The classroom was uncharacteristically roomy; the desks were gone and there were chairs set in a circle that was enough for all the Order members with one lone chair in the center; Draco was currently sitting in it. To Tonks it looked like a mock Wizengamot hearing but she had never been to a meeting where a recruit spoke, so maybe they did that on purpose.
She looked over at the people seated and noticed Professor Sprout and Flitwick giving her young cousin distrustful looks while Hermione was giving him encouraging smiles. McGonagall was standing behind Hermione with a somewhat proud twinkle in her eyes. Snape looked bored, but when did he not? Hagrid was standing in the corner of the room, seeming to observe his student seated in the center of the circle while also giving Hermione curious looks. The one missing was Dumbledore.
"Well, Professor, you were right. This is an interesting recruit." Remus spoke with a quiet chuckle as he and Tonks walked fully into the room. Draco took a break from gazing at Hermione and glanced at his cousin and her boyfriend. He felt a smirk tug at his lips as Tonks winked at him in greeting.
As Remus and Tonks took their seats to Hermione's right, McGonagall moved to stand now behind Remus and told him that they were going to wait until Albus was present to start the routine questioning.
Draco once again looked away from his girlfriend when Tonks cleared her throat and crossed her arms. "So, is this what you meant about having a plan?" She asked, not caring that the other professors around her looked confused (McGonagall, Hagrid, and Snape) and suspicious (Flitwick and Sprout).
The smirk Draco gave her made her smirk back as he shook his head. "Not even close. I was pretty much lying when I told you that. I'm winging it right now. Jumping to the right side for once."
"Well it suits you, dear cousin. I'm quite proud of you." Tonks spoke softly with a genuine smile that matched Hermione's.
Draco looked touched and stared down at his hands in either embarrassment or to hide the fact that he was smiling, she wasn't too sure.
Hermione felt what Tonks was feeling as she watched him sitting where she once sat.
They had asked her if she was ready to fight people she had possibly grown up with in school and if she was prepared to take a life if necessary, as they all had to do at one point or another. Her answers were easy. She knew his would be, too.
Pride coursed through her veins; she had been so sure he would stay on the Dark side for his mother, then eventually turn neutral. Never did she dream that he would change sides so openly and willingly.
As she took note of the glares her professors were giving her boyfriend, she was beginning to realize that this was going to be exactly like a Wizengamot meeting. And she was more than sure that she would be defending her boyfriend to them all. Perhaps Tonks would too.
She had hoped that the Order members would go easy on him, as they did with her, and just ask questions like if he was sure he wanted to join and if he knew what that would entail. Now, glancing at their faces, she doubted that would happen.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Dumbledore opened the classroom door and strode in with an aura of superiority and tranquility.
Everyone sat up a bit straighter as he went to take his seat, even Draco, and Hagrid went to take a seat on the enlarged chair that was conjured for him.
"Should we wait for Harry and Ron?" Hagrid wondered and Draco's expression soured for the briefest of moments.
Dumbledore shook his head, "I didn't call for them. I'm sure Hermione can update them later tonight. Can't you, Hermione?" He glanced at the witch with questioning eyes, prompting her to nod.
Draco and Hermione shared a slightly confused look, everyone at school knew that she no longer spoke to the boys. Perhaps Dumbledore was out of the loop?
"Mister Malfoy, Professor McGonagall tells me that you're ready to join the Order." Dumbledore spoke softly after offering everyone in his Circle a small smile, letting them know it was time to begin.
Draco's attention immediately went to the old wizard and he seemed uncharacteristically nervous as he nodded. "I am."
Apparently it was time for anyone to speak as Professor Sprout asked, "And why are you so ready? Why now?"
Glancing at Hermione for the quickest of moments, Draco took a deep breath before responding. "Well, because I don't want to be a part of the dark side and I didn't have the courage to come to you until now."
"And why don't you want to be a part of their side?" Professor Flitwick asked with a small frown. "You've been quite on the Dark's side for years."
"I don't believe in what they do anymore. I don't think I ever really did. They want to kill anyone they think is below purebloods and I don't believe in that." Draco spoke without hesitation and his voice was strong. Hermione was sure that it was impossible for them to not believe him. "I don't want to kill nor do I want to be involved with people that kill in cold blood."
"You've been a right bully for years. 'Specially to Hermione here. You'd call her a mudblood all the time. You even wished her dead in second year, the boys told me so! How can we believe that you don't believe in what they do?" Hagrid was the one to ask this time.
Hermione blushed at the mention of her name and what was said when they were all twelve as Draco nodded slowly and flinched slightly. "Bullying as a child and murdering people are two different things. I was young and never thought that what I was saying, and repeating, would come true. I don't expect you to believe me immediately, but I have changed. I would never even dream of calling Hermione that word again. I would protect her with my life. She knows that. I would never be like my father and his comrades."
Before any of her other professors could try and dispute those statements, Hermione spoke up, fighting the emotions his words invoked. "I know for a fact that he has changed. I trust him completely. He's apologized, done so more times than I can even count, and he's treated me perfectly well for the last six months. He defends me to other Slytherins who call me names. He tried to secure my protection an hour ago. He's not like any of us thought. He was forced to be a small part of the Death Eaters and now he's finally doing what he wants by coming to us. How can you not believe him? Look him in the eye, at least."
Every professor went silent as they processed her words and Draco's words in regards to her.
Draco worked hard to keep the smile off his face as his chest burned with gratitude and affection for his witch. "Exactly what she said. I was forced to join them, I've been forced this whole time to try and..." He trailed off, not wanting to say the words but knowing he had to soon. "I've been forced. Ever since my father was arrested."
"Forced to do what, exactly?" Snape asked, though he knew the answer better than even Hermione. He knew Draco had to be prompted, he could sense the fear in his godson and wished he could've shielded him from all of this.
"They're forcing me to do something I don't want to do. I have orders to...to kill you, Professor." Draco spoke uneasily, staring Dumbledore in the eye.
And then chaos ensued.
"I'm telling you, Harry, I lost her. Forever." Ron uttered forlornly while staring at the fire burning in the Gryffindor common room's hearth. "The way she looked at me...She's gone. She wants nothing to do with me."
Harry fought the urge to roll his eyes as he watched his best friend mourn the relationship that had been dead for months now.
He had no idea why Ron was suddenly realizing that he had messed up with Hermione so severely, he had no clue what had changed, but he was annoyed that Ron was so upset now. It took whatever happened on his way to the dorms for him to see that they both had lost Hermione.
"What happened exactly?"
Ron snorted while shaking his head slowly. "She said she'd rather die than be anything to me. She was so...She looked at me like he used to look at her. There was absolute hate in her eyes and her words were so cruel. He was probably proud of her."
"As if yours haven't been just as cruel towards her?" Harry asked sarcastically. He knew that that may have been a bit harsh, but he couldn't stop himself. Ron was his best mate, but Hermione truly felt like a sister to him and he felt the need to protect and defend her more than the redhead sitting in front of him.
Ron flinched then began to nod. "I've been horrible to her. I know."
Harry had wanted to say something like good or it's about time but he bit his tongue. His best friend looked to be tormented enough now and he was admitting he was in the wrong. It was a good step.
"And you should have seen Malfoy with her. He stepped between us as I was coming up so naturally. It was like he didn't even realize he was doing it, just like I used to when he'd walk up. And she was holding his arm. I think..." Ron choked on his next words and felt tears stinging his eyes. Harry noticed the moisture gathering there, too, and bit his lip nervously. He knew before Ron spoke that he must've figured it out, too. "I think they're together, Harry."
With regret swarming in his gut for not warning his best friend, Harry nodded. He really didn't want to cause his friend so much pain but he knew keeping it a secret wasn't an option anymore and would inevitably hurt him more later on. "I think so too. I saw him guiding her out of class today. He was...gentle with her. And a few weeks ago, Ginny mentioned that...that she caught them embracing in the library. She had said they looked like they'd been snogging. That Hermione's hair and jumper were a bit messed up and Malfoy's cheeks had a bit of color to them."
The words made Ron cringe and curl in on himself even further and Harry shut his mouth. He didn't dare mention that he had noticed Hermione holding Malfoy's hand during Astronomy class while they stargazed the night before.
"I'm sorry, Ron."
"I love her, you know." Ron whispered after a few minutes of silence. "I really love her. I dreamt of us graduating here and going off to get married like my parents and have a family. I thought that we'd get there eventually. Mum and Dad only got together in their seventh year and I thought we would be just like them. Fighting like cats and dogs while we feed babies and have a couple more kids running around. I wanted that with her. And I made her hate me instead." Ron looked on the verge of sobbing now, his voice wobbled as he carried on. "I just want to see her and talk to her without him there. I'll tell her how I feel and pray she comes back to me. I'll take everything back and beg her forgiveness. But she won't listen to me if he's there."
Harry had no idea what to say to that and instead of struggling to figure it out, he stood and left the room in a hurry without a word to his best friend. He thought he could hear Ron succumb to his tears, which only made him pick up his pace even more.
He wasn't entirely sure what he was going to say to convince Hermione to go with him, he just had to find Hermione. He had to tell her what Ron just said, that he was ready to kick his pride to the wind and apologize. He had to get her back to the common room and have his best friends work it all out. It was all going to be fixed soon, he could feel it.
As he power walked down to the floor the library was located on, he prayed that Hermione was alone or at least with Pansy. He could handle the annoying brunette Slytherin far better than he could Malfoy.
Harry jumped from the third step of the final staircase and as he landed, he promptly turned the corner and bumped into tall maroon robes. With a grunt, he reached out reflexively to steady himself and felt long fingers grip his upper arms to steady him.
"Mr. Potter, where are you off to in such a hurry?" The Headmaster's voice asked with concern. It wasn't often that students raced through the halls when they were meant to be going to bed.
Harry realized that he was a bit breathless as he tried to regain his composure. He dropped his hands from the velvety robes and swallowed thickly. "Sir...I'm sorry. I was looking for Hermione."
"What ever for?" Dumbledore asked curiously while releasing his hold on Harry's arms. "I'm meeting with Miss Granger shortly. Perhaps I can pass a message along. She will be back to her dorms shortly after."
Harry quirked his brow and was tempted to ask why he was meeting with her before he recalled why he was searching her out. "Well, it's a bit complicated, Sir. The past few months, she's been rather close to Malfoy and a few other Slytherins. We've been...fighting. Hermione, Ron, and I have been at odds and exchanged a lot of...Let's just say that now we're as close as Malfoy is to Ron."
Harry felt the shame course through him at Dumbledore's disappointed gaze. Apparently, he had had no idea about the trio's lack of friendship.
"I knew you three were going through a rift recently. I just didn't know it was quite so severe."
"It is. She...She hates us, I think. Though we deserve it." Harry shook his head and frowned, guilt gnawing at him. "We've been incredibly mean to her, Ron especially. After the incident in the Great Hall, things haven't been the same. I've tried to mend things before, but I couldn't help but be angry that she's so close to Malfoy. And she won't have anyone speaking against him. I wanted to try again tonight. Ron really...we both really miss her."
Dumbledore pursed his lips in thought before speaking in a soft tone. "Have you considered that he may not be as bad as you and Mr. Weasley have assumed?"
Harry immediately grimaced at the thought. "My gut says that he's hiding something, Professor."
"And what if that something isn't as sinister as you think?" Dumbledore asked in a way that told Harry to think about everything and not answer him at all. With a soft smile and a twinkle in his eye, Dumbledore patted him on the shoulder and turned to leave. "I'll let Miss Granger know you wished to speak to her."
Harry could only nod before stumbling back up the stairs and wander the halls aimlessly, hoping that if he paced long enough, Dumbledore would send Hermione to him.
After confessing what Voldemort demanded of him, it was a tense few seconds and Draco and Hermione both had the sudden urge to grasp each other and run away from it all.
As Hagrid screamed out that he should be locked up alongside his father, Sprout looked to be close to fainting or crying. McGonagall placed a hand over her abdomen and looked at Dumbledore with worried eyes and Remus stood and went right to Hermione. Hermione immediately stood and crossed her arms, trying and failing to hide her discomfort as her friend and professor spoke to her, probably asking how much she knew and why she didn't confide in him.
"Why would you keep this from me?!" Tonks' shrill voice was the loudest to Draco's ears and he couldn't help but flinch, but not because of the sound. He truly felt as if he were becoming close to his cousin but wasn't ready for anyone to know. "Draco, I thought we were bonding and that I made it clear you could come to me! That you could trust me! What the f-"
Flitwick's own voice was screaming a warning for Draco to back away from the Headmaster with his wand brandished menacingly. Snape saw the threat and immediately went to pluck the wand from his grasp before he could do any harm to his godson. "Do not threaten my godson, Filius." Snape seethed and the words started an argument between the two.
Draco's eyes shifted until his gaze met his girlfriend's - who was nibbling on her lower lip while still speaking to Remus - and her worry was glaringly obvious to him; he was so grateful that she wasn't looking at him with loathing or disgust like the majority of the people gathered around them were.
"Enough!" Dumbledore's normally soft and gentle voice morphed into a resonating boom that made everyone freeze in silence.
Tonks clenched her jaw respectfully but kept glaring at her young cousin. She couldn't help but feel slighted by his refusal to confide in her. And guilt began to radiate from Draco's gut.
With everyone silent and retaking their seats (and wands), his voice went back to normal as he gazed at Draco and offered a small smile. "I already know this, Draco."
Draco's lips parted in surprise as he moved his eyes to Hermione's then his godfather's. She smirked and shrugged slightly, it was logical that he would know. Snape only nodded once, to confirm that he had been the one to tell him. Though if he figured it out alone, it wouldn't be too odd. Dumbledore always seemed to know everything.
The rest of the room had gasped at his words and all but one bit their tongue.
"You've known that you're the target of a planned assassination and said nothing?! You've done nothing?! Albus, have you lost your mind?!" McGonagall shouted and to anyone else, she would've sounded furious, but Hermione could see the slight tremor in her fingertips that exposed her fears.
"I haven't done nothing exactly." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled slightly as he turned to his good friend. "Severus and I have a plan, but it's imperative that only a select few are aware of the details. All you need to know is that I'm handling it."
Hagrid mumbled something about locking Draco up now before he succeeded and Hermione was about to yell at him when Tonks beat her to it. "He came to us to tell us everything, Hagrid, so I doubt we have to prevent anything! He even said he didn't want to do what he was told!"
"I don't want to harm Professor Dumbledore." Draco spoke and his voice did not betray even an ounce of his discomfort. "I've been forced to attempt to, that I shamefully admit, but it was never my choice."
Hagrid scoffed while Flitwick did his best to sneer. "How can you say you had no choice?! I'd sooner die than kill someone for You Know Who!"
"He doesn't have a choice, Professor! Voldemort threatened to kill his mum!" Hermione shouted before Draco could even form the words. "Voldemort already killed someone because Draco displeased him!"
Snape pursed his lips and forced himself not to show any emotion toward Hermione when he really wanted to grin at her gratefully. He was happy that his godson did have someone else fighting for him and that she still was there for him after learning what he did.
"Who did You Know Who kill?" Remus asked as he turned to Draco.
Draco went impossibly paler and Hermione noticed the slight quivering of his lower lip before he squared his shoulders. "Astoria Greengrass."
The other professors all held solemn and shocked expressions, save for Albus and Severus, as they each shared glances. They all remembered the report the Order received from Shacklebolt; their young student had been tortured horribly, her body mutilated with cuts of illegible writing, before she was killed and left in her family's foyer where the family House Elf had stumbled upon her body.
Tonks especially remembered her mother, who had been inconsolable and clearly unaware of why her daughter had been targeted, as she was the one who had to question everyone in the home per Kingsley's orders. The entire case had broken Tonks' heart and she had cited it as the reason for her resignation. She and Shacklebolt had been convinced it was You Know Who's doing, hence why they went to the Order with it, but there was no solid proof.
Now they knew.
"He killed her because you hadn't yet killed Albus?" Tonks asked in a small voice. Her heart clenched as she watched her cousin swallow heavily and shake his head. "Then why?"
"Because I..." Draco whispered miserably, his hands were shaking and his eyes watered, and Hermione couldn't take it anymore. She stood and for a split second, Draco feared that she was going to leave the room and him, but she only frowned and went to his side, pulling her chair with her. As she pushed her chair close to his and took her seat, he wanted to cry as she reached out and grasped his hand in front of everyone. She whispered to him that it was going to be okay and he felt better instantly. She may not have realized, but her touch gave him the strength to carry on. "...He killed her because I failed twice. It was my punishment."
Everyone but Severus, Tonks, and Remus were stunned by Hermione's bold move. Then his words caused everyone but Severus to stare in shock.
"Twice?" Tonks spoke when she realized there was no uproar from her stunned colleagues.
He squeezed his eyes shut and nodded, "I have already tried twice to...to kill Professor Dumbledore. I was told that I'd pay if I didn't do as I was told. I feared that my mother would be killed, since my father isn't there to protect her, or try to protect her. It was me that left the poisoned drink to Professor Slughorn, as I knew he had planned to gift it to Professor Dumbledore."
Quickly he looked at all his professors with a pleading look in his eyes. "Please don't think I did it without any regrets or self hatred. I heard of what happened to Professor Slughorn and was sick for days." Again, he looked down at his lap as shame filled his very core. "And I Imperiused Katie Bell to take the cursed necklace to him as well, and I watched her get cursed and got sick in an alleyway, cried and very nearly turned my wand on myself. I was too much of a coward to say the killing curse." He wished he hadn't said that as he felt Hermione's hand tremble in his.
Hermione then chose to squeeze Draco's hand that much tighter, fighting her shakes, and he felt his gut squirm - he forgot that he hadn't told her that part..."So I stopped any other types of plans I was trying to come up with. I thought that he would be lenient if he knew I'd tried but he was only angrier and killed her in an effort to scare me because we were betrothed." His voice broke then as he spoke just loud enough for everyone to hear with tears in his eyes. "I don't want to hurt anyone else, I never did. Please understand. I'm not like them. I don't want to be like them."
Everyone was silent as they absorbed his words and both Hermione and Tonks wanted to cry because neither had known that he was so close to harming himself to escape Voldemort's orders. Both of them, for a moment too long, imagined a world where neither of them reconnected with and grew to love Draco and felt sick themselves.
Hagrid quietly admitted his apology to Draco, as did Sprout and Flitwick, and it was clear they all believed he was on their side and could be trusted.
"You should've told me." Tonks whispered with a shake of her head and teary eyes. "I understand why you didn't, but still..I could've helped you...or been there for you."
Snape had known of his godson's suicidal moment, as the boy confided to him after collapsing into broken sobs in the dungeons, and instead of becoming emotional like the others, he told Tonks what had made Draco hesitant. "You're an Auror. Perhaps that is what stopped him."
"I'm not anymore. And I'm his cousin first and foremost." Tonks snapped back, her hair flickering to red. Remus, who was still stunned by Draco's entire confession, quickly paced back to her and put his hand atop hers then whispered to her to calm down.
"In any case," Dumbledore rushed out before his former students could begin arguing. "we all understand the turmoil you've endured this year. And we will help you. I'll divulge my plan to you, if you'd want to hear it now."
Hermione immediately nodded while Professors Sprout, Flitwick, and Hagrid stood to leave, remembering that Dumbledore had said only a select few can know the plan. They weren't quite so disenchanted as to believe they were in the Inner Circle.
Hagrid waved to Hermione, silently telling her that he wished to speak with her about her relationship with Draco as he glanced at their joined hands. Sprout and Flitwick offered to help the boy in any way they could while practically being shoved out of the door by Snape. He moved to Tonks and was stopped by her stubborn nature.
Tonks stood with Remus' hand firmly held in hers and jutted her chin out defiantly to her former professor. "I'm staying to hear the plan as well."
"No." Snape deadpanned.
"Draco is underage." Tonks growled. "He's my cousin."
Snape shrugged, "He's my godson."
"Severus...It's okay. I want her here." Draco spoke up before Tonks could argue further. "And you as well, Remus."
"Then that's settled." Dumbledore spoke with ease while gesturing for everyone to retake their seats.
Harry ended up going back to the Gryffindor common room to retrieve the Marauder's Map. Ron was still in the spot where he left him. His nose and eyes were as red as his hair and he kept sniffling. Harry mumbled that he'd be right back before jogging to his room and rummaging through his trunk.
With his parchment in hand, he came back down to the common room and Ron still hadn't moved and refused to look in Harry's direction. Harry was going to say that he was about to get Hermione when the portrait door opened and several third years ran in, looking pleased that they made it in time for curfew.
He stuffed the map into his back pocket before rushing out of the room and going back down the staircase to wait for Hermione. He was almost sure that Hermione would try her best to avoid him, no matter what Dumbledore said to her. If she knew that he wanted to speak to her, he wouldn't blame her if she ran to try and sleep in the library.
So he sat on the bottom step and pulled the wand and map out. Tapping it thrice, like the twins taught him, he watched as names and lines appeared over the parchment. He scanned it until he saw Hermione's name hovering in a classroom. He was shocked to see so many others crowded there as well.
Hagrid, Flitwick, and Sprout had footsteps that were filing out of the classroom while Tonks' name hovered close to Snape's and Remus'. Hermione's name was close to Malfoy's and Harry felt uneasy as he saw Dumbledore pacing closer to them both while McGonagall just paced in general.
This looked like an Order meeting to Harry. That was what all the names, besides Malfoy, had in common. Each of them had once sat at Grimmauld Place together and now he wondered why Malfoy was there. Did it have anything to do with Dumbledore's cryptic words about a secret of his?
He heard voices coming closer just then and moved his gaze to where he saw his own name hovering over the staircase and jumped as his Professors' names approached. Quickly, he folded the parchment and put it back in his pocket.
"'Harry? What are you doing out here this late?" Hagrid's voice boomed as the trio moved closer to their student. "You should be in your room."
Flitwick and Sprout knew that Hagrid was close to Harry and would handle him being out so late without any assistance from them, so they waved half heartedly and paced to the spare classroom that served as a teacher's lounge and discussed what they just discovered.
"I'm waiting for Hermione. Professor Dumbledore said he was meeting with her and he'd tell her that I was looking for her. I wanted to talk to her." Harry explained and worked to avoid the nervous swarm in his gut as he tried to act ignorant. "So I'm just...waiting for her.. What are you doing in here?"
Hagrid wasn't fooled by Harry's attempts and frowned. "You know why. I'm sure you used that blasted map. She'll be coming soon. She stayed behind to...talk things out."
Dropping the act, Harry crossed his arms. "What's going on, Hagrid?"
He never could lie to the boy in front of him and sighed. "Somethin's coming. Somethin bad. That's all I'll say because Dumbledore will have my head if I tell you everythin' before he can."
Harry felt the nerves double but nodded anyway. "Okay...Then I'm just going to wait right here."
"I have to go...and think. Don't let yourself be caught by Professor Snape." Hagrid warned in a forlorn tone before walking out without waiting for a response.
Harry had absolutely no idea what Hagrid meant, what Malfoy was doing meeting with Dumbledore and Hermione, or what kind of secret he could be hiding and he didn't like it one bit.
"Mister Malfoy, forgive me for a lack of a better term...your deadline is tomorrow, is it not?" Dumbledore asked.
Draco nodded slowly, still grasping Hermione's hand, "Tomorrow night, yes."
Hermione and Tonks, who now sat across from each other, shared an uneasy look while Remus leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. He was now sitting directly across from Draco. "What exactly happens tomorrow?"
"I thought we were going to be made aware of Dumbledore's plan?" McGonagall asked tersely from her seat on Remus' other side.
"Patience, Minerva." Dumbledore chided gently. "Draco, go on. It's best that your cousins are made aware of everything."
Tonks' brow quirked when the headmaster referred to Remus as Draco's cousin, since they were not married and hadn't even discussed it much yet, and looked over to her boyfriend who grinned at the words. She ignored the warmth spreading in her chest and focused on her cousin.
"First, I was supposed to be mending a vanishing cabinet in the Room of Requirement. It was so that Death Eaters could come in and infiltrate Hogwarts." Draco began uneasily. "I lied and sent a letter saying that Dumbledore used some type of old magic to hide the Room of Requirement from me to get out of it."
Hermione was just hearing these details for the first time and frowned. "They believed you?"
Draco nodded while Snape responded. "Of course Bellatrix was suspicious but I backed him up and said Albus warned me that someone was trying to use the Room for dark purposes and he erected wards with blood magic. Voldemort believed me easily."
Tonks sighed and began nibbling on her thumbnail nervously. "But they must've found another way to get in. Right?"
"They want Hogwarts' wards down." Draco replied.
McGonagall immediately scoffed. "That's preposterous. How would a sixth year student manage that?"
Hermione frowned then and shared a glance with Remus. Both of them had an immediate inkling of the Dark's plan.
Dumbledore glanced at Draco questioningly. "They think once I'm dead, the wards I've added my magic to will die with me?"
Draco could only nod while Hermione shook her head. "We won't let that happen, Professor."
Remus agreed wholeheartedly. "No harm will come to you and they won't get in."
"We'll even add extra protection to the wards and you." McGonagall added.
Snape frowned deeper than he normally would and Tonks noticed the look he shared with the headmaster. "What are you two hiding?"
"I...My plan is...to die. Tomorrow night. Per Voldemort's orders." Dumbledore spoke solemnly and steeled himself for the outbursts he knew were to come.
McGonagall and Hermione both gasped in horror while Tonks squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. Remus and Draco froze in shock before the younger of the two turned to glare at his godfather.
"You swore to me that he wouldn't die!" Draco shouted while McGonagall stood from her seat and resumed her frantic pacing.
Snape scoffed, "I swore to you that you wouldn't be the one to kill him. There's a difference. That honor," He spat the word as if it were bile. "goes to me."
"What?!" Remus finally spoke. "You can't be serious!"
"You can't just bloody give up and keel over." Tonks scolded with her eyes still shut, trying to keep the tears at bay. Her volume matching her cousin's perfectly and her hair changing to red instantly. "What the hell are you thinking?!"
"If you give up, what does that mean for us?! You're our bloody leader!" Remus hollered, a peculiar feeling of betrayal and abandonment egging him on. "You're supposed to help us and guide us like before but you'd rather just die?! Just let one of us kill you?! For what?! What will this accomplish?!"
Hermione was openly crying and looked at Snape while Remus fumed. "You can't seriously agree to any of this, Professor."
"I don't. It's either Draco or me that does it. There's no other way. And the last thing you or I want is for Draco to cast the killing curse." Snape spoke with a slightly softer tone to her, but it went unnoticed in all the turmoil.
"Why you?! Why anybody?! He doesn't have to die!" Draco shouted again, his chest burning with confusion and anger. Hermione choked on a sob while nodding in agreement. "He's the one who's going to fucking save us all from him!"
McGonagall sniffled loudly. "The boy is right. We can't do anything without you, Albus. You dying will only give the Dark side an advantage! We can put a stop to it now! We have enough forewarning!"
"It's not about a lack of forewarning. I'm dying anyway." Albus spoke softly to the group.
Snape ground his teeth together. "And I took the vow, Draco. Remember? I vowed that I'd do the job in Draco's place. It has to happen. There's no way to get out of a Vow. One of us has to die and our gracious leader thinks I'm too valuable to die just yet."
"What do you mean you're dying anyway?" Remus asked while Draco fought the urge to punch something and McGonagall started to mumble about foolish wizards.
"Why would you even take the Vow like that?! I thought you were just vowing to help me?!" Draco asked miserably as Hermione and Tonks sniffled. "Have you lost all sense?!"
Dumbledore raised his hands to quiet everyone into silence and sniffles before speaking. "I encountered a curse of Voldemort's. Severus isolated it to my hand but it's only a matter of time before it spreads and kills me."
Hermione wanted to ask what kind of curse it was but bit her tongue as Snape began to speak. "And I took the vow because your mother begged me, Draco. She begged me to save you, though I was already planning to. I'm your Godfather and would've done so anyway."
That made Draco begin to cry as he dropped his head in his hands. "I don't want Dumbledore to die and I don't want you to be in Azkaban for it."
"I won't be going to Azkaban." Snape reassured him. "This is how Death Eaters will take over Hogwarts while we still have some control without them even knowing it. I'll become Headmaster and watch over as many as I can as he sends in people."
McGonagall spoke next. "And what about the muggleborn students? What about these two here? And our professors? Remus will be targeted just as much as Hermione and Draco! Tonks as well because of her parents!"
"We'll go into hiding." Remus suggested immediately, reaching for Tonks' hand and grasping it firmly.
Tonks looked to her cousin with concern as her grip tightened. "We can take Draco and Hermione with us."
"I've already thought of that. Remus, it would be best that you and Tonks hide. Hermione will be...I want Hermione to go on a special mission for me. Draco can easily be hidden with an Order member." Dumbledore explained. "Any other Muggleborn students shall be sent home tomorrow morning and told to stay far away the coming school year. No doubt when word spreads that Hogwarts has been infiltrated, their parents will disappear too."
McGonagall mentioned something about being sick before she stormed out of the room. Dumbledore frowned as the door swung shut and made a mental note to go and speak to her before he retired to his room.
Draco dropped his hands from his face and, like Remus, reached over for his girlfriend's hand. "I'm not going anywhere without Hermione. She's a target, the most famous muggleborn, and I won't let her go on some mission alone."
Hermione grinned at the protectiveness but looked at her headmaster and noticed his twinkling eyes that told her he had a better idea. "What is it, Professor?"
"I was going to say that you wouldn't be alone. I want you to go to Ron and Harry and tell them what I'm about to tell you. It's up to you three to carry out what I know needs to be done to win this war. Though, with Draco there as well...I think the mission would be even better executed."
Snape scoffed while Remus furrowed his brow and spoke what Tonks and Snape were both thinking. "They're underage, Albus. They're children. You can't put that much pressure on them!"
"They can handle it." Hermione and Draco shared a glance as if to say they begged to differ.
"Then tell me what needs to be done and I can help them. It's not like I'm going to be teaching for much longer." Tonks bit out.
Hermione and Draco remained silent as their professors began to argue further.
"It's not your place." Dumbledore said simply.
"The hell it is!" Tonks fired back.
Snape raised a brow, "I don't often agree with these two, Albus, but perhaps they'd be better suited for the task at hand."
"I agree. We have more experience." Remus reasoned.
Tonks nodded. "I'm a former Auror. I've had training. Remus is the best damn dueler in the Order. We can handle whatever you want to throw at the kids."
Draco made a face at the fact that he was being referring to as a kid, but he met Hermione's gaze and, from her pursed lips, he knew it was best to remain silent still.
"See? Better suited. Let them handle it." Snape said with a smirk.
"I've already told you that Harry must do it. And he simply cannot do it alone, he needs Ron and Hermione. And since Draco won't leave Hermione's side, he has to go too." Hermione was shocked to hear the Headmaster begin to sound frustrated.
Remus recognized the frustration as well and his old Marauder ways kicked in. With a shake of his head, he stood from his seat with a calculating look in his eye. "Fine. We'll go to our quarters while you explain to these two what you need done. Obviously, Severus knows it all already. Come on, Dora, we aren't needed here anymore."
"I want you here." Draco argued as Tonks stood as well.
Tonks' hair was still flaming red as she gazed questioningly at Remus. "I want to stay."
"Let's go." Remus softly commanded and for three seconds, the two stared into each other's eyes as if they were silently communicating. Remus had a small grin as Tonks rolled her eyes and began walking to the door in defeat.
Dumbledore either didn't suspect anything or chose to ignore the peculiar actions. "I'm sorry I can't tell you anything more. Once the war is over, I hope you understand why I'm doing what I am doing."
"We'll see if we survive first." Tonks grumbled before walking out.
Remus looked to Draco and Hermione and smiled. "I hope you two aren't leaving tonight. If so, I won't be sleeping much so say your goodbyes if you can."
Hermione fought the grin that threatened to break free as she immediately understood what he meant. She only nodded her response as Draco gave a halfhearted wave, muttering to himself.
As the door closed once again, Snape stood from his seat and paced to the corner of the room. "I hope you know what you're doing, Albus. You're improvising."
"I do and I'm not improvising. I simply factored Draco into the plan in a speedy fashion. It will all still work." Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Can we get on with what you want her to know? I assume you want her to explain to Potter and Weasley?" Draco snapped. "As if they'd listen to whatever she has to say."
Hermione frowned at that. "He has a point, Professor. Harry, Ron, and I aren't on the best terms right now. Any plan you have may not work simply because the boys well and truly hate me right now."
"They don't hate you. I know for a fact that Harry is hoping to mend his friendship with you tonight. Which is perfect timing, if I do say so myself."
Hermione looked skeptical but said nothing.
Snape openly rolled his eyes. "Do I really have to be here? I could be arranging for certain members of my house to leave the school."
"You are dismissed, Severus." Dumbledore said in a clipped tone.
Draco recognized the enraged look in his godfather's eyes as he stormed out. And then there were three. He thought to himself as Dumbledore turned his focus back on them.
Hermione squeezed his hand nervously. "Fine. It's just us, so tell us. Whatever it is, I'll try to get along with Ron and Harry to get it done. If it's as important as you say it is..."
Draco swallowed down any scathing comments about the pair of Gryffindors he despised as Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak.
"Have either of you heard of Horcruxes?"
Hi! I'm really sorry if theres any inconsistencies with anything here. it's been so freaking long since I've written for this story that I may or may not have forgotten certain things! I've focused my limited time on writing this when I probably should've reread chapters hehe but I hope you like this! We're really starting to get into the angsty action!