Author's note:There's a little misunderstanding... When I added this chapter, this was named Chapter 8, and now this is chapter 7! It's because my 'author's alert' something chapter had been named chapter 7, I'm really sorry about that confusion.
Anyway... I'm VERY sorry for the VERY late update. I know, I know that it's almost like near a year already since my last update.I had been just really busy with school! And this update is not exactly interesting, but will give you hints about the future chapters that will come, not that I'm discouraging you my dear readers. So please read on! All your reviews have made my day and will always do.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter will NEVER be mine or anybody's! It will always be the property of J.K. Rowling.
The Plan
The rest of the day was spent at Lord Craven's mansion. Hermione couldn't believe her own eyes. Setting foot on the mansion, she couldn't spell the horror she felt when one by one, death eaters started appearing. She thought that they had vanquished almost all of them! But she was wrong. So wrong.
The meeting was about how they would rise up to power again. But of course, no one should be in a hurry in doing so. Craven assigned tasks to one death eater and to the other. Of the surviving members, Draco was the youngest. He was the youngest, but he was very skilled. But Hermione for sure didn't know the evil spells he had learned.
When Craven was almost done with assigning tasks, Hermione thought that the new 'Dark Lord' would skip, or much better, forget about her, when Lucius said something to change all that.
"My Lord. My son here, Draco… I'm sure that he is capable of doing something as well. Although the first two tasks the late Lord Voldemort had given him were not at all successful, I am sure, very sure, that he is able to do what will be given to him this time." Lucius Malfoy said to Craven. For a while, Craven thought to himself. Draco Malfoy indeed was not successful in two attempts of taking the late Dumbledore's life, but the boy did try his best. Errors were expected in the wizarding as well, just like in the muggle world.
"Very well," he said, "as a matter of fact, I have thought about something that I do believe your son will be capable of doing, so here is what your son will do," Craven started, and Hermione's ears perked up, nervous but at the same time curious.
"Kill the mudblood. Kill Potter's bestfriend. That girl's name is Hermione Granger, am I correct?" Craven asked. "Yes my lord." Hermione nervously answered him, a quiver in her voice, though she hoped Craven didn't notice it.
This had been the second plot against her life. The first one was by Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott. Luckily, she survived it without a single cut on her.
"You should be grateful son, for the task at your hand is quite simple, really." Lucius then said to his son. But Hermione only shivered in fear, she was indeed knowledgeable of the consequences that she would receive should she show her fear and become suspicious.
"It is, really," Craven interjected, "if you will succeed in doing so, I will have give you a higher rank. I daresay that's quite a reward for such an awfully simple assignment. So better do good my boy." He said. If the real Draco Malfoy had been the one listening, he would surely do it with pleasure and ease.
The meeting was adjourned with that. The Malfoy family then left the estate, with Lucius Malfoy beaming. His son is really following his footsteps, and might possibly become an even more powerful Death Eater.
As they got home, it was already time for dinner. It was a quiet dinner, not really unsual in the Malfoy household though, so Hermione ate her meal quickly. She needed to be alone and think of a plan to escape.
"I'm done father. Thank you for the dinner." She said in a hurry, which was again close to Lucious getting suspicious at her. She almost tripped in running.
Lucious raised an eyebrow. "Since when did that boy learn how to be courteous?"
His wife just glared at him and snorted. "Since the first time you casted Crucio on him, obviously."
Lucius' expression remained unfazed. And with that, the two resumed eating.
Hermione collapsed on the bed. What was she going to do? She couldn't just leave, not when she promised Crabbe and Goyle that she would help Draco. And if she left now, of course she'd be safer even if she was in Malfoy's body, but she'd miss all the information she can get from the Voldemort's successor.
She only had a week to do her future plans, which she needed to do alone. She couldn't risk owling someone from Hogwarts, or try to communicate with Harry or Ron. No, that would be too risky, and someone might notice and become suspicious of her actions if she would do so. She decided that it was best for her to do this alone…
He awoke with pain radiating to all parts of his body. It was like being crucioed a thousand times. He never knew that a muggle could ever inflict such pain and horror to a wizard like him. He never did.
Draco's head was still spinning from all the pain and trauma, thanks to the insane Thomas Granger. Thomas… the name itself was scary and disgusting to think of, was like the late Lord Voldemort, Draco thought. He was close to considering him the second You-Know-Who.
When he finally gained enough strength to focus on his surroundings, it was just then that he noticed that he was incarcerated to all sides of the bed. And the second bad thing was that he was naked. Merlin, he couldn't fathom what happened the hours before he woke up… Did Thomas?... No, no, no. Thinking of what could've possibly happened would just ruin his confidence and will to get out of there. But hey, was Thomas Granger just an idiot enough to not even consider the fact that she, no, he was a wizard? Not to mention a pureblood? Draco was already quite good with nonverbal spells, trained to do so upon entering Hogwarts so that he could protect himself if by chance he was wandless. He mumbled a spell and the ropes snapped apart. And then he gave himself a mental kick on why he didn't case any nonverbal spell during his first torture at the hands of the insane muggle.
He hurriedly picked up some clothes from the closet. The next thing to do was find his wand… Where was his wand?
Oh no. Thomas had it!
"Damn it!" He cursed to himself loudly.
He was panicking. He didn't know what to do. Think, think, THINK DRACO! He wasn't being himself. Was he not a Death Eater? By all means, throw me tomatoes! The hell I care!
He had never felt so corrupted in his seventeen years of living. But, he still wanted to get a damn life, free from beatings and killings. He knew deep inside that Craven wouldn't last a second the moment he and Potter would face each other. No one could ever surpass the late Voldemort.
Then again, here's the muggle version of him, probably downstairs feasting on some human parts.
So, Draco decided, that if he still wanted to be free from all the misery that had dawned upon him, he need to do something… and quick.
Reviews, anyone? :P
Soo, how'd you find this chapter? I can't promise you guys a quick update, but I will always find time to write, though I know that sounds really cliché. Thank you very much for spending the time reading this fic of mine and waiting for the update!
cullens-little-sis: Thank you so much for your words! I really appreciate all of it!
And to all my readers, please accept my dearest and sincere apology for the very delayed update. Please don't give up on me, all of you! =)
