So did you like the last chapter? That's the story started now. What do you think will happen? Here's the next chapter.

Chapter 5: A strange letter

Ron & Hermione

On Friday night Ron and Hermione were alone in the common room. Logan was with his friends somewhere.

"Ron," Hermione started. "You know how I was trying to find leads to where my parents might be in Australia all summer?"

Ron had been sick of her doing this because it had taken up all of her attention. "Yes. Did you find them?" he asked.

Hermione shook her head. "I can't find anything. It's as if they didn't exist."

Ron didn't quite know what to say to that so he settled for hugging her and drawing circular patterns on her back.

The next few days were like déja vu for Ron. Hermione spent all her time trying to find out something about her parents. Ron spent all his time extremely bored and not able to do anything to help because he couldn't concentrate and Hermione just snapped at him.

On Monday morning Hermione was including Ron again and she wanted to make the weekend up to him. "Ron I-" she started but she was interrupted by an owl dropping a letter in front of her.

"I don't usually get mail," she said.

"Maybe it's from Harry and Ginny!" Ron exclaimed. He really missed them.

"It's not their handwriting," Hermione sighed. She missed them as well.

She opened the letter.

Hermione, I know that you have been looking for your parents. I have information. Meet me in the Shrieking Shack on Saturday at 1 O' clock and I will tell you what I know. Bring Weasley if you must.

.. .. ..

Hermione knew she had seen the handwriting before but she couldn't think where.

**

It was Saturday morning and Ron and Hermione were still arguing over whether Hermione should go and see the person who wrote the letter.

"It's the only way I'll know where they are," Hermione said. She really wanted to find out what the person knew.

"You don't know who it is. They might not even have anything to tell you," Ron shouted.

"How am I supposed to know that if I don't go?" Hermione shouted back.

"Look, just leave it. You'll find something eventually," Ron sighed, exasperated.

"You don't understand," Hermione whispered. "How would you feel if your mum and dad were missing?"

Ron went upstairs to the bedroom and sat on the bed. He did care that Hermione was upset but he didn't want her to go and see this person.

Ron had been sitting upstairs for a while when he realised he should go down and apologise to Hermione.

When he found the room empty he was very surprised. He looked at his watch and saw that it was half past twelve. He then noticed a note on the table.

Ron…you just don't understand. I don't want to argue with you. I have gone to the Shrieking Shack. Hopefully, you will have seen sense by the time I get back. Hermione.

**

Hermione was standing in front of the Shrieking Shack. She was worried about what was going to happen and she was getting cold. She had been waiting for fifteen minutes and whoever wanted to talk to her was ten minutes late.

"I'll check inside," she said to herself. It made her feel like there was someone with her and it gave her confidence.

She walked up the stairs until she got to the room she had been in in her third year when she met Sirius.

"No Weasley then," a voice said. It was sneering at her from the darkness.

"I've heard you before," Hermione said. "Who are you?"

A shape emerged from the corner. It was tall and blonde.

"Malfoy," Hermione whispered.

"Don't be afraid, Granger," Draco smiled, noticing her backing away.

"W-why are you here?" Hermione stammered.

Malfoy laughed and indicated to a table. He sat down and said, "Because I have information."

Hermione didn't believe him but she was too curious about what he was doing that she sat down.

"I know that your parents were in Australia under false names. My father is very skilled in legilimency and he found out. He went to Australia to find them. I'm sorry Granger but he killed them." Draco said.

"They're dead?" Hermione asked. She couldn't believe it.

Draco nodded.

Hermione burst into hysterical tears. To Hermione's surprise, and even Draco's, Draco moved his seat to beside Hermione's. He started of by murmuring comforting words in her ear but he progressed to having his hand on her back to his arm on her shoulder to hugging her.

When none of this helped he lifted her up and placed her on his lap, rocking her like a baby. He continued to murmur in her ear until the crying turned into hiccups.

"Thank you," Hermione whispered when she had control of herself.

Hermione and Draco spoke for a while. They found a surprising amount to talk about.

"Oh Hermione," Draco said when she had finished telling him about her argument with Ron.

"You just called me Hermione," Hermione noted with a hint of a smile.

Draco laughed. "I guess I did. And I'm not taking it back."

This shocked Hermione. She had never imagined that Draco Malfoy would ever be able to do what he had done that day.

"You know," Hermione started and then shook her head. "Never mind."

"What?" Draco asked. "I will get this out of you."

"Well. I was going to say that you aren't as bad as I thought you were." Hermione laughed. "I can't believe I just said that about Draco Malfoy."

"I'm not as good as you think," Draco said sounding ashamed. He lifted his left sleeve to reveal a Dark Mark.

Hermione knew it was there but she still gasped. "It never goes away. Even when the person that casts it dies," Draco whispered. "I've tried."

Hermione had an idea. "But you didn't have me. I'll get rid of it for you."

"But how? You'll be at Hogwarts," Draco asked.

Hermione shook her head. "I'll be with you."

"But what about Ron? What about your NEWTs?"

"I don't need Ron. He doesn't understand me," Hermione started to explain. "I knew I loved him but I also knew that there was something else about it. I didn't know what until this morning. I was trying to get him to see my side and I asked him what he would feel like if his mum and dad were missing. That made me think about how I would feel if they were missing. The same as I was feeling for my own parents. I see Molly and Arthur as parents. I love Ron and Harry as brothers although I felt like I should love Ron that way so I convinced myself I did."

Draco was going to interrupt but Hermione silenced him with a look.

"And I don't care if I don't get my NEWTs. I know all the magic already and I have had a lot of people offering me jobs this summer. They are willing to overlook my exam results because of what happened last year. I'm not using Harry as an excuse and I don't ever want to but I'm just saying that it doesn't make a difference to me and I will go where you go. I don't know why but I know I will."

"Lengthy speech," Draco noted. "Are you sure about all of that?"

Hermione nodded. She did mean it all but she had no idea where the last part had come from. "I'll go with you."

"The pureblood and the mudblood," Draco laughed. "An unusual pairing in normal circumstances but if you consider who we are it is even stranger."

"You don't care?" Hermione exclaimed. "About my background?"

Draco shook his head. "So how are you going to get rid of my Dark Mark?"

Hermione screamed and ran at Draco. She jumped and he twirled her round. They had never thought of each other as possible partners but now that they did they felt like they were meant to be.

"It's complicated. I don't know if it will work but we can try. You need to turn away from Voldemort completely."

Draco flinched slightly at the name. "I've already done that by helping you."

"No. Not completely. Hold my hand." Draco did. Hermione took out her wand. "Now say what you said before, about our blood."

"The pureblood and the mudblood." He instinctively knew how to continue. "I disobey my orders and fall for a mudblood. "What are you going to do about it?"

There was a flash of green light and Draco's Dark Mark disappeared. "You did it!" he exclaimed.

"Being a muggle born isn't so bad," Hermione said. "Actually it isn't bad at all but I think that muggle borns have more magical potential than purebloods."

Draco didn't have anything to say to this so he just smirked.

"There you go," Hermione said. Draco looked confused. "I knew you couldn't keep that smirk off your face for long. It's like you can't survive without it."

"I can," Draco protested.

"Prove it then," Hermione laughed. "Try not to for the rest of the day."

"That's too long," Draco complained.

"How long then?" Hermione asked.

Draco considered this and said, "Two minutes."

"You just proved my point," Hermione smirked.

"We should be leaving now," Draco said completely ignoring Hermione's comment. "It's getting late."

Hermione looked at her watch and realised that he was right.

"Where are we going?" Hermione asked.

"My private house. I've been hiding there for quite a while now. Not many people know where it is."

"Okay," Hermione said as she held Draco's arm to apparate to her new home.

So did you like the chapter? This story will be slightly AU-most things fit but there are slight tweaks. Sorry if you aren't Dramione fans but please keep reading the story for all the twists and turns. You never know, I might convince you, or she might not stay with him. Anyway, the next chapter is Harry & Ginny again so we will see where they have gone. Please review and tell me what you think.