A/N: Thought I'd post this before the fandom goes to hell in the proverbial handbasket on the 16th. Enjoy—part X will be posted whenever I damn well feel like it!

Part IX: The White Chrysanthemum

I slid the ring on and off my finger as I sat waiting for class to start again after lunch. Since Letitia was gone, I had come back to the classroom early. The only other people in the room were Orla Quirke and Healer Smethwyck. I put on my glasses and started reading ahead in the textbook, when someone called my name. I glanced up to see Blaize, looking urgent.

"You're going to take a very long lunch break, Hermione. This is the only time I could arrange for us all to meet. We have to go now," he said.

"What do mean?" I asked. "I have to finish this class. I'll be done at five-thirty."

Blaise crossed his arms in an irritated manner. "Do you want to know about the Pureblood's Curse or not?"

"Alright," I said. I put the textbook back in my shoulder bag and approached Healer Smethwyck's podium. "I'm sorry, Healer, but something important has come up. I can't stay for the rest of the lesson."

"You've never missed a class before, Miss Granger," he said. "I suppose this must be very important to you. Very well."

"Life or death," said Blaise. "Zabini Manor; there's a portkey waiting for us."

"A portkey?" I repeated in surprise. He was gone, so I followed to the outside of the Manor. Blaise unlocked the gate and once again I entered the white house.

"She's here," called Blaise. An voice from around the corner answered "We're in here." He set off in that direction. "Pansy and Ginevra are in the library," he said.

"We've gather as many people as we could who know about the curse. They're waiting," said Pansy.

"Where are we going?" I asked in exasperation.

"Egypt," said Ginevra.

The portkey was Pansy's old Prefect badge. We stood around it and all took a corner. When I opened my eyes, I was in a large room with a round table. "Please take a seat," said Bill Weasley. I noted that Fleur was also there with their son Geoffrey and-- to my surprise-- Luna Lovegood.

I sat between Ginevra and Luna and looked about awkwardly. Ginevra still had the Silencing ring on.

Blaise cleared his throat and spread a sheet of parchment out. "This," he said, "is Draco Malfoy's will. It has been in the Malfoy vault at Gringotts since 1998. Hermione, you briefly saw this when you moved to the Manor, but you've never read it have you?"

"No," I said.

"I quote: 'Ammendment to the Last Will and Testament of Draco Gabriel Malfoy-- 1st January, 1998. I, Draco G. Malfoy, do bequeath possession of Malfoy Manor and all surrounding lands, plus access to all my family's monetary holdings in Gringotts Wizarding Bank to Miss Hermione Jane Granger in the event of my untimely death without an heir.' That all sounds normal, does it not?" Blaise asked.

"Yes," I said. "Is there something else?"

"I shall continue," said Blaise. " 'I have made this Ammendment to my Will in good health and under the supervision of the following witnesses: Blaise Dion Zabini, Evan Michael Rosier, and Pansy Aurora Parkinson. These three witnessess are of Pure Blood and reside in Slytherin House. I write this Will in a time of War and Desperation; laying all Faith in the chance that I am indeed carrier of the Pureblood's curse.

"In the act of signing of this Will, my three witnesses and I form a four-fold pact. The signing in Miss Parkinson's blood shall signify a blessing upon Miss Granger for fertility."

"You signed in blood?" Ginevra interjected.

"Menstrual blood," Pansy reassured her. Ginevra shuddered nonetheless.

"Please continue, Zabini," said Bill Weasley.

" 'The signing of Mr. Rosier in gold shall be a blessing of luck and patience upon Miss Granger. The signing of Mr. Zabini in poison shall be a blessing upon Miss Granger for long life and good health. And the truthful signing of Mr. Malfoy in ink shall be an extension of his undying love and personal interest in Miss Granger. We sign this Will as the year turns and the bells of War toll out.' And we all signed it," Blaise added.

"But what does it mean?" I asked.

"Perhaps you should tell her about ze curse?" asked Fluer.

"It's why my parents had seven of us. We were afraid Dad carried the curse after his brother-- my uncle Bilius-- died," said Ginevra.

"It still makes me a little afraid," said Bill. "I wish Fred would hurry up and marry Angelina. Then it wouldn't all rest on Geoffrey when we pass on."

"You're not planning on more?" Pansy asked. Fleur shook her head in horror. Pansy shrugged. "We're thinking about one more after the twins are born."

"Yes, we are," said Blaise. "But we digress. Hermione, as you might have just inferred, the Pureblood's curse is carried by a male heir who is the only surviving member of his family who has died without a grave."

"Draco's body just vanished," I agreed.

"My knowlage of what happens after his death is shakey, because there is only one written account of this resurrection. It was written by Luna Lovegood's great-something-grandfather. He died in 1860?" Blaise glanced a Luna who nodded dreamily. "Being the only Lovegood heir, he wrote that after he died, he was surrounded by faceless beings who presented him with a choice. He could choose between three levels of death-- spiritual, physical, and magical. He had the option of choosing all three, but no less than two.

"Lovegood chose the death of his soul and his magical abilities over the death of his body, so the beings told him he could return to the living world in order to father an heir who would continue the Lovegood line. Their condition was that the mother must be Muggle-born."

"Draco read Lovegood's account and knew he would have the same option when he died," said Pansy. "That's why we made that pact. So he could come back to life and continue the Malfoy line."

"The only reason he wants you is so he can sire a half-blood heir," Blaise said firmly. "Has he tried to seduce you yet?"

I said nothing for a good three minutes. I could feel all their eyes upon me, and my face turning red. Rather than admit all the details, I extended my hand and presented the ring.

Pansy put her hand over her mouth. "That's Narcissa Black's ring," she whispered.

"Oh God," groaned Ginevra. "Hermione. . . are you in love with Draco Malfoy?"

I froze. I swallowed and looked around. "Yes," I said.

"Well that's going to make things difficult," said Blaise.

"He doesn't love you, Hermione," said Ginevra. "All he wants is a child."

"What's so difficult, Blaise?" I asked.

"You don't want him to get away with this, do you? He's lied to you!"

I rose. "No! He hasn't lied at all. He told to wait, that he'd tell me later."

"Later being when you're pregnant with his heir?" asked Pansy bitterly. Blaise cast her a worried look, but she shook her head and smiled back at him.

I sighed and sat down again. "What do you think I should do?"

"There's only one way." Blaise met my eyes. "You have to kill Draco."