A/N: I AM SO SORRY READERS! I can't believe it's been 2months and I haven't updated. It's just been a lack of time, motivation and ideas! So this weekend I felt so awful that I forced mysel fot sit down and pull out a couple of chapters. I hope they'er up to scratch. Once again... VERY SORRY
Rehash: He brought his face down close to hers and brushed his lips against hers. All the teachers had vacated the stands and joined the celebration on the pitch, or began the journey back to the castle leaving them alone up in their sector with nothing but the background noise of the students. Well that's what they thought anyway. But standing rigid at the top of the stairs, still unable to turn and leave was Andromeda… well Artemis Lithben. His face contorted into the image of Andromeda's anger.
'I'll get that murderer.' She thought as she finally managed to turn and leave.
'And she… will help.'
Chapter eleven.
The Sunday morning greeted Hermione most unkindly. She turned over and groaned blocking out the sunlight with her pillow. Her stomach was churning. Swishing and swirling. All of a sudden she jolted upright and clambered out of the bed.
Draco opened his eyes wearily and watched her scramble out and sprint to the bathroom where he heard the unmistakable gags of someone throwing up.
Quickly he kicked the sheet down and jotted into the bathroom and stood at the door.
"Granger?" He asked.
Hermione fell beside the toilet bowl.
"Too many celebratory mead's last night I think." She said, closing her eyes and resting against the cabinet beside her.
Draco crossed his arms and leant against the door jam.
"You had two Granger." He chuckled.
Hermione scowled. "I don't drink very often thankyou." She got to her feet and pushed him out of the bathroom.
"I'm going to have a shower, I'll meet you down at breakfast later." She hollered.
Draco swaggered across the room yawning and grabbed his pile of clothes off the bed end. He lazily pulled himself into them as he heard the shower start and made his way out of Hermione's quarters and down to breakfast.
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Hermione turned off the shower and slipped out onto the plush maroon bath mat. She grabbed a matching towel off the counter and wrapped it around her, wringing her hair out as she headed out of the bathroom. She swung the bathroom door open and made to walk into the bedroom when she froze.
There sitting on the edge of the bed, legs crossed, seemingly careless as she examined her nails was a woman in a blood red robe.
Hermione looked around desperately for her wand before recognising its hawthorn tip poking out of the woman's pocket. Hermione took a large gulp and gained some courage. If she wanted to kill me she would have done it already… wouldn't she?
"Who – Who are you?" Hermione asked meekly.
The woman finally drew her gaze away from her fingers and looked up at Hermione.
"Hello Hermione." She said smiling brightly.
Her calm sweet nature lessened Hermione's discomfort as she stopped edging her way around the room to the door and instead took a seat in an arm chair situated against a far wall.
"May I ask who you are and why exactly you are in my room?" Hermione inquired curtly.
"I- am Andromeda. Andromeda Isobel Lithben."
Hermione gaped at her. "Your- You're Artemis' sister?"
Andromeda nodded.
Hermione sat in silence. The blood red robes, the name… It all made sense. Too much sense.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I am here?" Andromeda said.
Hermione stared at her intently. "I already have."
Andromeda seemed to be recalling the conversation in her head until she pinpointed the moment Hermione had asked.
"Right. Well I'm here to warn you actually." Andromeda said.
"…About what?"
"About your fiancée." She replied. She turned on the bed and faced Hermoine intently.
Hermione groaned and leaned back in the chair.
"Did you know he was a death eater." Andromeda said with determination.
"He wasn't actually." Hermione spat.
Andromeda snorted. "He's leading you on." She said as she leaned back against the pillows and folded her arms behind her head.
Hermione was outraged.
"He is doing nothing of the sort!" She said as she stood defiantly and made her way to the side of the bed.
Andromeda simply watched her approach and look down over her in nothing but a large fluffy maroon towel, her wet hair plastered to her back.
"He's dangerous. A murderer." Andromeda said viciously as she knelt up on her hands.
"Draco has killed no-one! Where are you getting this information from!?" Hermione shouted.
Andromeda got up on her knees on the bed. "It's true. I know you don't want to believe it. I don't either. But the truth is that he killed my mother. Killed her Hermione! I know this for fact!" She cried.
"He didn't! He- He couldn't!" Hermione cried.
"He could and he did!" Andromeda seethed. She crawled off the bed in a cat like fashion. She was taller by a head and stood over her, staring down ferociously.
Hermione shook her head and avoided eye contact. As much as she didn't want to, she felt hot tears fill her eyes.
"You have no proof." She said through gritted teeth.
Andromeda snorted. "Proof! You've seen my proof! That letter you stole! Isn't that proof enough!?"
Hermione's breath hitched.
"Your mother was Claribell Austen?" She asked.
Andromeda stepped backwards and sat down unceremoniously atop the bed. "Yes." She muttered.
Hermione felt fresh air fill her lungs and was unaware she had even been holding her breath.
"Oh thank goodness." Hermione said.
"Andromeda looked up with daggers in her eyes before jolting up again and coming nose to nose with Hermione.
"Thank goodness?" She seethed.
"No – No I meant…"
"Here I come to save you! Save you from the murderous man intent on killing you as he did my mother and you say thank goodness!?"
"I didn't mean it like that!! I just meant…"
"Don't you dare." She hissed.
Hermione fell quiet. A red glaze seemed to be swirling within Andromeda's eyes. Her normally motionless black locks were prickling with an undeniably dangerous energy.
"If you aren't with me then you're against me. And if you're against me – then you shall face death as well." She said. Every word was laced with a deadly verdict.
Andromeda turned around and strided towards the door. She flicked Hermione's wand over her shoulder before crossing the threshold and exiting the bedroom.
Hermione listened to her retreat down the stone staircase andcrossing the living room and opening the portrait, leaving nothing behind but the click of it closing and the pungent odour of vanilla essence.
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Draco sat in his usual seat in the Great Hall scoffing scrambled eggs. He had decided that today was the day he would post out a letter to his mother to let her know about the wedding. He was sure she would be delighted and want to plan the whole thing. Her and the Grangers are more than likely going to run the show unless Hermione manages to get them…
"Draco!" A voice hissed from over his shoulder.
Draco turned around and saw Hermione peering wearily around him. He grabbed her hand and pulled her in close.
"Yes?" He whispered back.
"I have to talk to you." Hermione said.
Draco screwed up his face and looked at her suspiciously.
"…Ok. Go ahead." He said, letting go of her hand and leaning away so as to look up at her face.
Hermione sighed in frustration and leaned in close again.
"Alone!" She hissed.
Draco tried to read her eyes for sign of what this could be about but gave up and lifted himself from his chair.
Hermione automatically began to walk away. Striding across down towards the end of the teachers table to make her way to the door. Draco hastily caught up and pulled her by the arm in the opposite direction and into the trophy room.
"Now. Speak." Draco said gruffly.
Hermione cast him a disgusted look as his curtness but nevertheless recalled her visit from Andromeda Lithben.
They stood in silence for what seemed like an eternity to Hermione before Draco suddenly turned slowly from her and began to look around at all the trophies in nervous silence.
"I didn't do that Hermione." He suddenly said as he fingered a golden chalice engraved for outstanding achievement in charms.
"Of course I know you didn't! She must have it wrong. The wrong Malfoy! Maybe your father killed her mother…"
Draco let out a grunt and flung the chalice back onto the pile and put his hands in his pockets and continued to look around deep in concentration. He stopped and leant against a bench top glinting with items.
"See I knew this would happen!" He suddenly shouted as he pushed off the bench and swung around to face Hermione, his face contorted with rage.
Hermione stood still staring back indignantly. "Don't start this again Draco." She muttered and folded her arms across her chest.
"Now you're in danger because of me! Because of who I am!"
"It's not who you are it's who she thinks you are! And you're acting as if I can't hold up for myself! I've been in danger before, I'm pretty sure you know that, so stop acting so darn gallant and treat me as an equal! You're not just my protector alright! You're my equal." Hermione yelled. She stood there breathless and angry. Hands curled in tight fists at her sides, eyes dark with fury.
Draco tried hard to continue to stare back incensed but struggled to maintain eye contact when Hermione was standing there flowing with determination. He lowered his gaze and stuffed his hands in his pockets as his anger subsided.
Hermione watched Draco struggle with defeat and slowly stepped forward, closing the gap between them. She lifted his face with her hands and forced his eye contact.
"I'm sick of going over this Draco." She said with certain softness yet still with conviction.
Draco nodded and brought a hand up to clasp hers.
"I-"
Draco suddenly caught site of a familiar medallion hanging around the neck of a suit of armour behind Hermione. He let go of her and pushed passed over to a small opaque pendant.
It took the shape of a tear drop and the crystal encased a ruby, set into the centre of the drop.
Draco lifted the medallion on its thick silver chain off the armour and fingered it curiously.
"What…" Hermione began wearily but Draco answered the question before she had time to ask it.
"I've only ever seen one of these before."
Hermione leaned in over his shoulder to look at the pendant more closely.
Draco handed the medallion to her for a closer look. Hermione spun it between her fingers. Turning it over and over. She noticed a small crack circling the drop round the centre. So small that it is hardly believable that anyone else would have seen it unless they knew it would be there.
She slowly twisted the two halves and got the shock of her life.
"… Where have you seen one of these before?" She stuttered.
Draco watched transfixed at the contents of the pendant.
"Last year at the Karkaroff estate."
Hermione looked up stunned and watched his Adam's apple bob as he gulped.
"It was hanging around the neck of Claribell Austen."
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A/N: Okay was it satisfactory?? I really hope so dears. I'm not vry incensed to finish this story even though at the same time I really do want to! So your suipport would be deeply appreciated. Thanks and remember to review!!
LB xx