Chapter 11
Hermione POV:
I knew Draco would insist on talking after I told him I knew. I hadn't thought it through before saying it but as he said 'we need to talk' I realised it had been the only way go about it. I needed him to come to me to talk rather than me approach him, this was the only way I could get his attention and him on his own. The only problem now was I didn't know what to say. I stayed silent as Draco led me somewhere more private.
'What do you know?' Draco asked, his voice quiet but insistent. He seemed paranoid, looking around every-so-often to make sure no one was around. His paranoia rubbed off on me and I looked around before answering.
'You've been ordered to kill Dumbledore' saying it aloud felt wrong. As if it made it more real. I knew that was because Draco's reaction would prove me right or wrong. I silently hoped to be proven wrong but Draco proved me right. His expression barely changed but he couldn't stop his eyes widening in shock.
He stared at me for a moment in silence. I was unsure whether I should say anything else so I waited for him to speak. Eventually he hissed 'How the hell do you know that?'
'I'm not stupid Draco' I replied. 'The things you told me, it's like you wanted me to work it out. "Dumbledore isn't a problem for Voldemort" it's obvious. He wants Dumbledore killed from the inside and that's you'
'You can't do anything, Hermione. You better be listening you can't do anything' Draco told me. 'I know you want to, you want to stop it, play the hero, save everyone but you can't. I have to do this. You can't get me out of it. I've been telling you this all along, but now you know you really have to listen. When the war comes, and it will come soon, you, Potter and Weasley may be able to fight against Voldemort but the chances are you'll get yourself killed in the process, but that's just who you are. I'm not. I'm on the other side, I have to do this.'
'No' I said.
Draco looked like he could screamed. 'Hermione! You're smart, I thought you'd understand how big this is.'
'I do. I know I can't get you out of it on my own'
'No. You can't tell anyone. You'll get my thrown in Azkaban and my family killed' Draco replied instantly.
'Dumbledore will be able to help' I insisted.
'How naïve can you get? Draco's voice had the effect of screaming despite the fact that he kept the same volume. 'I thought you'd get it, because you're friends with the amazing Harry Potter, I thought you'd realise how serious this is. You can't help me, Dumbledore can't help me, no one can help me. Voldemort's already got me and nothing can get me out of that'
'Does Snape know?' I asked. 'He took out the Unbreakable Vow, surely he must know? But Dumbledore trusts him, is he betraying Dumbledore?'
'Yes he knows. He seems to think I need help, he's willing to carry out the task instead of me' Draco replied. 'He doesn't understand that I have to do this. It has to be me. Now stay out of it'
'You can't seriously expect me to. Dumbledore is the one thing that makes everyone feel save at this school. Without him the school would fall apart, that was proven last year. If he was dead, no one would have anywhere safe. Dumbledore means too much to too many people for you to just be able to kill him. Now I'm going to save Dumbledore no matter what it takes and you can't stop me'
'Are you trying to get yourself killed?' asked Draco.
'I'm trying to save this school, whatever it takes' I replied and walked away.
HGDM
I headed straight to Professor McGonagall's office without really thinking about it. Or rather without thinking of anything else. I walked in without knocking and stopped at her desk.
'Miss Granger?' she said, somewhat shocked. 'Can I help you?'
'I need to see Professor Dumbledore' I replied. 'It's important'
'I'm afraid Professor Dumbledore isn't available right now' McGonagall said. 'Why do you need to see him'
I know it's stupid, but I found myself being wary of Professor McGonagall. Dumbledore trusted Snape and Snape was betraying him who else was? I shook that thought away, it was stupid. This was McGonagall, she would never betray Dumbledore. 'His life is in danger'
'Miss Granger I can assure you that Professor Dumbledore is perfectly safe' said McGonagall.
'At the moment maybe but he's going to be killed.' I insisted. 'Voldemort has ordered Draco Malfoy to kill Dumbledore…'
'Miss Granger…'
'You have to believe me. I'm telling you truth. Draco confirmed it' I continued. 'Something needs to be done. Snape's in on it too, he took out the Unbreakable Vow to help Draco.'
'Hermione' Professor McGonagall raised her raise slightly to get me to listen. 'There's nothing you can do, you need to stay out of this. There's so much you don't know'
'Everyone is telling me to stay out of it. Like everyone wants me to just sit by and let Dumbledore be killed. That can't happen, we need him'
'There's so much you don't know' McGonagall repeated. 'You may be used to major trouble, but this time you need to just leave it. Professor Dumbledore knows what he is doing, you need to trust us and just leave it. We've been dealing with this sort of thing a lot longer than you have'
'But what about Draco?' I asked. 'He doesn't want to do this, he's terrified, but he feels like it's the only option he's got. Someone needs to help him get out of this'
'Again, you're just going to have to trust us'
'But…' McGonagall raised her hand to stop me. I sighed. 'I can't believe everyone expects me to just sit by and do nothing. Can't I at least talk to Dumbledore?'
'You could, but he's not here at the moment'
'What?' I shrieked without meaning to. 'Dumbledore's left the castle?' I thought about it, of course, Harry had gone with him. I'd been so wrapped up in Draco and everything that I barely noticed that happening.
'Don't tell anyone that' McGonagall said. 'It's not to become common knowledge.'
I nodded in agreement. 'Fine. I'll leave it, for now.'
A/N: Please R&R sorry this chapters not exactly great come the end, I wasn't sure how to end it xD. And sorry it's been so long since I updated, I keep doing that :\.
