Chapter 10- The Beacon

'Mmm , yeah Quidditch is just how I remembered it to be. Boaring!' Hermione said as she left the box with everyone

'Oy, it wasn't that bad. True the Chudley Cannons kicked ass and blew them out of the water, but it was still a good game.' Blaise commented

'Were you and I watching the same game Blaise' Draco asked 'Puddlemere United was ultamitly pathetic they really need to get Oliver Wood back.

'Blaise!'

'Hey Malcolm' Blaise shook his hand

'What a show ey, Puddlemere got there arse's handed to them. Can't you arrange it so the games are some what good to watch.'

'Ha yeah, I'll look into it.'

'A group of us are all heading over to The Beacon you guys want to join?'

Blaise looked at everyone "You guys want to go?"

Hermione had opened her mouth to say something before Ginny placed her hand over it

'Shut it Hermione your coming'

Hermione laughed 'What I wasn't going to say anything I was just going to say I could use a drink right now as well.'

They all then apparated to The Beacon

Hermione and Ginny had been over at the bar when Harry had walked up to them.

'Harry!'

'Ladies'

'We didn't see you at the game. Where was your seat?' Ginny asked

'Oh I was a couple of boxes over from you. I was in the same box as Adrian.

'Oh nice, so where's the rest of the hurd you guys came with?'

'Who know getting drunk somewhere and hopefully staying away from me for the rest of the night' Hermione commented

'Ginny laughed 'Alright well I need to go to the loo. Excuse me.'

Harry had nodded to Hermione to follow him to one of the private room and along the way Hermione spotted Blaise walking trying to find everyone. Hermione grabbed his sleeve before the three of them moved to a less crowded area.

Harry casted a silence charm around them so no one could hear what they were talking about.

'Harry' Blaise shook his hand 'Hows it going mate. What'd you think of the game?'

'Please don't get me started about how pathetic Puddlemere United has become without Oliver.'

Harry looked around for a minute

'I looked into that thing we were talking about the other night Hermione, around the minstry and apparently someone has been doing some snooping as well.'

Hermione and Blaise looked at each other worried before turning back to Harry for him to continue.

'I got an inside tip that apparently Terence Higgs was snooping around trying to find out what was stolen from the museum.'

'Terence Higgs? Why would he be intrested in something like that. As long an I have known that guy he was never one to really be that outgoing about the dark lord or any type of stuff like that. That doesn't make any sense.'

'Your right,Terence snooping around doesn't make any sense which means he is doing it for someone else.'Harry continued 'Have either one of you seen him around lately?

'No not that I remember. I don't recall seeing him at the Malcolm's or at the ball the other night. How about you Blaise?'

Blaise was in a deep thought for a moment before his face dropped all the color seemed to have drained from his face.

'What do you remember seeing him somewhere?'Hermione asked looking from Harry to Blaise

'Yeah I do and you not going to like where I tell you I saw him. I mean I really only saw him for a few seconds because he was storming out the door which is the only reason I actually noticed him.'

'Well, where did you see him then?'

'He was at the Malfoy's the other night for the party.'

'The Malfoy's…do you really think…'

'Honestly, I don't know I meant there were hundreds of people there last night at the party. He could have been talking with anyone. We don't know for sure. Plus even if it was Malfoy he did come to talk to we don't know which one he talk too either.'

Realization hit Hermione and her eyes went wide as her hand covered her mouth

'The other night before we went to Malcolm's don't you remember Draco disappeared and was in our library. Well as I was coming downstairs I had bumped into him as he was leaving the library. He said he was talking to his father about business and then was asking me all kinds of questions about the museum because I had lived in Cairo.'

'What did you tell him?' Blaise had a worried face on

'I didn't tell him anything because I didn't know anything to tell. He just wanted to know what kind of security they had there.'

'This is not good Hermione we need to tell dad.'

Hermion nodded her head in agreement 'But what are we going to do in the mean time we can't just disappear, Draco would notice and it will look to suspicious. We could just try and avoid him, but I really think that that would make it even worse.

'Then let him have you Hermione.'

"WHAT!!!' Both Hermione and Blaise said at the same time looking at Harry

'Sorry….Let me rephrase that. You know go hang out with him go on some date with him or whatever. You two have been having some type of strange meetings you told me. Use them to get information out of him.'

Blaise raised an eyebrow 'Strange meetings Hermoine?'

'I told you Blaise it was nothing.'

"I don't know if that is such a good idea Harry I mean Hermione…'

But Harry interupted him

'Look Blaise I don't like the idea very much either, but I mean at least she could try and get close to him and find out what he knows if anything at all. I really think this is the best thing to do. It's not like he knows or suspect anything about your family. So I don't think that it is really that dangerous. I would never put Hermione in that kind of danger if I thought it was that serious she is my best friend after all and unless you can think of something better to do. What choice do we really have.'

'I don't know what do you think Hermione?

'Don't you think he is going to realize that something is up if all the sudden I was all buddy buddy with him and receptive. He is going to know something is up.' Hermione shook her head

'Tell him that you are greatful for him helping out with Ron and that he is a distraction to help you get through it.' Harry said

'I am not going to pretend to get close to him to forget about Ron.' Hermoine pratically yelled

'I'm not asking you to get close to him to forget about Ron, I am asking you to get close to him to protect your family. Hermione I don't see any other way.' Harry pointed out 'Plus he would never suspect something like this from you.'

Hermione took a deep breath and looked around the club aimlessly thinking.

'Harry might be right what choice do we really have. I'll see if he knows anything. Plus, this is Draco I can kick his ass with one hand behind my back.' Hermione smiled at her last statement

'I'm going to go inform dad about what we found out and what we are doing until he can think of something different.'

Both Hermione and Harry nodded at him as they all got up to leave the room

'Wait!'

'Whats wrong?' Harry asked

'Actually, I wanted to ask you both a question.'

'Sure whats going on?' Blaise asked

'What do you think of Adrian Pucey?'

'Adrian? Why do you ask about him?' Blaise came back to where he was standing oraginally

'Why do you think that he has something to do with this too?' Harry sounded more concerned

'No, no nothing like that I was just wondering about him.'

'Adrian is a good guy I'v know him since 1st year at Hogwart. He kept to himself most of the time thought a bit of a loner. He works really well with me at the ministry.'

'So you think he is good guys then?'

'I guess to a degree. Whats with all the questions Hermione I know you? Blaise questioned

'He asked me out on a date earlier before the game started today'

Blaise and Harry shot her the same look not even looking at one another before doing it

'What is going on?'

Neither guys had answered her

'I don't understand what is wrong with him? You just said he is a good guy?'

'Your not going on that date so just stay away from him okay!' Blaise yelled

'I, what, why not? What are you not telling me?'

'He is just not the right guy for you okay Hermione just leave it at that.' Blaise turned to leave

'No, I can't just leave it at that! What did he do to Marietta Edgecombe, Alicia Spinnet and Lavender Brown.'

Blaise turned back around

She then turning to Harry 'And you what did he do to Katie Bell?'

Both looked puzzled, but Harry was the first to speak

'Hermione, how did you hear about Katie Bell?

'Does it really matter? Now are you going to tell me or and I going to have to ask Adrian in person?'

'NO! you justs stay away from him okay. Look Hermione when Adrian was back at Hogwarts he became a bit obsessed with them. Followed them around a bit of a stalker. He pretty much knew everything little thing about them from what their schedules were to what they wore everyday.'

'Okay so he had a crush on these girls'

'It was a bit more than a crush Hermione he was literally obsessed with them and when he was rejected by them he didn't take the answer of no very well and would become a bit forcefull with them.'

Hermione was confused 'I don't understand. How come no one every heard about this when we were at Hogwarts then?'

'No word was ever leaked because there was never any evidence to prove that it happened. Adrian apparently was always a step ahead in that when he was given veritaserum he was prepared and was some how able to deny every accusation that he was accused of.' Blaise paused for a second before saying 'Being a Slytherin you have to understand Hermione, that we kept our personal lives to ourselves. We were never like you two Gryffindor that butted into each others business. Slytherin's keep to their own business not getting involved with others. I mean it is not that we didn't care about one another its just well, we did what was best for ourselves. We didn't envolve ourselfs in other people's affairs unless we had something to gain from it. Adrian and I are friends because we have common intrest such as Quidditch, but that is about it.'

'And you Harry what about Katie Bell.'

'Same thing as Blaise said excepte we were forced to keep it quiet at the ministry. The only different is that apparently Katie Bell had fought back when he attacked her. He knocked her around quite a bit that she was out of work for a month. Again they couldn't hold any evidence on him thought not even the statement Katie gave.'

Hermione thought that she was going to be sick from what she just heard. Adrain had always seemed so nice for a Slytherin that was.

'I need a drink' she said looking at Harry and Blaise

Blaise nodded to her 'Everything will be okay Hermione we will get through this and try and stay away from Adrian. Now run along and go play nice with Draco to get some information for us. I have some stuff that I need to do.'

'Come on Hermione I'll walk to the bar with you.' Harry and Hemione then said goodbye to Blaise walking to the bar where Draco was sitting.

Harry saw Draco and nodded towards her to go talk to him. Hermione would go along with the plan to try and get information from him, but she was more confused about him more then ever. One minute Draco was this guy nice guys who stood up for her and then the next he could easily change into the same old git. She was still tring to form an opinion about him.

'Can I have a fire whiskey please' Hermione ordered as she took a seat next to Draco.

'And here I was sitting here thinking that you were trying to avoid me.'

The bartended brought Hermione her drink and she thanked him

'And here I was thinking that you would have a couple of air-heads hanging on your arm, but I guess that we were both wrong.' She smiled at him

'I know I think that I am losing my touch with women. You have any suggestions?'

'Nope.'

'So what do I owe the pleasure of your company.'

'I can't just sit here with you?'

Draco made a face at her

'Honestly, I'm still trying to form my opinion about you.'

Draco looked amused and turned to face her 'This should be intersting please go on.'

'I guess after all of these years knowing the mean and obnoxious Draco it is just taking some getting used to know that maybe you have finally matured into a semi-decent guy.'

'I'll take that as a complament.'

Hermione shrugged her shoulders

'I don't think that anyone is the same after the war with the dark lord and graduating from Hogwarts. Life just happened and I think that everyone has changed in one way or another' Draco said taking a sip of his drink

Hermione smiled because he was right. No one was still the same person they had been four years ago when they had graduated from Hogwarts. She certainly wasn't

'And…I just wanted to say yes to you.'

'Yes? Yes to what that that I changed?'

'Well, I guess yes to that as well, but I was mainly saying yes to Saturday night if your invitation is still open.'

Draco's face changed to a surprised one.

'Really? What made you change your mind about Saturday?'

'Well, im… I owe you and appology for the way that I have been treating you and the way that I have been acting towards you as well. I'v been extremly stubborn and from now on I am going to trying to be a bit nicer to you. I have been prejudging you on the old Draco that I used to know and that isn't fair.'

She paused to look at him 'And I wanted to thank you.'

'Thank me for what?' He finished his drink that he had and the bartender brought him another one.

'Thank you for trying to warn me about Adrian.'

'Oh. I see'

She nodded her head. Draco finished his new drink in one gulp and pulled Hermione off of her stool taking her hand.

'Come on.'

'Where are we going?'

'For a walk.'

He apparated them both to the Malfoy Mansion and outside by the garden to sit and talk.

'Can I get you anything?

'Actually a cup of tea might be nice.'

Draco had called to the house-elfs and they brought out two cups of tea.

'Sorry I just thought that it would be nicer to talk somewhere quietier. I don't really care for loud and crowed places. Anyway, Adrian has always been a bit of an outsider even with the Slytherins. As much of an git that I was back in Hogwarts I just never agreed with the methods that Adrian took to get his ladies.'

Hermione didn't really know what to say just nodding her head and Draco continued

'True Adrian and I are kind of friends I would more or less say that we are more business aquentances though.'

Draco continued on about his relationship with Adrian for a while and his view about him growing two sat and talked for a while again enjoying each others company when Narcissa had come out to the garden.

'Draco darling I just wanted to let you know that your father and I are leaving…Oh Hermione what a nice surprise I didn't know you were here.'

She gave Hemione a kiss on the cheek.

'Oh Draco your father is looking for you before we go. Come Hermione well go inside and wait.'

Draco got up to go talk to his father followed by Hermione and Narcissa. The two sat down in the study in front of the fireplace that was giving off the perfect amount of heat to warm Hermiones face up.

'Hermione dear did you have a good time at the party?'

'Oh everything was just so beautiful. I had a marvolous time.' But silently cursing the woman for inviting Ron.

Narcissa observed Hermione for a few moments and smiled.

'Where are you taking a trip to?'

'Oh, Lucius surprised me last night and is taking me to Paris for a few days.'

'That sounds wonderful.'

'Yes, it is. You will have to join me sometime. Draco has been talking about you a lot lately maybe we can all go one of these days.' Narcissa was completely lying about Draco talking about her. In fact he tried to avoid the subject completly, but Hermione didn't know that.

'Really that…interesting.'

'It is so nice that the two of you are getting along. You would make such a…'

But one of the house-elfs inturpted them telling her that her husband was waiting for her in the library to leave. Narcissa got up smiling and said goodbye to Hermione leaving her in the study to think about what she was just going to say.

Again Hermione got the feeling that Blaise was dead on about his theory about Draco's mother wanting her to join the family. She knew exactly what Narcissa was going to say. There was no need for her to finish that sentence to know what she was tring to do. Hermione leaned back on the couch taken a deep breath when Draco re-entered the room giving her a smile.