Hermione toyed with the ring on her finger and smiled. Pushing her unruly hair out of her face, she dipped a cloth in cold water and pressed it to Draco's forehead. He moaned and waved it away, but she ignored him. As the days progressed, he was gaining strength, but still he had not woken again. The burns on his left arm seemed to be growing worse and spreading. Ginny swore that Voldemort or a Death Eater had cursed him, but Hermione thought otherwise. The wanted poster had said, "Dead or alive" at the top, so if they were going to curse him, surely they would have just killed him and been done with it. No, it seemed as though he had done it to himself, but why, she couldn't imagine. Or perhaps the Dark Mark caused it. Awkwardly, she unbuttoned the flannel shirt he was wearing to examine his scars. They were white and faded, so he must have gotten them quite awhile ago. Realization suddenly swept over her. Harry had caused them. Two years ago he had told her and Ron about his scuffle with Malfoy in Myrtle's bathroom. Deciding to test out a spell he'd never heard of, Harry's actions had resulted in Draco becoming seriously injured. Placing a hand on his cheek, Hermione turned Draco's head. The scar snaked up his neck and onto the side on his jaw. She assumed he must not have reached the hospital wing in time to have dittany applied to the wound. Or perhaps he hadn't gone at all, to avoid questions. He really was a hardheaded coward.
"Hermione?" A voice asked, interrupting her thoughts. Turning, she saw that Ron had entered the room. His hands were stuffed in his pockets. "Er, have you got a minute?"
She nodded and he made his way over to her, glaring at Draco's sleeping form.
"What is it?" She asked once he had seated himself beside her.
"Er, I just wanted to say- I mean, I need to tell you-I um..." He met her eyes. "Bloody Hell! Sometimes I still get nervous talking to you." He rubbed his forehead.
A grin broke out on Hermione's face and she laughed.
"Ok. Here goes. I wanted to apologize for the way I've been acting-"
"Ron, I-"
"No, please let me finish. I've been an arse lately. I want to tell you that I do trust your judgement." He looked like he was going to cry.
Tossing aside the wet cloth in her hand, Hermione threw her arms around his neck. Pressing her lips to his cold cheek, she whispered, "Let's call it even. I know I haven't been myself lately either. I snap at you too often." She felt his grip tighten around her waist and his hand rubbed her back.
"I...I'm just scared of losing you, Hermione. I couldn't survive if that happened. Truly. I would die."
They held each other tightly. Ron let his head rest on her shoulder, breathing in the scent of her hair. After a long moment, they were stopped short by an awkward cough. Ginny stood in the door of the tent, arms crossed.
"Sorry to interrupt," she shifted on her feet, "but Luna wants to talk to you, Hermione."
Giving Ron's hand one last squeeze, Hermione stood. "Alright, Ginny. Ron, can you look after Malfoy?"
He looked as though he was about to say something cocky, but changed his mind and nodded.
"I love you." His voice was shaky.
"I love you too." She replied.
"Gross." Ginny teased, turning and walking off, toeing the older girl behind her.
"You've had a DA coin this whole time and haven't once tried to be useful with it?" Hermione gasped, staring at Luna.
The blond girl returned the stare shyly. "I knew it was wrong to hide it, but what was I to do? I didn't want you to take it away."
"I...You...Why, I would never-"
"Well, you did make the others give up things you thought were dangerous. I just couldn't let you take it." Luna pressed a thin hand over her chest, where the coin hung. "But, now I think someone-"
"Luna, we could have used that!"
"Stop yelling at me, Hermione!" Luna's fists were shaking with anger. It was unusual for her to lose her cool. She was almost always serene and distant. Seeing the other girl like this made Hermione close her mouth and listen.
"I think that someone else is alive." Luna whispered, drawing out the chain from under her sweater. "This morning I got a message."
Hermione gasped and held a hand to her mouth; tears brimmed in her eyes. "Yes? What did it say?"
"Well, it didn't say a whole message. Just, '321 West Archpine'."
"Luna, would you consider letting me hold onto it? Just for the time being? I would like to examine it."
Looking up at the blue sky, Luna unclasped the chain and handed it to Hermione.
"I suppose it couldn't hurt." Her eyes regained their dreamy quality. "Hermione? I really am sorry I didn't tell you about it."
The brunette smiled and squeezed Luna's hand as she handed over the coin.
"I'm sorry I yelled. I'm going back to the tent to look up the address in the message. Come with me?"
"Ok. I needed to get some flarkburst repellent from my bag, anyway. Our campsite is full of them!"
Umbridge adjusted her bright pink pillbox hat in a hand-mirror and smiled at her reflection.
"You may come in, Mr. Carrow!" She said, pouring herself a cup of tea. Instantly, the door of her office flew open and a plump Death Eater appeared, gripping the arm of a young student. The shaking child had shining tears trailed down her face.
"Hm, what is it now, Mr. Carrow?"
"Er, this one didn't pass the inspection, ma'am. She's a mudblood, she is."
The little girl sobbed, "No 'm not'! M' da and mum are both-"
"Shut yer trap!" He growled, shaking her arm.
"Silence, child." Umbridge smiled sweetly. "So, you thought you could come to this school, being what you are, and get away with it?" She put emphases on the word what. "I assume you know that the punishment will be severe?"
Shoulders shaking, the girl whimpered.
"What is your name, sweet heart?"
"J...Jane...Stoker."
"Hm, well Jane, we will inform your family. Although, they're muggles, yes? They are most likely dead by now, anyway." She took great joy in the word "dead".
Jane sobbed miserably.
"Mr. Carrow, you may carry out the punishment. Let's see," Umbridge hummed happily while she flipped through her files, "Ah, yes. Ahem, by order of the Dark Lord, any muggle-born student who claims to be a pureblood or halfblood must be put to death. Excellent."
With a gasp, Jane pulled away from Amycus and ran for the door.
"Stupefy." Umbridge sighed calmly. Instantly, the girl dropped to the floor. "Alright, Mr. Carrow. Go ahead."
"Yes ma'am." He held our his wand. "Avada-"
Suddenly, the room went black and the sound of shattering glass rang out.
"What is going on? Mr. Carrow? Mr. Carrow!" Umbridge sputtered.
"I don't know! Er, Lumos!" A thin light streamed out. The girl was gone.
Turning, Umbridge eyed the window and gasped. Through the broken windowpane she could see a young man riding away on a broom with the student seated in front of him.
"Call the Dark Lord." Umbridge fumed.
"Wh...why?"
"Just do it, you great idiot! And tell him...Tell him Undesirable #1 just infiltrated the school...And took a student."
A/N Hey guys! Thank you so much for reading! Please follow, favorite and review! I'm excited because I'm officially done setting up the story and am ready to get into the action. Keep reading and reviewing!
Oh, and I wanted to mention, I've been asked by a few people, and the answer is no. Undesirable #1 is not Harry. Harry is, sadly, dead in this story.
A super special thanks to ArumaR, noting, Ice Ninja Luna, and the guest reviewer. You guys are amazing! :)