A/N- Hello! Ninety nine reviews…You guys…*does Phoebe impersonation*! Thank you so much. It means a lot to me. It's my birthday today *squeal* and I have an extra long chapter for you as a treat. Enjoy!
Once again, thanks to my wonderful beta, jessirose85.
Disclaimer- I own nothing of Harry Potter. It belongs to JK and JK only. But the featured story is fortunately mine.
For the next one week, Hermione hardly saw Draco around. He went out of the house early in the morning and was back late at night. He occasionally came to check in on her and when he did, their few minutes of conversations were extremely polite and impersonal. Hermione was starting to get the impression that maybe he was trying to avoid her. She just didn't know why. Had her words affected him this much?
Draco always put up tons of charms and protective enchantments over the house when he left. Hermione knew for a fact that he even had to waste quite an amount of time breaking those to enter his own house when he came back at nights. So Hermione could hardly venture outside. She had nothing to do all day. Mornings were spent looking after Ameera's demands followed by naps in the afternoons, and poring over her new books in the evenings after she had put the baby to sleep. And she was quite content with this life because she had quite frankly had enough excitement over the years to last her for a lifetime. All because of one fateful day when Harry Potter had decided to save her life from a troll.
She was also a little glad that Draco kept out of her way these days because his presence only resulted in confusing her more and more. But she did wish Draco would let her go out to the garden at least.
At the end of the week, Dumbledore came to visit her. She was already waiting in Draco's room when he arrived, having received and owl that morning.
Dumbledore's expression upon seeing her was enough to bring tears in Hermione own eyes. He held out his hand, which Hermione gripped tightly as he said in a sad voice, "My dear child, forgive me!"
Hermione shook her head, "No sir, you gave me plenty of warnings. I should have heeded them. The fault is all mine."
It was true. Hermione could never dream of blaming this wonderful old wizard for anything. He had tried his best to protect her. She had just been too stubborn to appreciate it.
***
On the second week of her return to Hogwarts, Dumbledore sent a message that he wanted to see her. Hermione skipped the transfiguration class and went to the seventh floor corridor where a single gargoyle stood against the wall. "Sherbet lemon," she said and stepped into the spiral staircase that led to Dumbledore's office.
His eyes twinkled in greeting, "Ah, Miss Granger I have been expecting you."
"Good morning sir." She said politely. Hermione frowned slightly despite herself. She could not help her resentment towards Dumbledore for not letting her go with Harry and Ron.
"I see that you have yet to forgive me for breaking up the golden trio." Dumbledore sighed.
When Hermione made no reply, only staring fixedly at her knees, Dumbledore leaned forward slightly. "Miss Granger, this explanation has been long over due. I must tell you that your life is in grave danger. Voldemort is after you."
She had expected this much but Hermione could not suppress the involuntary shiver that ran up her back at this direct piece of information. The Gryffindor in her refused to cower, though. This was nothing unexpected. She had always known the danger she was in just by being Harry Potter's friend. Hadn't she and Ron pledged to be with Harry through out?
She composed herself bravely. The headmaster was looking at her as though he could clearly see the battle going on inside Hermione. He said in a kind voice, "I assure you, Hermione, you are safe at Hogwarts under my protection."
'But why me, sir?" Hermione asked quietly.
"My child, Voldemort's priorities have shifted. He has further things to accomplish, before he goes after Harry, making an indestructible horcrux to be precise."
Hermione was confused. What did that have anything to do with her?
Dumbledore was still talking, "you will come to know of everything eventually. For now, I want you to be very careful. Trust no one. Be alert at all times."
And on that ominous note, the office door burst open and Draco Malfoy walked in. It took all of a fraction of a second for Dumbledore to revert the anxiousness in his voice to a cheerful welcome.
"Mr. Malfoy, please sit. It is now time to discuss a few head duties."
***
"Now tell me Hermione, how much do you know?" asked Dumbledore, popping open two bottles of butter beer.
"Very little sir." Hermione replied cautiously, "form what you and Malfoy have told me till now; I am supposed to have something in my possession which apparently gave me my magical powers. And Voldemort wants it because this thing can be turned into an indestructible horcrux."
Dumbledore peered at her from behind his half moon glasses and smiled, "Precisely, Hermione. But this is where some background information is required, I believe.
"Genetics is an important factor when it comes to magic. The parents pass on their magic to their children through genes. Sometimes, when only one parent is a witch or a wizard, the child they produce may be a muggle because unfortunately, the gene of the non magic parent has been dominant. But the recessive gene of the magic parent remains within the child and chances are, this recessive gene will become a dominant one when a next generation child is born. That child will have magic in his blood."
Hermione listened with rapt attention, the bottle of butter beer that Dumbledore had offered earlier stood forgotten. She had read about genetics in muggle studies but she had never connected the concept of magic with genes before. Did this mean that there was a witch or wizard somewhere in her bloodline?
Dumbledore answered her unvoiced question, "No, my dear, you entire bloodline has absolutely no record of magical genes. And this is where things start getting complicated. We must now question how then, did you come by such brilliant magical abilities as yours?
"Legend has it that there exists an object, and immensely powerful one that is able to turn non magic blood to magical blood just by a simple touch. The only condition is that the blood has to that of a new born child's who is less than a minute old. And this object remains attached with the child throughout the rest of his life."
Hermione blanched, crying out in bewilderment, "But sir, this is outrageous. Then there would be more witches and wizards in the world than muggles!"
"Ah but, here comes the twist," Dumbledore continued softly. "You can imagine the fury of the pureblood wizards when they came to know of this blood changer. It was then that the whole battle of the blood began. The wizards of those times decided to find this lethal object and keep it in the possession of the oldest, most pure magical family of the time to ensure the purity of magical community. The last known possessor of the blood changer is assumed to be the Malfoys. But I happen to know that Abraxas Malfoy lost this object years ago and no one knows about its whereabouts now."
Hermione hear clenched painfully. Surely this did not mean what she was thinking. She said in a choking voice, "Sir, are you implying that-"
"- it is very much possible, Hermione that you came by your powers through this blood changer. Can you think of anything that you have had since your birth?"
***
Draco came home late at the night and went straight to the kitchen. He hadn't eaten all day and he was ravenous. He smiled tiredly as he saw the tray of food on the table kept warm by a heating charm. For the last one week, Hermione had not once failed to leave out a delicious meal waiting for him when he returned at night.
He quietly ate in the dark kitchen. When he had finished, he went out to the hall, where, around a corner, lay a cushioned window seat overlooking the rough sea outside. He stood staring at the dancing moon beams over the waves for a long while until a small sound made him turn around.
"Hi." Hermione whispered as she walked towards him, standing beside him to look out at the sea too.
"Hi." he said lamely.
"You look lonely." She pointed out.
He looked away from her quickly and said, "I am not lonely, Hermione. I like being alone."
"Everyone tries not to be lonely, Draco. But truth is, we can keep telling ourselves that we prefer being alone but the heart will remain empty. There is no denying that." She said quietly.
He didn't know what to say. He didn't have to say anything because Hermione then said, "So, I found out today why I am a witch. Mudblood has a whole new meaning for my case."
The lack of passion in her voice worried him. "Want to talk about it?" he asked.
"It's late. You must be tired. Maybe we can talk another time?" she said in that same dull voice.
He knew he shouldn't feel disappointed, rejected. But hell, he felt like a dog that had been kicked for no reason at all.
He turned to leave when a soft voice stopped him.
"Draco?"
He turned back. Big mistake. She looked like an angel, her dark silhouette haloed against the pale blue moonlight. His heart ached with longing.
"I changed my mind. Can we talk for a bit?"
Draco sighed in relief.
***
A/N- Thank you for reading. Now please review!