Chapter 5
It was a month into the school year, and Hermione was coming up short of finding a place to hide Ronald. She was not going to kill him, like her father wanted, but at the same time, she wasn't going to put him in danger because of her unwillingness to help. Therefore, she went to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore was reading a random book in his office, and was startled a bit by a knock at the door.
"Miss Malfoy, how can I be of service?"
"I know that you know that I have to report to Tom Riddle. And he charged me with a quest."
"What quest, might I ask?"
"Killing Ronald Weasley. I'm not one for killing people. Especially seeing as I dislike Tom and he can't hurt me, and no, you can't know his secret."
"You are supposed to kill Mr. Weasley?"
"Yes. Voldemort wishes to attack Harry when his guard is completely down. And according to him, what better way than to take his friends away?"
"That is his plan right now?"
"Yes. Before Christmas, I must have a foolproof way of convincing Tom Riddle that Ronald Weasley is dead."
"And how do you suggest that?"
"I suggest Draught of the Living Death. His skin will turn cold, blue, and rigid. He will stay that way until I give him the antidote."
"Miss Malfoy, who are you?"
"What do you mean?"
"I am asking you, who were you before you became Miss Malfoy?"
"I have always been Miss Malfoy."
"No you have not. There is nobody that even recognizes you at Beaubaxons. There is no record of Miss Malfoy anywhere until you suddenly showed up, five months ago in June. Now, I want to know the truth, otherwise you can kiss Hogwarts, Ronald, and your future goodbye." Dumbledore said in a low, threatening voice, full of malice.
Hermione racked her brain, trying to come up with a plan. She tried to think of something that would fool the old man, when she felt a buzz on her ass. She began to pace, touching, carefully, her tattoo.
Daughter, what is wrong?
He is onto me, father. What do I do?
You must do what is necessary.
Place trails leading to Salem Witch Academy. Make sure the headmistress and the teachers remember me, as well as some students. I beg you; otherwise I will be no more. You have 15 minutes.
Hermione hung up the connection, sighing.
"I didn't want to be treated differently. I was born from Narcissa Malfoy, but I was given up for adoption, and I was taken to the Salem Witch Academy. Most American witches that are raised there are outcast here in Europe. Don't tell me they aren't. They are the highest for rape in Britain. They are the highest for kidnapping in Europe. So excuse me for not telling you immediately. I will not become an outcast. I will be a somebody." She said vehemently.
"Miss, Malfoy, I am just trying to sort out the truth."
"Look, I am not trying to cause trouble, ok? I want this war over; I want to spend time with my family seeing as I lost them for 17 years."
Dumbledore said nothing. He wanted Voldemort dead, too. He wanted to come out of this war alive, but he would not see the end of that. His blackened hand would be the end of him. He had already seen to that. Why else was he giving Harry instruction to kill a 70 year old wizard? Because Harry was his tool. Harry would be Dumbledore's salvation.
"I understand your concern. I can't seem to fully understand your situation, but I will trust you this time. I will arrange for a situation that Ron and Harry will not know about. Nor will anything be done to compromise your position. You will not be involved; except for to tell Severus tonight he needs to brew the potion. From there, I can give you no more information."
"You do realize that Voldemort cannot see into my mind?"
"Is that so?"
"I was born with a natural barrier against invaders. Over the summer, I also practiced Occumolency, in case my natural barrier decided to falter. You may try to enter my mind, and I will have no resistance against you, that I swear." She held her hands open in an inviting way. Dumbledore took a deep breath, and wandlessly performed Legillems. He was hit with a haze. Similar to the smoky look that a memory inside a pensieve, the haze inside her mind was ever-going, no memories were present though. He pulled out after 15 minutes, breathing a slight bit heavy, because of the wandless incantation.
"That is very interesting."
"My mind is a mystery in itself. I have no idea of why it has this natural protection." She said honestly.
"Well, Miss Malfoy, if that is all, I would appreciate if you would return to your scholarly work." Anastasia walked out of the headmaster's office, to head back to her quarters and inform Severus.
Severus was sitting in the front room, drinking some tea and reading Potions Weekly. She slammed the door and began her pacing.
"I do not like the fact you slam my doors, Anastasia." He said stiffly, taking a sip.
"Well I don't care right now. I'm trying to win this war, not allowing Dumbledore or Voldemort the winning side."
"Why?"
"Because, my father wants me to rule after he is successful -which means I can't let Dumbledore win. The only way I do that, is to collect Tom's weaknesses before Potter. That and you have to brew Draught of the Living Death."
"And again, I ask, why?"
"Dumbledore wants you to. I do not want to shed blood unless necessary. So, we are going to drug him and fake his death so Tom is happy, he will think he has the upper hand, and then Dumbledore will also think the same. They will be distracted enough to allow me to gather his weaknesses and destroy them completely at once, he will believe that it is someone from the light and I get the credit of making Harry possible to kill him, I will then take over the Ministry and I will rework the entire nation. I have come from one of the most powerful men in history, and I will have no problem winning any battle."
"And you believe that this will work?"
"Extremely so." She said confidently. "But to make sure my plans are not revealed," she paused, and then quickly shot him with a small, but powerful obliviate, removing the last five minutes of conversation. Then she repeated herself, without her plans, and he set to work on the potion, leaving Anastasia to work on her studies silently.