfoy actually took a step back. He looked, if possible, even greener. His eyes slid to Hermione, a rage that she had never felt filled her, and she knew, albeit absently, that it was Malfoy's rage being transferred to her. She swallowed it and contained it. "I hope you're prepared for the consequences, Draco," Snape said quietly, and slithered away.

Hermione didn't have to think to know what that meant. "Where's Voldemort?" She rushed to Malfoy, who looked like he was about to fall over. "Malfoy, where is he?"

"W-what?"

"We have to beat Snape there!"

Malfoy stared at her, uncomprehending. Hermione slapped him. "Do you want to live or not?"

Malfoy grabbed her arm and started running, Hermione struggling to keep up. He turned right, flew down a hallway, took a left, shoved his way through a door, and turned right again. He barreled down a flight of stairs, one hand protecting Hermione as she stumbled. At the foot of the stairs, he screeched to a halt. Voldemort was at the head of an ornate wood table in the middle of a white marble hall. The lights tinted the room a greenish gray, and the floors and walls were so cold that Hermione shivered.

There was an empty seat to the immediate right of Voldemort, reserved for Snape. Hermione smirked in triumph. Filling the table were faced Hermione half recognized: Amycus and Alecto Carrow, Bellatrix, Rodolphus, Lucius, Narcissa, Crabbe, Goyle, Nott and Dolohov were all watching her with distaste.

The room fell immediately silent. Malfoy fell to his knee, pulling Hermione down with him.

Voldemort rose. "Draco," he whispered. "Who is your new…servant?" His lips curled and the table erupted in jeering laughter.

Malfoy did not look up. "My lord, I have brought you a new recruit, one Hermione Granger, of the Golden Trio."

The laughter dissipated as suddenly as it began. Whispers snaked throughout the room. Voldemort looked, if possible, surprised. "Rise, girl," he commanded. She obeyed. "Tell me why I should let a Mudblood and best friend of Harry Potter join my ranks?" He smirked. "You could be a spy."

She held her head high. "My lord, I am the brightest witch of the age, despite my Blood Status, and as for my intentions," she lowered her chin enough to look into his red eyes. "I invite you to use Legilmency to prove my honesty."

The silence was so deafening, Malfoy could hear his heartbeat. Then, it was broken. Bellatrix had found her voice.

"Master, let me search her mind," Bellatrix begged, clutching at Voldemort's sleeve. "You know how I love Legilmency," she stared up at Voldemort beseechingly, and Hermione almost vomited on the floor in instant fear. Bellatrix would not search her mind; she would destroy it. Voldemort's eyes never left Hermione's.

"Draco, how did you come across Miss Granger?" He asked, his voice barely audible. Hermione and Draco tensed. If even one detail was off, they were both dead. Malfoy quickly relaxed.

"I found her at the Leaky Cauldron," he explained cautiously. "She was upset about Weasel and Scarhead going on an adventure without her, and annoyed me to no end about how they didn't appreciate her and other hysterical nonsense. I left her there and went about my business. At Flourish and Blotts today, she cornered me and challenged me to a duel. If she won, I would bring her here," Malfoy shrugged. "I was true to my word."

"As a Malfoy always is," Voldemort mused. The Carrows laughed. "But Draco, you let a Mudblood beat you?"

Malfoy had the pureblood decency to look ashamed. "She took me by surprise." As Voldemort continued to stare at him, he could feel his training kicking in. His breathing and heart rate slowed to a calm, steady rhythm. Voldemort looked appeased. He turned to Granger.

"Potter and Weasley left you?" He asked. "To go where?"

Hermione faltered for half a second, and a small, condescending smile fell over her lips. She leaned forward conspiratorially. "Perhaps you don't wish for me to talk about your secret weapons in such…company," she said slyly. Voldmort's eyes darkened. "Your…seven…secret weapons?"

For the first time, Voldemort looked astonished. Malfoy turned, surprised, to Granger. "You know, Miss Granger, maybe you should've been in Slytherin," Voldemort chuckled. "However, I do need a better reason than that."

Hermione's composed face disintegrated into fury. "You want to know why I want to be one of you? All I've ever done is help them. I helped them with their homework, with their stupid love lives, and six years of putting my life on the line for Harry fucking Potter! And for what? So the guy that I loved could just decide to blindly follow his best friend instead of me? So I could get left behind like the weakest link, like the dying house elf?!" Her voice was shrill, but so full of anger that even Malfoy didn't doubt her. "They think they're gonna survive this without me? They won't make it past a month, even if I have to kill them myself." She took a deep breath, composed herself, and bowed low to Voldemort again.

"I can be the best spy you've ever had, my lord," she said. "Just give me the opportunity to prove it to you."

Everyone looked shell shocked at her outburst. Voldemort smirked at her, and Draco found himself suppressing a sick surge of pride. He knew her ability to fool Voldemort had nothing to do with him, but he still felt like Granger was finally doing something worthy of her "brightest witch of the age" title.

And someone should be proud of her, right?

"Ron, I think I have an idea," Harry said cautiously. Ron, still upset at him, did not reply. "I thought we could go to Hogwarts."

Ron looked up from his chair. "Really?" His red hair was long and unkempt, his voice cld.

Harry ignored his tone. "I figured we could at least try to find the Sword of Gryffindor. And if we find it, we can keep Horcrux hunting with a usable weapon." You haven't spoken to me in days, I said I was sorry!"

Ron's eyes remained on the book as he replied. "You didn't apologize, Harry, you said it was both our faults, and you expected me to just be okay with that."

Harry couldn't bring himself to amend his opinion. It was both their faults. "I'm sorry this happened, Ron, but we all have to make sacrifices. I left Ginny behind as well, and your family…they're all the family I have. I can't just sit around and let Voldemort threaten their lives," Harry retrieved the book from the bed and handed it back to Ron. "I didn't want any of this to happen, I hope you know that now."

Ron held the book tightly. "I'm going to try to convince Hermione to leave with us, you know that, right?"

Harry felt a ghost of a smile grace his lips. "Of course you are."

Ron's voice became bitter. "She'll probably hate me, right?"

Harry clapped him on the back. "Probably. But she never hates you for long, mate. Only a force greater than the Chosen One," he gave Ron an exaggerated, arrogant face, "could keep you two apart."

Ron looked skeptical, but laughed all the same. "So, Hogwarts?"

Harry laughed. "Hogwarts."

"What do you mean, I won't be going to Hogwarts now?" Hermione's shrill voice was threatening to leave the realm of whispers.

Malfoy motioned for her to lower her voice. "You have to go through the initiation process, Granger," he said. "You should just be glad you're alive." Granger didn't answer. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I never wanted any of this to happen, you know."

Hermione gave him a queer look. "I know."

"But if I had just kept my mouth shut –"

"I would be bloody miserable and would have spent the rest of my summer and seventh year crying over Ronald," she tentatively placed a hand on Malfoy's shoulder, and just as quickly removed it. "I know it isn't ideal, but as least I'm doing something in this war now."

"And without the Chosen One," Malfoy agreed.

Hermione nodded absently. "So…what exactly is the initiation process?"

Malfoy's eyes went to the floor. Hermione took a deep breath, counted to ten, and tried again. "Malfoy?"

His silver eyes were pained. "You heard me say I was sorry, right?"

"Malfoy!"

He flinched. "Alright!" He looked away from her. "The Dark Lord will look into your mind, to make sure your intentions are known. He will find your weakness and exploit it."

"That's not so bad."

"I'm not finished." Malfoy still wasn't looking at her. "You will be subjected to the Cruciatus Curse. They will make you kill. And, if you manage all that, you will get your Mark."

Hermione looked horrified. "I have to kill someone?"

Malfoy nodded, feeling sympathetic. "But I will be choosing your victim, as I am the newest recruit. I can make sure that your Muggle is a criminal sentenced to die. That way, you'll be helping him instead of hurting him."

Hermione gazed up at him through watery lashes. "Why are you helping me so much?" She asked, sniffling.

Malfoy gave her a pitying look. "Because my mistake got you here, and now, like it or not Granger, we're in this together." His lip curled. "I bet no one ever saw this coming."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm sure your ancestors are rolling in their graves."

"Believe it or not, Granger, I wasn't referring to your Blood Status."

Hermione furrowed her brows. "Then what?"

"I was referring to the commonly known fact that we hate each other."

Hermione's eyebrows didn't move. "Right. That."

Malfoy crossed to the door of what would be Hermione's room for the week. "See you tomorrow, Granger," he said quietly as the door closed.

Finally alone, Hermione collapsed on the huge bed in the middle of the room. Without her trunk she couldn't write to Ron, she couldn't read. She stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought, until she drifted off into a restless sleep.

King's Cross Station was bustling, full of poorly disguised wizards mingling with confused Muggles. Ginny Weasley, used to the chaos by now, pushed her way to the platform, followed closely by her mother.

"Do apologize to Hermione again for me, will you?" Molly fussed, tucking her wand securely into her jacket.

"Yes, Mother."

"And do try to convince her to come home for Christmas, please," Molly continued, ignoring Ginny. "I would hate to have her alone during the holidays."

"Of course, Mother."

"You will try, won't you?"

"Mum, Hermione will not be coming for Christmas, okay? She's not angry, she's heartbroken. She's devastated that Ron and Harry abandoned her. Don't you see that? She doesn't want to see you or anyone else until they come home, because she feels guilty. She feels like she failed. So yes, I will try, but do not get upset at me when she doesn't come home!" Ginny felt her face get flushed and her eyes fill with tears.

Molly had tears rolling down her cheeks. "I'll see you during Christmas, dear," she said softly. "Be safe."

Ginny felt even guiltier knowing her mother wasn't going to fight with her. "I'm sorry, Mum," she said as she hugged her tightly.

"I know, sweetheart," Molly pulled away and wiped a tear off Ginny's face. "Now, be safe, I'll see you soon."

"I love you, Mum," Ginny said, sniffling.

"I love you too."

The Hogwarts Express was almost half empty. Many parents were choosing to leave their children at home with their families, especially with the death of Albus Dumbledore. Ginny stuffed her trunk into a compartment at the back of the train and went to the front to find Hermione. As Head Girl, she would be at the front compartment with the teachers and the other prefects and Head Boy.

As she peeked into the compartment, the door slid open and Professor McGonagall stepped out.

"Good afternoon, Miss Weasley," she said, her voice more tired than Ginny had ever heard it.

"Professor," Ginny replied. "Have you seen Hermione?"

Professor McGonagall shook her head. "She has not gone into the prefects compartment yet. Neither has Head Boy, come to think of it."

Ginny furrowed her brow. "Who is Head Boy?"

"Draco Malfoy," McGonagall answered with a hint of disdain. "Professor Snape insisted on it, but I have yet to see either of them."

Ginny bit her lip. "I'll go look for Hermione," she said, already turning around. "Oh, and Professor?"

"Miss Weasley?"

"Harry and Ron won't be coming," Ginny said quietly.

Professor McGonagall's eyes looked even sadder. "I know, Miss Weasley. But at least we have Miss Granger."

Ginny gave her a firm nod and continued on her search with renewed vigor. As she peeked into more compartments, she noticed that more Slytherins seemed to be in attendance than any other House. Gryffindors were still there, but many of the younger students had elected not to return. Ginny felt sadness settle in her stomach as she searched, becoming less and less encouraged as she went through more of the train.

By the time she reached the end of the train, she was more confused than ever. Hermione was nowhere to be found.

One of the compartments at the end of the train opened and Pansy Parkinson stepped out, fixing her short black hair in the reflection of the glass. She turned and made eye contact with Ginny. Her face melted into a scowl.

"What are you staring at, Weaselette?" She sneered.

Ginny smirked at her. "Good to know you can't think of insults without Malfoy," she replied. "Where is your disgusting ferret leader anyway?"

"Not that it's any of your business, Weasel, but he isn't coming back," Parkinson said. "He has…better things to do."

"You mean he was just scared of what people would say when they knew he was a slimy Death Eater?" Ginny answered innocently. "Yeah, I might be scared too."

Parkinson's wand was in Ginny's throat before she could blink. "You want to try that again, blood traitor?"

Ginny smiled through the pressure in her throat. "I think you heard me."

Ginny's hand wrapped tightly around her wand in her pocket. "What are you gonna do, Parkinson?" She hissed. "Hex me? Go for it, we all know you're a Slytherin. Slytherin's are only good for hiding behind more powerful people. Just ask Malfoy."

Parkinson's mouth twisted in rage and Ginny whipped her wand out, muttering the incantation for the Bat Bogey Hex as she did. Pansy screamed in pain and terror as she struggled to get back in the compartment. Ginny smirked and walked away, but inside she was as confused as ever. Hermione and Malfoy were both missing?

Something was definitely wrong here.