CHAPTER 3

Colours in the Sky

I looked over my bag once again. Everything seemed to be in place, and I had all I needed.

You could never be too careful when going on missions like these, and I wasn't taking any chances. Ron had to get better.

He just had to.

My locket suddenly grew heavy on my neck, serving as a reminder of all I had lost.

I wasn't going to lose this time. I refused to.

Sighing, I tied the bag on my belt. All my belongings had been magically enchanted so they were lighter and smaller, and all together easier to manoeuvre. It was just one of the many things I loved about magic.

There was only one immediate problem. This mission hadn't been officially cleared by the Order- Lupin had said it was just too dangerous and almost definitely a trap- it didn't matter to me. I was going anyway.

I had no doubt Malfoy the Bouncing Ferret was no different from at school. Okay, maybe a little more threatening, but I was a Gryffindor, proud and courageous. His power wasn't going to scare me away.

I couldn't Apparate in the Burrow; someone would almost certainly hear me and I didn't need that to ruin my plans. It would be obvious when I returned that I'd gone anyway- it's not like I could magically cook up the potion we needed when I didn't even know the ingredients .

Sneaking stealthily downstairs I nearly made it to the door when-

"Hermione… What are you doing?"

I whipped around to find Ginny emerging from the kitchen.

I needed an excuse.

"I was…umm… Didn't you know?" I tried.

"Know what?" She asked, confused.

"I thought you knew!" I pretended to be shocked.

"Know what?" she repeated, getting frustrated.

"So… you don't know?"

"Argh!" Ginny threw her hands in the air and stomped upstairs.

Perfect.

Only thing between me and freedom was the door, and getting through that didn't prove particularly difficult.

My only concern was that we'd been a bit loud… Who'd heard us?

(\_/)

(='.'=)

(")_(")

Draco smirked. His little bird in the Order had told him a certain Gryffindor Princess was on her way.

His Mother had always told him not to play with his food… but he just couldn't seemed to help it.

With a wave of his hand, the Wards protecting the Manor disappeared. Anyone could get in now.

Perfect.

o)))))

I held my wand tightly in my hand, and the uncomfortable feeling of being shoved through a tube made my insides squirm. It left, however, as quickly as it had come and I landed in a garden.

The Malfoy Garden.

It was… strange. I shouldn't have been able to Apparate so close. The Wards should have stopped me.

Why didn't they?

All around me was a silence; another aspect of this mission that raised my suspicions. No one was around. No Deatheaters, no staff… Nothing.

It was uncomfortably eerie, and I made no hesitation to stride confidently through the garden.

Maybe the Deatheaters didn't like the weather.

I soon come to a grand entrance of glass double doors. They were truly spectacular. Around the edges of the doors there were intricate designs and patterns, the finishing touch being the gold leaf that covered them.

I didn't have time to admire this though. The potion was beckoning.

It was truly unlucky that they'd made no maps of the Manor. It would have made it much easier. Numerous corridors and hallways filled the mansion and I was shocked – and even suspicious- that there were no Death Eaters patrolling the halls. I thought they worshipped there leaders…

Not particularly interested in the details, I say a room that had a door that was different from all the others. While all the doors had been simple and of wood, this one had intricate carvings and designs, reminding me of something out of Gringotts.

Cautiously, I pushed open the door to reveal something resembling an office. I wasn't a large room, but it certainly wasn't small; it was spacious enough for the requirements of an office.

Files were splattered carelessly over the desk that stood in the centre of the room and I was delighted to see a wheelie-chair behind it. I went and sat down on it, and used it to spin around the room.

There were plenty of bookcases and I shuddered when I saw the books of Dark Arts. A Pensieve was in the corner, and while I was immensely curious, something else caught my eye.

In the middle of the desk was a bottle filled with a strange fluorescent orange liquid. Under it, was a file labelled "Potions."

Slipping it out and disregarding personal space, I opened the file. In it were the details of a potion to cure… I skipped a few pages and found it. A potion to cure madness. Whoever's office this was had done a detailed description of the instruction to brew the potion and the final colour for it was… orange. Bright orange.

My eyes flickered to the potion on the desk and I realised something was terribly wrong.

Everything had been too convenient; basically laid out in front of me. No Death Eaters to stop me going where I pleased- I mean, where the hell were they? Shopping?

And the office door which stood out and lead me to exactly what I wanted to find.

It was like it had been… planned out?

I was interrupted from my thoughts by a cheerful humming… was that Ode to Joy?

I panicked- the humming was getting closer but where could I hide. There was literally no where.

There was no more time- someone had reached for the door handle- I could hear it turning.

Running out of ideas, I dived under the desk and crawled to the edge, blocked off from view.

The door opened. The humming stopped.

o)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Draco opened the door and stopped humming. She still hadn't shown up. Had she chickened out?

It wasn't in her character though. She was a proud Gryffindor through and through, and this was the only chance for her to help Ronniekins.

Tired, he moved to the desk and sat down on the chair. He did like these sorts of chairs. It made him feel in charge.

Casually, he leaned forward and looked at the desk. The file had been moved. Someone had been here. But, the potion was still there.

Confused he sat back and stretched his legs out… and felt his feet kick something.

o)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

I couldn't believe it. Whoever it was had kicked me… and my cover was completely blown.

The person stood up and began backing away from the desk, leaving me room to get out. I was surprised they hadn't killed me already.

I crawled unceremoniously out from under the desk. I needed a plan urgently.

As soon as they were in view, I looked up at the person.

My heart stopped.

My lungs froze.

My eyes widened.

You have got to be bloody kidding me. Is he… smiling?

Hello again! Sorry it took so long, bit reoccupied with school and what-not. Next chapter should be exciting… Draco kicked Hermione… how dumb is he?

Draco: I resent that

Me: No one asked for your opinion.

Anyway, leave any thoughts or comments by reviewing, and May the 4th be with you (belated Star Wars Day!)

Any questions feel free to PM me. (bet your all jealous of my strange bunny sign and fish)