"Answer the question," said Bellatrix rather bored. Hermione looked at her dumbly. She rolled her eyes and repeated, "Are you dating Draco Malfoy?"
"Not exclusively," said Hermione. She didn't know why she was telling them this. Bellatrix smiled at the look of shock on Hermione's face. Then she whispered to Snape, "Good, his plans working. Let's get her to Headquarters."
Snape nodded his head and proceeded to drag Hermione to the fireplace. Right as Snape was about to step into the fireplace, a flash of red light entered the room and the dungeon door was torn off its' hinge. Snape hurriedly pushed Hermione into the fireplace and muttered, with Floo Powder in hand, "the Malfoy Manor". He turned before he could finish saying the destination and Hermione quickly jumped out before she could be transported . She quickly took refuge behind Snape's desk as the conversation started.
"Draco," said Bellatrix with a laugh. "What are you doing here?"
"I would ask you the same thing," said Draco angrily. "Hermione's my assignment." Hermione felt a pinch of anger at being called an assignment, but she reminded herself that he was only pretending.
"She hasn't been your assignment for the last two weeks Draco," stated Snape firmly. "The Dark Lord didn't know where you were-"
"I was in the Hospital Wing and you bloody well knew that. You could have told him where I was if you weren't such a-"
"Now let's just calm down," said Bellatrix with a laugh. Hermione stole a peak from behind Snape's desk and saw that both Snape and Draco were holding each other at wand point. They were inches away from each other, with their wands pointed at each others necks. Bellatrix was sitting in a chair across from them, rather enjoying herself and the situation in front of her.
Snape was the first to break their position. When he did he didn't loosen his grip on his wand. "What do you need Draco?" asked Snape peevishly.
"I want my assignment back," said Draco as he, too, didn't loosen his grip. Snape looked over at Bellatrix and back.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you Draco, but the Dark Lord asked me to fulfill your assignment. I, unlike you, have followed through," said Snape with an evil half-smile.
"You've been working my assignment from the beginning!" yelled Draco. "Did the Dark Lord put you up to it? I know you've tried seducing Hermione."
Snape raised an eyebrow, "Did you really think the Dark Lord would give a foolish teenage boy the most important assignment?" The two of them stared at each other for an exceptionally long time. Hermione wasn't listening anymore though, she had finally understood why Snape and Lucius had been acting so, bizarre; to put it simply.
Lord Voldemort was assigning more than one person to this job. Because, as Professor Snape had just stated, it was the most important job. One person couldn't do it, it would take a team. If one of them failed, the victim (her), would be likely to go to Draco and tell him why she was so upset. Already living with him, Lord Voldemort knew that the two would be sharing a lot of time together. Had it not been for the assignment that Lord Voldemort "gave" to Draco, however, Hermione would have waited a long time to confide in him. If she wasn't mistaken, it had been Draco who had first confided in her, and why? To fulfill his assignment.
Lord Voldemort must've known that all this attention from the Death Eaters would confuse her. Why else would he do it? When people were confused, they were much weaker; more easily readable. Which, after all; was exactly what he needed: a readable mind. Now she knew the real plan.
"Hermione," she heard Harry whisper from her side. She shook her head to wake herself from her thinking mind. "Get under here, I'm going to get you out of here." She quickly let Harry wrap her in the Invisibility Cloak.
It was a tight fit with the two of them under the cloak. Hermione would have asked where Ron was, was it not for the fact that, if she had asked, it would have been directly in his ear; and she had no intention of making this rescue mission more uncomfortable. They slowly, and quietly, walked passed Snape and Draco; who were still arguing.
"So my initiation is a joke too, is it?" asked Draco.
"No, you'll be the youngest Death Eater. Come tomorrow," said Snape stiffly. Hermione stopped dead in her tracks. Harry, not noticing, took another step. For a second, Harry was sure his foot could be seen; but he recovered quickly and stepped back to where Hermione stood.
It seemed the quarreling group hadn't noticed, nor had Bellatrix. She was cleaning her nails while Snape and Draco stared at each other. "Hermione," whispered Harry pulling on her arm. "We have to hurry. Come on!"
"Did you know he was going to be initiated?" asked Hermione as Snape and Draco began arguing again. Harry shook his head, "He can explain later. Come on." She reluctantly gave in to Harry's tugs and followed him out of the room. Ron was standing guard at the door. Harry whispered something incoherent to him as they passed.
"How is Draco going to get out?" asked Hermione once they had ascended to the first floor.
"Ron's telling him that's we're about by thinking about it," said Harry pocketing the cloak. He pulled out the Marauder's Map and checked it. "They're coming up right now." He smiled.
When the pair finally got within eye level, Hermione saw that Draco looked upset. "You weren't suppose to hear that," he said, as if reading her worried face.
"Why not?" she asked quickly.
"This isn't the place," said Draco nodding towards the stairs. "Let's go back to the Gryffindor common room. It's safer there than in our dorm." Hermione nodded her head.
"No Aurors within here and there," said Harry agreeing with Draco. "It seems we've befuddled even the greatest Aurors."
"Where are they?" asked Ron yawning.
"In Dumbledore's office. Shacklebolt's pacing, Tonks is as well. But more in circles than in a straight line. It's pretty entertaining to watch," said Harry with a laugh. "Come on, let's get up to the common room. Slip this on once we get there Draco, the Fat Lady won't let you in. Well, not willingly anyways." Harry handed Draco the cloak and he took it with a nod of his head.
Once the four of them were inside the common room, they gathered in their favorite corner; by the fireplace. "Let's have it then," said Harry once they were all situated.
"Well," started Draco. "When Rookwood told me that Lord Voldemort had pulled off the plans, he sort of told me that my initiation was tomorrow morning."
"Don't you have to kill someone though?" asked Hermione anxiously. As Harry commented on Draco's "sort of" remark.
"Rookwood said that Lord Voldemort traded that in for me sending my father to Azkaban," said Draco ignoring Harry's comment.
"And why didn't you tell me?" asked Hermione. Draco smiled, "You had a lot on your mind Hermione, and I didn't want you worrying about me. Besides, we all knew this would happen. Even if we didn't want it." They were all silent for a few minutes. Finally, clearing his throat, Harry spoke up, "So what now? I mean, the Death Eaters know they don't have Hermione. Aren't they going to think you had something to do with it?"
"Don't worry about it," said Draco. "I can take the blame."
"What will they do to you?" asked Hermione playing with his hand. Draco shrugged.
"We better get some sleep," said Harry looking away from the two of them. "It's late." They all agreed.
"Let's stay here for the night," suggested Hermione. "The Aurors will look for us in our dorms first. They'll want explanations, and I'm in no mood to explain this." Harry quickly checked the map to confirm, "They're gone actually. Must've gone to the Ministry for help." They all laughed.
"I guess we're having a slumber party then," said Ron conjuring four pillows. "There's no need to wander around in the halls after hours." Hermione rolled her eyes and conjured four sleeping bags. They all smiled.
"Our guest can have the couches," said Harry jokingly. Hermione laughed, "Don't be ridiculous Harry. We don't mind sleeping on the floor."
"We insist you take the couches," said Ron playing along. Draco rolled his eyes, but played along, "If they insist."
The four of them got situated, with Hermione and Draco on the couches, and Ron and Harry on the floor. Hermione was the first to fall to sleep, which pleased Draco. "Harry, Ron," whispered Draco seeing if they were awake. They both mumbled a soft yes. He cleared his throat. "Listen, I'm sorry that we've been on opposing sides the last six years. I'm not use to people standing up to me like the two of you did when I met you."
"Which is why you treated us so badly," said Ron with a laugh. "That's complete understandable."
"If you're a prick," added Draco as the three of them laughed. "But, honestly-"
"Don't worry about it Draco," said Harry with a yawn. "We're on the same side now. And you've been an interesting addition to the group."
Draco smiled. For the first time in years, he felt like a whole person. Not like someone who was being ripped to pieces by a bunch of Death Eaters and some Quidditch games. "Does this mean we're cool?"
Harry laughed, "We're as cool as ice." He paused. "But Gryffindor's still going to kick Slytherin's ass for the Quidditch cup." Draco laughed and threw his pillow at Harry's voice. He heard him grunt and laugh. Harry waited a few seconds and threw it back, hitting Draco square in the face.
"I must say you have talent Potter," said Draco with an evil voice. "But Slytherin may have a chance at winning this year. I've been practicing."
"Oh, well don't practice too hard Malfoy," said Harry with a laugh. "You wouldn't want to hurt yourself."
"I'm sure you can do that for me," sighed Draco. "Night." Harry mumbled something and, within seconds, he was snoring. Draco could hear Ron snoring as well. It took him a little longer to fall asleep.
That wasn't due to the fact that he wasn't tired, but more to due with the fact that he was working; working on a plan: not working on making a plan, he had that already. The way up to the Gryffindor common room had given him enough time to make up a scheme that was, by far, Death Eater worthy. He was afraid that the plan would be more difficult then it had been to plan it; but talking to Harry had definitely helped.
His father had warned him before he was given the job; Harry was trained in Occlumency. But he also told him that, around his friends and loved ones, he was weaker. Not only that, but he was weakest when he was asleep.
Draco smiled and sighed, closing his eyes as he began to read Harry's mind. The first thing he saw made him squirm. He fast forwarded, past Lord Voldemort's rebirth. It took him a few minutes to stumble upon what he was looking for. He opened his eyes and looked over to where Harry was lying. This information would, no doubt, make Lord Voldemort a very happy man.
Author's Note: So, what did you guys think? Please review! And critique me! Oh, and I have a question for all you reviewers: Smaller, more frequent chapters or longer, less frequent chapters? Also, I've posted the trailer for this fanfic on youtube [check it out at www dot youtube dot com/watch?vxuIpnloAWAQ It doesn't let you post URLs for some reason, so just take out the dot and put in a real dot. :D Tell me what you think of the trailer in your reviews as well :D Thanks guys!
