So, how did everyone like the last chapter? I'm sorry I've updated so late, but this is quite a difficult chapter. But, it is finally up now. Enjoy!
Chapter Seven: The Plan
Dear Draco,
You can imagine your mother and my surprise when we saw your letter last night. But we do believe your story, so after a discussion with the De Grangers, the Parkinsons and the Zabinis, it has been set that us man will be going to help.
Meet us at the base of the Womping Willow at exactly half-past eleven. Remember to cast a disalugement charm on yourself. Make sure nobody hears or sees you.
Love,
Father
The letter arrived with the morning mail, embossed with the Malfoy family-crest. Now, the four friends were sitting on sofas in the Slytherin common room, discussing the night's tactics.
"So," Draco began." We'd better wait for the others to be asleep before we go down."
"But what if they wake up to find us gone? What's our explanation then?" Pansy put in, not looking convinced.
"We don't." Draco smirked, and took out a flask." And that's where the sleeping-draught I packed came in."
"Psst... Pansy. You ready?" Hermione pulled a thick woolen-sock on, and tied a black boot over it. High-necked long-sleeved silk sweater, and tight black jeans. Really, muggles do know how to design their clothes-she could pass for a Japanese ninja any day!
After Daphene Greengrass, Tracy Davis and the others in their dorm had been drugged, the two of them stole down to the common room to meet up with the boys.
Together, they stole down the Entrance Hall under the disalugement charm. The front doors were... locked.
"Alohamora."
The doors opened with a creak, and the four swarmed out into the night, though Blaise still remembered to lock the doors after them.
As they walked closer to the willow, Hermione could dimly make out four hooded cloaked figures gathered a few feet from it. She grinned, they were ready alright.
"Father." Hermione nodded to him after removing the charm, then to Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Zabini and Mr. Parkinson. They nodded in response, and her father handed her a woolen cloak, after she pulled it on , she turned to see her friends were all waiting.
Lucius Malfoy nodded to her and Draco." Hermione, Draco, lead the way please."
Without a word, they started off, knowing the others would follow. No one lit their wands, for anyone in either the school or Hagrid's hut would be able to see them.
It was until they were completely concealed in the trees before they lit their wands.
"So, where do we go?" Zane Zabini asks.
"Follow me." Hermione whispers, and led the way to the clearing where she and Draco saw the Dark Lord. Sure enough, he was there.
"My Lord." Hermione bowed, and the others followed her lead.
The Dark Lord beckoned to her, and she walked forward until he was close enough to touch her face.
Well, Ms. Granger, I see you have followed my orders pretty well.
It's what I've been taught, my lord. Never make a promise if you can't keep it. Hermione answered respectfully.
I see that Demitrius and Lyra have taught you well. But Let's move on to the main thing, I need you to bring me to the Malfoy Manor where we can discuss the plan.
But my lord, you can't... talk.
I have enough energy in me for this.
Hermione nodded, and turned to the others, who were watching the pair with facination.
"The Dark Lord says that we need to bring him to the Malfoy Manor to discuss the plan."
Lucius Malfoy furrowed his brows." How are we able to help you there, my lord?"
The Dark Lord "told" him, and Lucius nodded.
He gathered the Dark Lord in his arms, and said to Demitrius, Zane and Derick." I'll go back to the Manor and call the others, you three follow with the children." He then disappeared with a pop.
Draco rolled his eyes." He keeps talking as if we're not there."
"Well, as long as we're in on the plan, I'm in." Blaise put in.
"We have to know of it, we're the ones who know the most about what Potter does." Hermione says.
"Maybe it has something to do with Quirrell." Pansy mused.
"I see you four have thought a lot." A voice said behind them.
The four whipped around, pulling their wands out in case of danger, only to see their fathers smirking behind them.
Derick Parkinson said, holding out his hand," Ready to dive in?"
The four of them trudged towards the parlor of the manor, where their parents were waiting for them. The Dark Lord will, of course, also be there.
Draco knocked on the door. "Enter!" Lucius called from inside. They entered, and saw that everyone was seated in sofas or armchairs, with a black bundle the size of a baby settled on a chair.
They bowed in front of it." My Lord." They chouresed.
"Sit down, children, settle down." The voice was high, but not screechy, even... oddly, comforting for Hermione.
They sat down on a sofa, a bit cramped, so, almost uncontiously, Draco slipped his arm around her shoulders.
The Dark Lord began to talk.
"From what Demitrius told me, it seems as if you four noticed that Quirrell was trying to curse Potter in the Qudditch match." They nodded, and Hermione threw a small glare in her father's way." Well, he was doing it on my orders. I met him in the forest of Albania, and managed to bewitch the stupid lad into thinking he was working for me."
"But what does it have to do with what we're going to do, my lord?" Pansy asked.
"I'm getting there, I'm getting there." He chuckled." The thing that he thinks he's doing for me is helping me get the Scorcerer's stone."
Hermione gasped," you mean Nicoles Flemel's stone?"
"Yes, the exact one. But you see, Dumbledore took it to Hogwarts for safe-keeping, can you guess where he hid it?"
"Then forbidden corridor on the third floor!" Blaise crowed.
"Very clever, my children, very clever. But what I want you to do is to destroy the stone."
"You don't need the stone?" Draco asked.
"No, my children, I don't need the stone to come back. But exactly how, I'll tell you when you destroyed it. You see, Potter already knows of the stone, and I garentee that he's going to go get it for Dumbledore. So, you'll have to get it destroyed before Potter gets it, and make sure Dumbledore don't interrupt you."
"We can always use a letter from the Ministry to tail him away. Can you help us with it, Mr. Malfoy?" Hermione asked thoughtfully.
Lucius smirked," very clever my dear, I'm sure I can talk Fudge into having a meeting with him. When do you want it to be sent?"
Hermione looked at her friends," when do you think we'd be ready?"
Pansy looked thoughtful," Friday, I think. It's the day straight before the Christmas hols, we could finish the work and go back here with the stone to destroy the next day. What do you think boys?"
"Pan's is right, this way, there won't be any way of Dumbledore finding out the stone's gone." Blaise smirked.
"But what would happen when he finds out the stone's gone?" Draco asked, his brows forrowed." We've got to at least make a replica of it, at least to fool Potter. Dumbledore would of course know that it's a fake when he sees the stone, but he won't be able to tell anyone."
"That's brilliant! Can we make it though? It's definitely not going to be easy." Hermione frowned." Can you help us, my lord."
"Just waiting for you to ask, Ms. Granger. And yes, I can help you. In fact, I already have this part of your mission done for you." A box appeared in the air." I had Quirrell make it for me just a few weeks ago, here take a look."
With shaking hands, Hermione plucked the box from the air, and held it so that Draco, Pansy and Blaise could all see it.
Carefully, she pulled off the lid, and gasped at what she saw inside. A red stone, a ruby to be exact, was inside. The red, tinged with black, had a mysterious glow to it, beautiful, yet dark. It wasn't hard to believe that such a small stone could held magic so powerful.
"With this stone, I'm sure you'll finish the mission perfectly. Even Dumbledore needs some time to see that it might be a fake, even more to prove it. Good luck, children."
So guys, this chapter's up. I really hope you like it(spent at least a week to finish it). You see, the next chapter's about the mission. Mum's gone crazy these hols- Eight different classes in total. Math, Chinese, English, Physics, History and so on so on.
I want to give my thanks to leonix2009, Son of Whitebird Shadowstorm11 and Slytherinsqueen88 who have been reveiwing ever since my first few chapters. Thanks guys! Read & Review, bye!
~ Jasmine
