Yes, I am still updating this fan fiction- and the other one too! Life is a messy thing sometimes. Just a reminder: I still don't own Harry Potter or any of J.K. Rowling's characters. I do own my own plot and characters, so let's have fun with those.
One week later, Hermione Granger was trudging through an essay on Transfiguring semi-sentient animals, determined to finish before the sun set, when Luna Lovegood pulled out a chair across from her's and sat down with a curious face.
"You should write on Nargels," Luna stated expectantly when Hermione looked up from her work.
Hermione sighed. "They aren't real. I have to write on real creatures."
Luna gave Hermione a piercing look, then upon seeing Hermione's worthiness, she explained. "No body believed Voldemort was real and back until Cedric died and Harry and Dumbledore pressured the Minister. It takes people believing and speaking up about it for other's to see what's in front of them."
Hermione listened to Luna's explanation, one part of her mind softening under reasonable explanation enough to give Luna a chance, and the other a staunch disbeliever until it received definitive evidence. "Voldemort was already well documented and seen by a living generation when Harry was advocating for his return. I have never seen previous documentation of Nargels," Hermione refuted.
Luna sprouted a prize-winning smile and sprang out of her seat joyfully. "I can show you!" she beamed, then skipped away towards the shelves causing Hermione to groan and drop her head into her hands. No way was she going to finish the Transfiguration essay before sundown.
A few minutes passed before Luna came prancing back to the table with an armful of tomes. She delicately set the stack down in front of Hermione with the reverence that only a true book-lover can muster, earning more respect from Hermione. Maybe Luna could finally be the friend Hermione had always wanted- no one else understood her love for books and adventure, certainly the Department of Mysteries showed Luna's courage and desire for adventure. Interrupting her thoughts, Luna pressed an open book into Hermione's hands. Magical Creatures Vol. 2 by Annora Belluaos. The page was clearly titled Nargels with a moving drawing of a devilish looking creature, it's hands like spindley claws, and its pointed face pulled up in a smirk like a duplicitous armadillo but skinnier and more human. It was creepy to say the least.
Scanning the passage, Belluaos wrote that the Nargels were adept at hiding, mischievous, and had a penchant for thievery- nearly everything Luna had mentioned about Nargles. The passage was short, mostly due to the lack of observation due to vanishing instruments, but the last sentence caught Hermione's attention. The Nargle seems to show itself to only those who have a free mind and believe, however the behaviour does not stop their thievery.
Before she could comment, book after book was shoved into Hermione's hands, all open to articles on the mysterious Nargle. One description from a small novel was written by Newt Scamander himself. Seeing proof from a accredited author rang deeply in Hermione; maybe she had misjudged all along. Every article placed under her nose held the same information with little deviation. The Nargles were hard to catch, invisible most of the time, and devious thieves that only showed themselves to those least likely to be listened to.
Absorbing the information slowly, Hermione began to think out loud. "It would take a team of people with every tool being guarded carefully by its own person. Then, four others would watch the environment and track the information coming in from the instruments. Items specifically unwatched for stealing should be set in the middle of a rind of guarded instruments..." Hermione mumbled and trailed off. When she had organized her thoughts, she looked up to find her friend glowing, and she couldn't help but give Luna a smile. They were a team now and the two sat for hours talking about how to catch Nargles and what laws of Transfiguration would apply to them.
(~)
Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy was talking with his godfather in his heavily warded office.
"Would we truly be safe just hidden away in a safe house? Would my father even agree to flee?" Draco asked, worry lacing every syllable. Today was the day his answer was due, and every time he contemplated Hermione's offer, he seemed more and more hesitant.
Severus let out a 'Your-teenage-drama-is-pitiful-why-am-I-even-here' sigh. "What other choice do you have?" the older man ground out, enunciating every syllable to portray his boredom to it's true clarity.
Draco groaned upon hearing the very same question he had been asking himself for the past week. He had one small idea, but he was sure Severus would respond with a glare and a snide remark, but Draco was out of ideas. "What if I faked my death? That way the Dark Lord would leave mother and father alone, and not come looking for me."
Instead of the glare he was expecting from his thoughts, Severus looked thoughtful. After a moment, he spoke carefully. "I do not believe your father would be happy with being confined to a safe house, but if he believed you dead, I do not think he would truly work for the Dark Lord any longer. While that may pose an issue for him, it would be slightly crippling for the Dark Lord if your father was reluctant to fight. Do you find yourself capable of faking your death? You cannot be the careless, imbecile you are now. You must remain undetected. Perfect occulmency. Do as your told." The last statement was made through gritted teeth.
Despite the insult, Draco managed a polite-sounding reply. "As the second highest ranked student in my class I feel I can manage."
"This isn't about managing!" Severus bit, rising menacingly from his desk. "People are putting their lives on the line for you. This isn't a game, Draco. One slip up and the Dark Lord will not hesitate to kill all of those involved. This is war, boy!"
Draco paled at Severus' rant. He had never seen his godfather act quite so threatening towards himself before. A chill ran down his spine as Draco understood what Severus was saying. Severus would be killed, then Draco, his family, and finally Hermione. Before he could stammer out an apology, Severus began to speak in a low, warning tone.
"If I deem that you are too careless to carry out the plan, I will not hesitate to remove my help. Am. I. Clear?"
Draco swallowed his fear and muttered, "yes, sir."
"Good," Severus said, sneering. "Now get out of my office. I have had enough of your endless stupidity for one night."
Rising from his chair, Draco managed a meager "Thank you" before striding out of the door which cracked shut behind him. He had deep thinking to do before he gave his answer to Hermione tonight.
(~)
"Meet me tomorrow under the willow by the lake around four. I have an idea," Hermione chirped with a grin as Luna got up from the desk they had been sharing for the past few hours. They had discussed mythical creatures, the truth behind fables, and finally finished their transfiguration essay just three minutes passed sundown.
Luna beamed back and gave an elegant wave before traipsing off to the Ravenclaw rooms. Little did Hermione know that the evening they shared would become a turning point in the young Ravenclaw's life. In that evening, Luna finally found a true friend, one that she saw no future without.
Hermione let out a happy sigh and began to pack up her things. Shoving her transfiguration text and many quills back into her bag, she hardly noticed a figure approaching. When she reached out to pick up her copy of Pride and Prejudice that she had shown Luna, a pale hand snatched it out before she had the chance. Looking up at last, she saw Draco Malfoy idly flipping through her book.
As she opened her mouth to tell the arrogant blonde where he could stick it, he spoke softly, effectively silencing her rant before it began. "Is this a muggle book?" he asked, confused.
"Yes," she said, only a small tinge of irritation lacing her tone.
"It's well written," he said with the barest hint of amazement. "It's intelligent."
"Well of course!" Hermione huffed. She knew he didn't mean to insult muggles, but she couldn't help but to take his wonder at the book being intelligent as a slight.
He looked up startled as if he forgot she was there. Realizing he just insulted her and took her book, he tried to explain. After all, he should be nice to the girl willing to risk her life for his safety. "I didn't mean to insult you. I was merely raised that muggle literature was inferior, but I never had the chance to actually see for myself."
"Why don't you borrow it?" she offered with a small, strained smile. Above all things, Hermione loved books and the sharing of knowledge, so no matter how cruel Draco had been in the past, she could not give up the opportunity to help educate him.
He looked as if he was going to take her offer, but realization dawned across his face as if he just realized where he was. He dropped the book as if it had burned him and took a step back quickly saying, "I'm sorry I can't."
He almost looked scared at the thought of borrowing the book. Hermione mentally reprimanded herself. Of course he would not be able to borrow it; what if a fellow student saw it and told their Death Eater parents? She was about to apologize for a lack of consideration, but he began speaking.
"Could you meet me in the Room in an hour?" A beat later he added, "it's important."
Hermione knew the meeting was most likely about his protection, so she attempted to read his face for any sign of his answer, but his face was as cold and unreadable as ever. The only bit of emotion was swirling behind his eyes, and she could not decipher it. Deciding to trust him, she nodded silently.
He gave her a tight-lipped smile, then slipped out of the library as quiet as a ghost. When she picked up Pride and Prejudice to shove it in her bag, she noticed a page dog-earred. She almost ran after Draco to hex him to bits for harming one of her precious books, but when she saw the page he marked, she stood as still as a statue.
"Yes, but that was only when I first knew her, for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintances." [1]
Her heart swelled and fluttered as she closed the book and held it tight as she walked back to Gryffindor tower.
()
"Hermione," Ron called as soon as she stepped through the portrait. "Where have you been?"
The boys were sitting at a table with the appearance of attempting their astronomy graphs, but Hermione knew they were likely waiting for her to correct them. Usually, such behavior would irritate her to no end, but she could care less that day as it was a very good day.
She dismissed their question, and sat down at the table and began checking their work. Sloppy, but getting better. She made a few corrections, making sure they were listening to her as she explained why every time, then she turned to go up to her dormitory. She was stopped by a hand lightly grabbing her forearm. Harry.
"Hermione," he said softly. "We haven't seen that much of you. What's going on?"
Hermione sat down, letting out a quiet breath. There was no way she would tell them the truth, they were not mature enough to handle it, but she had to give them a truthful explanation. So, instead of telling them about her dealings with Draco, she told them about her budding friendship with Luna.
"I've been studying with Luna," she said simply. The boys generally let go of her anytime she mentioned studies. "We've become good friends." She knew that Harry and Ron would not get angry with her for having another friend, but she was sure that they wouldn't understand the friendship between girls.
"Oh. Okay," Harry stammered. He had suspected she was either caught up in saving someone or over-studying for her NEWTS, but he was pleasantly surprised by her newest choice in friendship. "How is Luna?" he asked quickly, a blush gracing his cheeks. He would never tell anyone, but he secretly carried a small crush on the younger Ravenclaw.
Hermione gave him a knowing smile and replied, "she's good. We're going Nargel hunting tomorrow if you'd want to join."
Not knowing whether his best friend was joking or not, Harry shook his head smiling. Seeing that her lips didn't turn up on the right corner like they normally do when she jokes, he decided Hermione must be serious, and thus off her rocker. "You do know that Nargels don't exist?" he said warily.
Knowing that the comment was coming as she had said it many times, Hermione smiled and walked up to her room without another word leaving Harry speechless.
After a half hour of passing time reviewing her Charms notes, Hermione crept out of her bed careful not to disturb the sleeping girls. Tip-toeing down the stairs, she attempted to be as quiet and unassuming as possible in her escape. She knew that there were still students downstairs, but she hoped that they would disregard her leaving as going on prefect rounds.
Though she got out of the portrait without a problem, she did not account for Harry Potter watching her name on a map up in his dormitory wondering where his friend was going off to.
()
Walking into the Room of Hidden Things, Hermione found Draco sitting in a small loveseat that had mysteriously appeared there sometime in the past week. He looked up to greet her with conflicted eyes. She gently sat down beside him making sure not to actually touch him. Although she knew he was attracted to her, that did not mean that his lifelong Pureblood ideals wouldn't kick and push her away.
He turned to her, face carefully blank and asked a question Hermione never thought she would hear from Draco Malfoy. "Do dolphins have ears?"
The question was so entirely random Hermione couldn't help but burst out laughing. A true deep laugh that Draco was internally very pleased for finally being able to cause. Her raucous laughter elicited a small chuckle that he tried to cover up, only making he laugh harder.
When she had finally calmed down, not even realizing that he did not flinch when she touched his arm, she replied solemnly. "I am afraid they do not."
Her seriousness elicited another round of laughter in which Draco joined in. The two giggled for a couple of minutes before calming down. Once the laughter was gone, silence took its place. Not a calm silence that exists only when two people are mutually enjoying each others' presence, but a sort of silence that provokes deep thought. The two near-friends still did not know each other enough to have a comfortable silence, but a silence that stretched for miles. One that reminded the two how little they knew and how far they had to go. It was an uneasy silence.
"So," Hermione began, breaking the silence, "Are you taking the protection?" She nibbled on her bottom lip, sudden worry encompassing her. What if he didn't want her protection? What if she had to obliviate his memories of her and the entire plan?
Draco started choosing his words with care. He did not want Hermione to believe he thought her plan was bad, but he didn't want to get shoved into a safehouse with a furious Lucius Malfoy. "Granger. I will accept your offer of protection." Upon seeing her face grow hopeful he quickened his speech. "However, I don't think pulling my whole family out if for the best. I talked to Severus, and we both agree that faking my death would work best." He scanned her face for any sign of her infamous fury but came up empty handed. Her face was neutral. Thinking.
She spent a long few minutes contemplating his idea. She found all of the same conclusions Snape had. Lucius would be more subdued. Voldemort would be less likely to harm his family as a whole, after all, Voldemort gave Draco some mission probably knowing he would most likely die. Would Lucius' and Narcissa's resistance put them in further danger? If Draco seemed to think his death would give them their best chance, then likely they would be smart enough to subtlety back out. Overall, his plan seemed sound for the protection of his family. But, how would they prove his death? Could he hide away while his family was in danger?
"How would we go about proving your death?" Hermione asked casually.
Draco brightened. She had not immediately shot down his idea. That combined with Severus' slight approval made him feel like he could actually help. There was hope. Immediately Draco hopped into discussion with fervor. "I was thinking that Severus could give me Draught of the Living Death, then when they are burying me, he could slip me a timed Portkey to his office."
Hermione quickly responded, thrilled with the feeling of intelligent discussion. "Let's talk to Severus to see if we could find a less well known potion. If Voldemort is smart, he will test for common trickery. But before that, how about we perform a death scene in front of a few Slytherins that could act as confirmation?"
"Maybe we could provoke Potter into attacking me. After Severus gives me the antidote, I slip into a potion-induced death," Draco offered.
"Hmmmm. I don't think that having a murder on Harry's conscience would do well for defeating Voldemort. The only way to correct that would be to tell him our plan, and he can't keep up occulmency shields. Maybe, I could. I know I'm not killing you."
"You would get expelled and couldn't explain it to Potter. And please, don't say his name," Draco muttered the last sentence.
"Fear of the name-" Hermione began haughtily.
"It's not that," Draco sighed as if he was about to tell her a big secret. "He is planning to put a jinx on his name. Better get used to not saying it."
Hermione's eyes went wide. Jinxing the name would mean that any one who uttered his name could be found. "Thank you," she whispered. "I didn't know."
"Never thought I'd here that in my lifetime," Draco said with a boyish smirk, bringing back the light banter.
"Consider yourself special," she winked.
"I always have!" he exclaimed dramatically.
After Hermione finished laughing over Draco's theatrical behavior, she focused her attention back on problem solving. "I think that it would be best to discuss the actual death faking with Professor Snape. But for now, my last question before I agree is: are you capable of truly staying away. No contact with anyone other than Snape and myself?"
Draco nearly rolled his eyes. No one seemed to believe that he could hide away. Granted, there was a small voice in the back of his head telling him that he didn't want to sit on the side and do nothing, but he shoved those thoughts to the side. He was going to get out of the Death Eaters. He knew he couldn't kill any one. He was sick of the torture and death. He also knew that if he ever set foot on the Light side, they would Avada him to bits. No matter how saintly they seem to think they are, they never saw the grey side to life. The dark ashen colors of being forced to torture young girls, but praying on the inside that they didn't feel anything even though he knew better. The light smoke colors of learning spells to be used for very nefarious purposes, but could also heal and save. Even from his eyes, Draco Malfoy radiated grey. Not light, but not dark. He knew that this war was a battle between the light and the dark. He had no place. "I can. I promise."
She inspected his face briefly for an trace of lies, but came up short. "Okay then," she said resolutely. "We will start discussing your protection and removal with Snape and Dumbledore." Giving a moment for a reply and hearing none, Hermione got up to leave, but before she could walk away, Draco grabbed her wrist. Turning to look back at him questioningly she saw slight desperation in his eyes.
"Do you remember when you said you would help me?" He asked, his voice quivering ever so slightly.
"Yes," she said holding back the questions flooding into her consciousness.
"The Dark Lord put me on a mission. One that if I don't succeed, he will kill my parents and probably myself. Even though I'm going to be leaving, he gets very displeased whenever I report with no progress."
Hermione held back her anger. Not at Draco, but rather the sick egomaniac that deemed torture an acceptable punishment for a lack of progress. Her heart seemed to swell even more for the boy who seemed to have been given no choice. How could his parents put him in such a situation? Yes, Draco was a dramatic, spoiled, little shit, but underneath was a boy that was raised to be that way and faced no other options from his home life. How would Lucius and Narcissa respond knowing their son was attracted to a Mudblood? How would they feel knowing he didn't want to be a Death Eater at all? Sadness ran through Hermione's veins. Yes, Draco had choices, he could have gone rogue like Sirius and broken family ties. But then he would have to fight against his parents and he would have no place to stay, no money to afford life. Most kids, and yes, they were kids, would choose his path. Hermione couldn't blame him, and that's why she took his hand, to his shock, and announced, "I'll help you with whatever you need as long as it doesn't hurt anyone."
He had only ever felt that kind of devotion from his family. He honestly had never had friends who would put their time and faith into him like Hermione had done in the past few weeks. With her hand wrapped around his, he felt like he could finish the vanishing cabinet. Hell, he could do anything with Hermione by his side. Maybe that was why Harry Potter always seemed to win. Maybe now Draco could win.
I hope you have had a great beginning of the New Year. Please feel free to review with comments, criticism, or love. I hope this chapter has made your week a bit brighter. :)
[1] Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Don't remember the page.