Author's note: Draco's scene was collaborated with Coconut Girl. Thanks for helping me write Draco as more an evil git! And Hermione as the headstrong girl that she is! More notes at the end...enjoy!
Chapter 11: Only An
Interlude...But Maybe More!
Hermione was walking back from the library toward the Gryffindor common room when Draco appeared at her side.
Grabbing her elbow, he said, "Granger, we need to talk."
"I'm rather busy at the moment Malfoy," she said with disgust as she pulled her arm from his grasp.
"What? You don't have time for your Head Boy?" He smiled flirtatiously.
"You may be Head Boy Draco, but you are definitely not my head boy."
"That's only because you haven't tasted what I have to offer."
"Shut it, Malfoy. What do you want?"
"Granger, a woman with your many attributes can do so much better than hanging around those two dickheads." he said as he looked her up and down appraisingly.
"Draco, do you like your nose?"
"Yes, why?"
"Well, it's about to become quite a bit larger if you don't get it out of my business."
He automatically reached up and touched his nose protectively, then brought his hand back to his side.
"I'm only going to ask you this one more time," she continued on. "What do you want?"
He sobered. "I really need to talk to you."
"So talk," she said.
"Not here. Somewhere a little less public."
"Oh, please. For the last time Malfoy, I am not going to snog with you. When are you going to get it…"
He grabbed her arm roughly, and began to pull her down the hallway.
"What are you doing?"
"There's an empty Charm's classroom?"
"Let go of me!"
He ignored her protests, and pulled her into the deserted room shutting the door behind them.
Once inside, they stood and stared at each other for a long moment. Finally she turned away, and warded the door.
"Now what is so important that it couldn't wait until…" she said turning back to him.
He decided to get straight to the point.
"How much do you know about my locket." He said lifting a dainty silver chain around his neck and holding out the locket for Hermione to view. She recognized it as the fake one.
"It's a lovely locket, Draco, I never would have taken you for the sentimental type. It seems quite old. An heirloom?" She snickered.
Draco rolled his eyes. "Cut the crap, Granger. I know you've been working with Snape. And I'm not sure if this is the same one I brought to Hogwarts this year with me."
"What makes you…I mean, what are you talking about?"
"I know, Hermione." He said abruptly. "I know you took it. I never would have an evaporato on something…something my mother would have given me. I thought I did, but Dumbledore let me use his pensieve to make sure."
Hermione knew she had been caught but wasn't sure what to say. Say nothing, her inner voice told her. Let him talk.
"You knew I needed it, didn't you?"
"I haven't the foggiest of what you are referring to. "
"Look, stop trying…I…I need to know."
"What makes you think I would tell you anything? We haven't exactly been friends, and you know I don't trust you."
Draco sighed. "I know I've been a prat to you. Calling you names in front of my friends, flirting with you in our dorms, but damn! You are hot! But I'm not stupid. You hang around the boy-who-lives-to-annoy me and his sidekick, and I need…I need help. But I'm not going to one of them, and Snape…I'm not too sure about him."
Hermione carefully contemplated his words. And his actions. She believed him, but she couldn't trust him yet. She sighed. "Let's just assume I know what this is about. What do you need help with?"
"I've been given an order." He supplied darkly.
Ron was wandering the halls getting ready for his patrol later that night. As he passed the library he paused. Likely Hermione is in there, he thought. He was still angry with her, she had no right keeping things from him and Harry! But what if she was telling the truth? He shook his head. The girl was on his mind more and more these days, and he really didn't understand why when he knew he cared about Maria. Earlier he had received another owl from her.
Dear Ron,
Of course I want to still meet with you…and Harry, too. But you're right, I believe it would be best if we wait until after things have settled before I reveal myself to you. These are dangerous times, after all. How I wish circumstances were different! Right now I find myself curled up with my cat, a fire is set nearby and tomorrow we're expecting the first snow. The two of you probably wouldn't get along, he's quite protective of me and hardly likes anyone else. Well, I must finish this hasty letter. I have patrol to do and my partner is hardly the patient one.
Yours,
Maria
Ron sighed but his thoughts were broken by a classroom door opening. Hiding in the shadows, he watched to see who was coming out. If it was a Professor, he didn't want to have to greet them!
A frown appeared on his freckled face as Draco Malfoy quietly slipped out. No doubt snogging some girl, he thought as Draco disappeared around a far corner. Or…The blood drained from his face as he saw none other than Hermione Granger walk out of the same classroom.
The next morning Ron sat at the Hufflepuff table for breakfast. He was talking with Susan Bones, who he had gotten to know better at the Halloween Dance. She was really a sweet girl, and Ron had been confiding with her as she had with him. She had a boyfriend who she'd known since before Hogwarts, and the distant relationship was difficult.
In turn, he told her what he could about Maria (she remembered the pen-pal program Dumbledore set up in first year, but hadn't written with hers since fourth year during the craziness of the TriWizard cup), and his feelings for Hermione.
"I wouldn't worry about it, Ron."
"Why wouldn't I? He's an evil git, no matter if he is Head Boy, and well, you know what kind of reputation he has!"
"Ron," Susan sighed, "She's Head Girl. Maybe something urgent came up.
"Yeah…that's bloody likely." Ron said sarcastically. Wait! The locket! But she would have told me and Harry, right?
He turned around to look over at the Gryffindor table but stopped when he saw Harry and Hermione entering the Great Hall. They seemed to be whispering about something serious.
Just as Ron turned back to continue talking with Susan, Hermione spotted him. Her face turned red.
Harry, noticing the upset look on his friends face, turned to see what she was looking at. He scratched his head. What was Ron doing talking with Susan Bones? He'd never seen Ron talking with her before. Hermione grabbed his arm and stalked to the Gryffindor table where they joined Ginny.
"You're never this late." Ginny teased Hermione.
"Sorry about that. Harry and I were going over some notes."
Ginny frowned. She only knew some about the locket, and wondered if that was what they were really discussing. But she couldn't say anything with the gossip queen sitting nearby, or any of the Gryffindors for that matter. She was just glad Lavender didn't notice Ron, for likely the girl would have said something crass. Thank goodness she's still upset with Parvarti for going out with Neville, Ginny thought.
Just then a swarm of owls came through, bringing the Daily Prophet and letters sent to students. Ginny received one from her mum, which she opened to read once she arrived at her first class.
Ginny,
You're father and I are very happy that your friend can join us for the holidays. You have said many wonderful things about her in your letters (Head Girl, you said?), and the twins told me last month how she outwitted them on a prank they tried to pull on her. Hopefully she can help me keep them in order so that we can have a nice, quiet dinner without their disruptions.
Your father is especially elated since she comes from a muggle family. In fact, he insists that he pick her up himself in that horrid old automobile of his. He's been working on it non-stop to make sure that it will run like a muggle car. And don't think I don't know about the many times he's used it before!
The twins seem to think Ron fancies this girl, does he? I don't like keeping secrets from my own son, but I trust that you mean her visiting is a pleasant surprise, and not a joke of your own. And you say she's also a good friend to Harry, and that makes it well worth the effort. In fact, I'm going to knit her a you-know-what! Her name is Hermione, right? And I need to know what color, so let me know in your next owl. I'll be sending a letter to her parents, Dumbledore was kind enough to send me their owling address.
Love,
Mum and Dad
Ginny wrote a quick note back, which she planned to send later that day.
Dear Mum,
Hermione is correct, and her eyes are brown. So is her hair. I personally think she looks good in red, perhaps Maroon like Ron's sweaters? Joking, mum…just don't make it pink or blue. Green would look good, but that's Slytherin colors, as you probably remember. Maybe gold with a maroon letter? Yes! See you at the station!
Love,
Ginny
Later that day Hermione had the chance to talk more with Harry. She'd only been able to tell him the minor details earlier as too many students were nearby, just that Draco had talked with her and told her his task.
The night before…
"And this task…what is it?" Hermione had asked Draco, her curiosity coming before her common sense.
"They want me to obtain a vial a blood taken from a mu…muggle-born witch or wizard." He answered.
Hermione pause and then took out her wand. Draco thought she was going to hex him and gripped his own wand in his pocket. She went over to the blackboard and took pointed her wand at a piece of chalk as Draco released his grip and relaxed. She was going to do it for him, but then changed her mind. She withdrew her wand and slipped it back up her sleeve.
"It doesn't have to be you." He said quietly.
"Nor can I do it for you." She paused. "Unless you're willing to tell me more."
He shrugged. "I don't know why."
She turned to look him in the eye. "No, I don't suppose you do. Perhaps we should take this to the Headmaster?" She eyed him carefully.
"I don't…not yet, okay? Look, I know…I know this might be difficult for you to understand, unless you do know something about it." He said softly, looking at her.
"I'll give you three days, Malfoy. Then perhaps you will be able to tell me more."
He nodded. "You should leave first." He told her.
Hermione waited as she finished telling Harry what Draco had said.
"We'll need to tell Dumbledore anyway." He said. "The Order…they know he's supposed to do something. They want us to help. They think his first task will be a test, nothing more."
Hermione nodded. "I should talk to Snape. He must know something, or tell us if it's safe to give him what he wants."
Harry agreed. "I don't think it should be you." He said after thinking things over.
Hermione shivered. She had almost done it in her eagerness to move things along. "No, you're right. It won't be my blood. But whose?"
A silence fell upon them as they realized that the seemingly simple task was proving to be more dangerous than first expected. Perhaps Voldemort was ready to start things after all. While it meant he believed in the locket's power, it left the two feeling more unsettled.
Sorry if this chapter seems short…I wrote it after I wrote the entire next one, which is definitely longer than any other chapter I've written in this story (and may be broken into two parts). It will be posted soon…and there will be a vote needed with your reviews! Thanks once again to all my reviewers!
