A.N. So when Draco entered himself into the story someone commented that they wondered what he was up to. I agreed with this person. I had no idea what his plans were. He's sneaky like that.
Also the incident at the end of this chapter. It's the scene I've been picturing since the beginning. It also lets you in a little bit to why Rose isn't Hermione's biggest fan. She has her reasons. I also think we're beginning to wind down with this story. I'm estimating three to five more chapters, but we'll see. Thank you for those who read this story, and for those who review, favorite etc.
Hermione moved out of her hiding spot into the corridor joining Neville standing near his side. She glanced up at him silently, seeing the worry on his face, knowing it matched her own.
Neville sighed as he glanced down at his friend, "Malfoy apparently heard about you being here from his son. He seems to have taken an interest. I, of course told him that he had heard wrong, and that the other students at the school don't concern him."
"What do you think he's going to do?" Hermione asked Neville, feeling slightly nauseous at the thought of what Malfoy might try to do to her. If the adult version of him was anything like his father…
Neville stared down in the hall in the direction Malfoy had just gone, "I'm not sure…"
Hermione followed his gaze down the hall, knowing Malfoy was probably long gone, but still sensing his presence, before turning to look back at her friend, "what can we do?" she asked urgently, trying to calm the nerves in her stomach before her breakfast made a reappearance.
Neville turned to look at her white face, "I'm not sure if we can do anything. Scorpius is a smart young man. It's why he was placed in Ravenclaw after all and Draco knows it. I can protest all I want that Scorpius is wrong, but Draco will never buy it. As for what he might do… Draco's not the same as he was when we went to school with him. He's still out for himself, but after what he went through under Voldemort's command when he was a death eater," Neville trailed off, old memories coming to the forefront of his mind. As old as the memories were, they were still as fresh in his mind as when they had happened. "Malfoy was a death eater," Hermione said feeling suddenly cold. She had known he was a bully, but to actually know he was on Voldemort's side and that he was still walking around free, she shivered.
Neville turned and looked at her, "he was young, only 16, and pressured by his family and the other death eaters. Not to mention Voldemort himself," Neville said the next part slower, more hesitantly, "While he was excited about it at first, he quickly learned what it really meant to be a death eater. Harry said that Dumbledore…" Neville broke off suddenly; Hermione turned and saw that his eyes had turned pink. Hermione felt even colder. She knew in that moment that something bad had happened to Dumbledore during the war. He cleared his throat, "Dumbledore told Malfoy he would help him, protect him and his family. Malfoy looked like he was going to accept his offer."
"What happened," Hermione whispered.
Neville shook his head, "they were interrupted." He left it at that. Hermione turned and looked back down the hallway. A part of her wanted to know, but she decided not to pursue the matter further. Something that Neville had said suddenly hit her.
"Wait a minute!" Hermione looked at Neville looking scandalized. "Harry's right. He's been saying Malfoy's a death eater all year." Neville almost laughed at the look on Hermione's face. She just couldn't handle being wrong.
"So should I be worried," Hermione asked abruptly. Neville shook his head.
"I don't know that Draco would really do anything. His father maybe, but like I said, Draco isn't who he was when we were in school. Plus I think he's smart enough, well Scorpius is smart enough anyways to know that if something were to happen to you it would change things and not for the better. I believe that if Draco even mentioned wanting to do something, Scorpius would be able to convince him otherwise."
The two fell silent for a moment contemplating that. Thinking about Scorpius reminded Hermione of Rose. She turned to Neville and hesitated. She had said she wouldn't tell anyone. She chewed her lip.
"Neville," she said hesitantly, trying to figure out how to word what she wanted to ask. "I overheard this conversation, between S-Scorpius and Rose," she said. Neville turned and looked at the girl who was wringing her hands and looking at the floor. She looked up at him slowly, "Scorpius made a comment about something his family had done to Rose's family. Neville took in a sharp breath. Hermione knew at that moment it was a specific incident Scorpius was referring to.
Neville was quiet a moment his eyes on Hermione, "During the war, there was a brief period of time, when several people from Hogwarts were held captive in Malfoy manor." Hermione's breath left her body. "One of them, Rose's mum, was tortured by Bellatrix, mostly for being a muggle born." Hermione stared at Neville in horror. "I imagine that's why Scorpius thinks he shouldn't be with Rose," Neville added casually.
"Wait, what?" Hermione asked her mind scrambling to figure out how she had accidentally spilled Rose's secret.
"I know a lot more that happens around here then people think. Especially with the Weasley and Potter clan," Neville grinned, the seriousness of the moment passing.
"The thing is Ron's a lot more mature than most people give him credit for. Especially considering what he went through during the war. If he actually took the time to get to know Scorpius, who has the habit of blaming himself for what his relatives did during the war, I think he would see that he's a decent kid. Plus he; well both of them adore Rosie, and she could easily talk her way into Ron's accepting Scorpius' relationship with her. Additionally I don't think Rose's mum would mind either. She's not one to punish someone for who their relatives are, but rather judges the person based on their own actions." Neville watched Hermione carefully as she thought over everything she had just learned.
A bit of Hermione felt guilty. All this time she had been thinking bad things about Lavender, and to find out that cruel, sadistic Bellatrix had gotten a hold of her, a lump formed in Hermione's throat. No one should have to go through that.
"I'd better get to class," Hermione said.
Neville nodded, "I will see you later Hermione."
The girl wandered off heading for her first class of the day, thoughts still swirling through her head. She tried not to look at Rose or Scorpius too much throughout the day. After dinner she wandered into the halls, for once without a Potter or Weasley accompanying her. The sounds of shouting filtered through the hall. Hermione looked up sharply and took off at a run towards the yelling.
"I don't see what business it is of yours!" Rose was yelling at Roxie who just sighed.
"You can't just ignore letters from your mother Rose," Roxie said back running her hands through her hair in frustration.
"Yes I can! She sure as hell ignores me, most of the time unless it's convenient for her." Rose yelled back.
"She doesn't ignore you Rose," Roxie said her voice coming out louder.
"Yes she does. She never comes to my quidditch games, because she's too busy working, but when Hugo has some sort of smarty pants academic thing, oh she's right there in the front row cheering him on," Rose screamed back her voice coming out high pitched, "Not to mention all the other aspects of my life she's ruining," Rose's eyes were turning red now.
"What are you talking about?" Roxie demanded of her cousin.
Hermione stepped forward, "Roxie," she said softly, "maybe you should leave Rose alone right now," she reached out to put her hand on Roxie's shoulder.
"No one asked you, you interfering little Mudblood!" Rose shouted before falling silent. Roxie turned and looked at her cousin wide-eyed. Rose turned and ran leaving Hermione standing in shock behind her.
