The Letter

The sun rose early awaking Hogwarts from its slumber, the day before had been exhausting for Hermione but she could rather happily tick off Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix Black, The two Lestrange brothers; Rabastan and Rodolphus. She had gained everyone's trust but the young Black. Regulus still seemed wary of Hermione but she was hoping Draco had better luck with him than her.

Getting dressed she headed down to the Great Hall, even though the sun was up and people were beginning to crawl out of bed she was still one of the first in the Great Hall. By the time she had poured the milk on to her cereal. Her partner in crime walked through the doors. Instead of making his way over to the empty Slytherin table he headed straight towards Hermione and sat next to her.

"Morning Granger," he mumbled pouring a mug of black coffee. Hermione stared at him in surprise but quickly lost it and replied with a rather cheery morning.

In a hushed voice he chose the topic of conversation, "So what did my father want to talk to you about last night?" he raked his eyes over her body making sure there were no visible injuries.

"He along with, Bellatrix, Snape, Crabbe, Goyle and the two Lestrange Brothers came to me about not wanting to be a Deatheater." Draco stared at her in shock.

"How have you managed to change their views on it?" he asked not believing it.

"Well I knew I'd have difficulty changing the views on the Slytherins so I decided to start a class, it tells you about everything to do with the dark side but also things that I'm hoping will help them in years to come. They came to it and their views changed drastically," she explained to him smugly she could see the dark scowl on his face.

"Then if I'm not needed to make the Slytherins trust you then, why the bloody hell am I here?" he snapped angrily.

"I'm not sure, meet me somewhere later Dumbledore gave me this letter he told me to only open it if I was on my own or with you. It might make sense of the situation. How well are you getting on with Regulus he's the only I don't think holds his trust on me?"

"I'll meet you after classes and we can read that letter. I seem to be getting on with Regulus but I don't think he places his trust in me yet. But give me a sometime I'm sure I can do just that."

"Alright and Draco you have to remember to call me Hermione and not Granger," remembering how he addressed her earlier on.

"Ok, look when I meet you later on will you explain to me some of the key events that are going to happen. Like the first order?" Hermione nodded her head in agreement.

"Will you help me with my next lesson which is tomorrow? It's about Voldermort still but I also want to also start a topic on Inferi and Werewolves."

"Yeah I can help," he took a sip out of his black coffee. Students had already started to come down from their common rooms. They all sent a confused glance over to the Gryffindor table, a Slytherin sat there was just surreal. Even Professor McGonagall had to do a double take. She knew the truth about Draco Knighton nee Malfoy. She had never expected to see him sit on the Gryffindor table. She was surprised how none of the student body had noticed the similarities of Draco and Lucius Malfoy. Maybe it was because she knew the truth that she noticed.

The Marauders and Lily entered the Great Hall at the same time. They instantly noticed Draco sat next to Hermione at ease making her smile. The smile for Sirius had many effects on him, for one he was jealous that it was Draco making her smile like that. However the other feeling was the battle of butterflies in his stomach as he gazed at how beautiful she looked with a smile on her face. He hadn't forgotten the conversation they had shared before she went to bed. He hadn't told the guys about her knowing what Padfoot represented but he couldn't help but be confused on how she knew his biggest secret. He heard James speak but didn't hear what he said. He knew that he wasn't speaking to him glancing up he saw James' face twisted in distaste looking at Draco and Hermione.

"James he can sit where he wants," Hermione snapped scowling at the Headboy.

"Hermione this is a table for Gryffindors. Your friend is a Slytherin and doesn't belong here!" Hermione's eyes slanted as she glared at James.

Draco just smirked loving the effect he was having on the Gryffindors twenty years in the past. Yes life was good. He was tempted to stay seated to aggravate daddy Potter for longer but from the corner of his eye he saw the Slytherins walk in, he decided there and then that it could be a good time to leave and head over to the Slytherin table. "Hermione I'm off back to my table now that you have the unfortunate presence of your fellow house mates I'll see you later," before he stood up he mouthed room of requirements and then left the table swaggering as he walked to the Slytherins.

"Honestly James, you're as bad as Sirius when it comes to the prejudice on the Slytherins. Draco was doing nothing wrong he was just sat talking to me," sighed Hermione as they sat down.

"He shouldn't be sat here though this is a table for the lions, that is the table for the snakes,"

She sighed there really was no way to change James Potter's mind on where you should be sat in the Great Hall. She was really tempted to turn around and say something about Deatheaters and how they thought of things but decided to stay quiet. She just grabbed a banana and ate that while listening to the conversations around.

Half eight was slowly rolling around very quickly and the students started to leave the Great Hall. First lesson was Care of Magical Creatures and like the last lesson they'd be learning about hippogriffs for the second time. Today you were given the chance to ride one of these creatures; Hermione paled once she heard this. She had flown on a hippogriff in her third year and it had terrified her so she was not looking for a repeat. She glanced over at Draco and he also paled looking at the beast. She could only imagine he was thinking about the time he insulted Buckbeak and Buckbeak didn't take it nicely and attacked him.

Strangely enough it was Lucius that plucked up the courage to fly on the creature. A shock to both Draco and Hermione they had never expected him to volunteer. They couldn't help feeling amused as they saw him soar in to the skies blonde hair flying backwards.

After Care of Magical Creatures was Transfiguration and it seemed Draco's day was getting much worse. Because Draco was new he was forced to sit at the front so Professor McGonagall could see his skills in the lesson.

"Today we'll be transforming a smallish animal into a chair." Draco wasn't paying attention he had turned an animal in to a chair in his sixth year so he knew it was going to be a piece of cake he drowned out of her speech until the very end.

"Now will you come to the front of the class and pick up your ferret,"

"WHAT!" Hermione burst out laughing at Draco's reaction. She knew he wasn't paying attention she felt a little sorry for his as everyone looked at him confused. McGonagall was also staring at him also confused. "Sorry had a bad experience with ferrets," he mumbled. He cast his eyes over to Hermione who was still laughing uncontrollably. "Knock it off Granger it's not funny!" "

"But it really is," she laughed more.

"Can someone please explain what you two are talking about," demanded McGonagall.

"In my fourth year I was turned into a ferret by my Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, and because I wasn't paying attention when you said Ferret my mind jumped to me," he explained his cheeks a pale pink. Everyone in the room was holding back their laugh except Hermione who still thought it was really funny.

"Alright well can you all collect your ferrets and start work," The lesson went by rather smoothly, Hermione had controlled her laughter and had settled down.

The day continued, they had the exact same lessons so they were never apart. Dinner had approached rapidly and Hermione knew the letter hiding in her draw beside her bed was much closer to reading. She was nervous to what it would say inside. She also knew that the chosen Slytherins would be called to visit Lord Voldermort. Her mind was reeling she looked over to the Slytherin table and her eyes caught Snape's. She sent a small comforting smile hoping it would ease the fear that she saw in his eyes, he smiled at her but it didn't reach his eyes. She knew he didn't want to do it but his only other option would be in hiding and she knew this couldn't happen. She watched as Lucius stared over to the Headmaster attracting his attention he nodded his head in farewell, he had received the message there was no backing out. Dumbledore had lost the twinkle in his blue eyes as he stared sadly at the group of seven. Smiling sadly he lowered his head. The Slytherins stood after saying their goodbyes to everyone else; a loving kiss was shared between Lucius and Narcissa. Hermione watched with sad eyes as they left the Great Hall.

Hermione glanced over to Draco who was already looking at her she shifted her eyes to the door nodding his head they both stood.

"Hermione, where are you going?" Lily asked her friend.

"I'm going to and hang with Draco for a bit, want to catch up with him and what school was like after I left," She knew she was lying but she couldn't really tell the truth.

"Alright, I'll see you later Hermione," she said smiling; Hermione felt a little guilty for lying but pushed it aside and headed to the Gryffindor Common room to collect the letter. Draco had already left the Great Hall and she knew he had headed towards the Room of Requirements and that was her next stop.

Saying the password to enter the Gryffindor common room climbing up the stair case she walked into the bedroom grabbed the letter and a piece of folded parchment and headed back out of the common room. Her mind was on the seven Slytherins risking their lives. She was hoping that Lord Voldermort hadn't seen through the spying business. If he had then they'd be dead and it would be all her fault. If just one died then the whole dynamics would be thrown. Lucius died then Draco would seize to exist. Shaking her thoughts from the head she crossed the Room of Requirement three times and waited for the door to appear. Opening it she stepped in to the room she met Draco just over 24 hours ago.

As the door closed he greeted her in his usual snarl. "Got any idea where the Slytherins have disappeared to Granger?"

"Yeah they've gone to Voldermort to get the mark to start their spying mission. But I've been thinking what if – what if he sees past it and kills them for trying to trick him?" she sighed flopping down on to the sofa.

"Try not to worry about it they'll be fine. He saw past me didn't he?" Draco said trying to reassure her.

"Yeah but he knew you didn't really want to be in it. You were forced in because of your father,"

Draco stayed quiet there was no arguing – he knew she was right – when was she wrong?

"So the letter?"

"The letter,"

"You gonna open it?" Draco asked.

Nodding her head she peeled the back the opening and pulled out the parchment opening she read it out loud.

Dear Miss Granger and Mister Malfoy,

It has come to my attention that your Divination Professor, Miss Granger was murdered by Lord Voldermort from are time, it seems I overlooked something. Voldermort made the seven Horcruxes like I had assumed but when Harry was murdered by a Deatheater Voldermort's soul which I believe would have also been destroyed by his death did not. So when you and Mr Weasley finished off Lord Voldermort he still had that one Horcrux that is keeping him alive. He is weak but he could easily regain power and take over the world like I know he will be planning. He is in hiding and we've hidden Draco's parents along with Professor Snape for their safety until you return. The reason for this letter is a mission I need you to repeat Miss Granger. You need to destroy the six Horcruxes before he makes Harry the final one. The reason Mr Malfoy is there is to accompany you in this mission. It will not be easy but at least you have the knowledge of the six Horcruxes. If you destroy all six then he will be killed in the first war. I suggest you take a trip down into the Chamber of Secrets you'll need the venom.

I know this will be difficult and I am ever so sorry to force this upon you, but you're the only ones who can save the Wizarding World.

Sincerely

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.

Hermione stared at the letter her eyes brimming with tears, Harry's sacrifice had been for nothing. He knew that he had to die and he refused to give Voldermort the privilege so he threw himself in front of the Killing Curse that was aimed for Pansy Parkinson, he saved her life but sacrificed his own. But Harry had died, if only Harry would be killed by Voldermort he would be long gone and his sacrifice would have been for something. She finally allowed herself to cry.

Draco sat their questioning what he had discovered in the letter. Lord Voldermort was alive and not dead? His parents were in hiding but would it really save them? What was a Horcrux? What was the crack pot on about with the Chamber of Secrets and venom? Potter died for really no reason? And what was he going to do with Granger that she had already done and now he had to help? He looked over to Hermione and sighed, he knew that she had always believed that Harry's death was to save the Wizarding World but Dumbledore had made a mistake and Potter was killed and Voldermort lived. Picking up a little courage he cleared his voice and cautiously wrapped his arm around Hermione pulling her into an awkward hug. Laughing even in her state she was surprised that Draco would do this, she knew he wasn't someone who did well in crying girl situations.

"I take it you want some answers," she said once she had stopped crying. Draco nodded.

"I'll explain pretty much everything even if you know what something is or not. A Horcrux is a part of someone's soul it is ripped from their body and is placed in an object it uses extreme dark magic and is extremely painful. To rip your soul you have to do something so horrid and not care; in his case murder. With your soul split you can still live if you are killed because of the Horcruxes this is how he survived that night in Godric Hollow. He made six Horcruxes in his reign for power. These were Tom Riddles diary, the Gaunts ring, the Slytherin locket, Hufflepuff Cup, the lost Diadem of Ravenclaw and his pet snake Nagini. He accidently created a seventh this was Harry. Now with reference to the Chamber of Secrets he is saying we must kill the Basilisk that lives down there to use the Basilisk venom that can destroy anything."

"How the bloody hell does one kill a Basilisk?" Draco cried in shock horror.

"Killing it should not be too difficult; you simply kill it with the Gryffindor Sword. Staying alive and getting to it is the difficult bit. Welcome to my life Draco," she said when she watched him slump in defeat.

"Who am I meant to be then Potter or Weasley," he asked her smirking with an eyebrow raised. Hermione smiled she knew he was attempting to cheer her up and to her surprise it was working.

"Well we already have a Potter here so you'll just have to be a Weasley; you can be the tenth,"

"The tenth how many bloody Weasleys is there?"

"Well there is Molly and Arthur, and their seven kids; Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny," Hermione told him.

"Wow when would they get the time to have that many kids?"

Hermione laughed, "Probably when everyone is asleep. You've never met Bill or Charlie have you?" he shuck his head. "Bill works in Egypt, he is a curse breaker, and he was attacked by Greyback and is a semi Werewolf. He also married Fleur Delacour from the Triwizard Tournaments. Charlie works with Dragons in Romania that's pretty much all I cans say about Charlie other than he was a Seeker on the Gryffindor Quidditch team he could have played Pro he was that talented. He also has plenty of burns." Explained Hermione. The elder Weasley brothers had interested Draco, he wouldn't admit it of course but it seemed he and Charlie Weasley had a great deal in common.

"Granger – what's with the other piece of parchment?" Draco asked her glancing at it on her knee.

"This is the photograph of the first members of the Order of the Phoenix." Draco shifted next to her to look at the image she had opened. There were a few he recognised some like James Potter, Lily Evens, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin. The one that that stood out though was Peter Pettigrew.

"Why is Wormtail on the picture?"

"Because he was a part of the Order back then. Don't forget Peter has only just been discovered to have betrayed the Potters, for thirteen years they believed it to be Sirius," Draco thought about what she had said and knew she was right for the second time.

"Who are the others then?"

"The two ginger twins are Fabien and Gideon Prewett; they're Molly Weasley's twin brothers they were both killed by Deatheaters. The couple on the left is Frank and Alice Longbottom as you can guess Neville's parents. I'm sure you know they were tortured by your Aunt Bellatrix, Uncle Rodolphus his brother Rabastan and Barty Crouch Jr with the Cruciatus Curse. They are now residents in St Mungos they are mentally insane. Alongside them is Dedalus Diggle he is still alive now and in the Order at the moment. On the other side are Edgar Bones and Amelia Bones. A relation to Susan in our school year. His own family were wiped out by Deatheaters two weeks after this picture was taken,"

"I never knew her family were in the Order," Draco mumbled.

"Yes they were, this is Benjy Fenwick he suffered a nasty fate he was blown to pieces by Deatheaters in the first war only a few pieces were found of him. Caradoc Dearborn disappeared in the first war so we believe he was killed by Deatheaters." "So the majority of these are dead then?" Draco gulped staring at the smiling faces.

"Yes the only ones alive are, Remus, the two Dumbledores, Elphias Doge, Arabella Figg, Hagrid, Dung Fletcher, McGonagall, Emmeline Vance and Sturgis Podmore,"

"I know that name," Draco said trying to think where he had heard it.

"It was rumoured he was placed under the Imperious Curse by your father,"

"Ah that's where I've heard it and yeah he did," He felt a little guilty as he looked at the smiling waving faces of the people in the picture. He couldn't take his eyes off Frank and Alice though. He saw Neville in them both and he began to feel sick as he realised that it was his family that destroyed his life. They had torn his parents away from him. Sadly he whispered sorry so quietly that Hermione didn't even hear.

"So Draco we also need to plan tomorrow's lesson I'm thinking more on Lord Voldermort and also to start delving into mystical creatures and beasts. I really want to delve into Werewolves to show that you are still a person even if you are cursed with a furry little problem and I want to do Inferi to."

"I don't see why not then, the next lesson we can focus on Dementors and you can teach us all the patronus charm?" Draco suggested.

"I like it, tie the two things together, I'm very sure they'll need to know a patronus charm." Hermione said scribbling Draco's suggestion down on some parchment.

They continued to discuss the lessons and how they were going to tackle the Horcruxes they had agreed on tackling the basilisk in the chamber first. Then they'd go for Rowena Ravenclaw Diadem and then on to the rest. They had talked for so long they hadn't even noticed the time; a letter appeared in thin air and landed on Hermione's lap she quickly read the letter and explained to Draco it was from Dumbledore and she had to go to his office immediately. They said their goodbyes and headed in opposite directions.

Hermione hurried to the Headmasters office, she spat out the password quickly and ran up the stair and knocked on the door. She was surprised at how quick she had gotten to the room. The door opened and all seven Slytherins were sat in the room looking a little beaten and worse for were but they were very much alive.

"Headmaster?" she questioned politely.

"Miss Granger I've called you here to discuss tonight's events. We have been lucky Tom has decided to spare the seven the dark mark till they have left Hogwarts. He believes that with them not having the mark they won't be discovered and they'll still be able to collect information for him. There next meeting is a week on Friday. He is expecting information." Explained Dumbledore carefully.

"Headmaster they'll need to learn Occlumency to keep themselves safe. I'm thinking about sending a parchment around in my next lesson for all those who'll like to learn Occlumency, it'll be taught by Draco and I in private, but I will make it clear that those who do take it must really want to learn it and have strong will, because it isn't easy we will be continuously looking into their minds. They'll become tired and agitated plus we'll see private things that some students share. Would this be alright for me and him to teach?" She knew he would accept he'd want his students to be safe and would not risk the possibility of the dark one to see the flaws in their plan.

"I do not see why you shouldn't Miss Granger," he replied.

"Are you all willing to learn as well?" she asked this time addressing the Slytherins. All seven nodded they were afraid of what she would see. But none fancied been taught by Draco as none knew much about him other than he was a friend of Hermione's. They continued to talk about the nights events Hermione writing all the information down on to parchment quickly. She knew that it was to be a long night and a lot of hard months. But she knew what they were doing was right. She just had to keep listening and writing.

Alrighttt, So there isn't much action but I wanted a chapter where I could focus on Hermione and Draco's friendship. The Slytherins are a litte ooc but you'll just have to deal with it really. I also want to mention the thing about Harry. I don't think I've mentiond him before this but i've decided to have him die instead of Dumbledore. Draco failed his mission and Snape was forced not to kill him. I'm trying to keep the majority of the story to the book like who dies and that but I've tweaked it.
Revieww pleasee :) Love yaaa all toodles for now