Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the Harry Potter characters, only any original characters that I create.

A/N: I took down the author's note from before so that the chapters are in their correct numbers.

Searching for the Truth

Hermione stared at the paper, horror clearly shown across her face. "Prepare yourself and remember what. You are supposed to do. It is almost time." A letter like that from Draco's father must be Death Eater orders. She gulped hard as she thought about it. Looking up from the parchment she saw her friends reactions; Ron had stumbled back a bit from the parchment in her hand, and Harry had a consecrated and calculation look strewn across his face.

"What exactly do you think that git is supposed to do?" Harry asked thoughts displayed on his face. "You, you don't think they'd do anything to anyone at school do you? I mean with Dumbldore here and everything..." Ron stuttered in reply. Hermione's mind was thinking furiously: What was the letter about? What Was Draco suppose to do? Would Draco do it? Did it, could it involve her? How could she keep Her two best friends from tearing apart Draco? What would Draco do to them if he found out they had found the letter? Her thoughts were interrupted by Harry's voice, "Hermione, Hermione are you listening?" Hermione looked up from the paper her blank eyes had been staring at, both their faces were full with worry and concern; she relieved immediately they thought she was in grave danger. "You can't stay in your room anymore Hermione, it's not safe. He could always be waiting just outside your door. And knowing the Death Eaters this plan, whatever it is, will have something to do with hurting those who arn't pure bloods. You know you'd be Draco's first target!"

Hermione's heart lurched at the realization that she really could be in danger, but surly he wouldn't do anything to hurt her; would he? Didn't they both love one another? She finally managed to spurt out an excuse not to leave the Head dorms, "But if I'm not there he'll become suspicious Harry. If, If we pretend that we have no idea what's going on; it'll give us time to find out what he's got planned, and get some real proof to show everyone. Dumbledore would believe this letter; but his father could twist it to be just a note from him to his son telling Draco to prepare for finals. We have to be very careful about how we go about this."

Ron proceeded to say a few choice words about the Malfoy's which Hermione simply choose to ignore rather than chew him out for. It gave her a few seconds to decide what to do. "Listen guys, we, we need to pretend like we never found the letter; we've got to keep Draco from becoming suspicious. I'll watch him tonight, and see if he does anything suspicious. Maybe I can find some proof in his room while he's not there. I need you guys to promise me you won't do anything rash." After much grumbling and expressing concerns they consented, "alright Hermione; but just be careful." Harry said for the sixteenth time. They continued to discus plans and thoughts for several more minutes until Ron realized his potions essay that was due tomorrow wasn't even halfway finished; or for that matter started. As they said their goodbyes Hermione added, "Don't worry about me guys, Dumbledore would never allow anything to happen to any of us, especially at school," As much to reassure them as herself.

As she walked back towards the shared common room her heart was aching, mind burning with questions and heart rate increasing every few feet. As she spoke to password to enter she was sure that her poor heart was about to laps into failure. Her breath calmed slightly as she saw Draco was not in the common room; in fact he was nowhere to be seen. His books and backpack had been thrown onto the couch, so he had clearly come back. He must have left while Hermione was talking with Ron and Harry. She walked slowly towards his things on the couch, wondering where he had wondered to, and how long he would be gone. She carefully sifted through his belongings looking for some clue; she felt as though she was betraying Draco somehow, but her mind wouldn't let it be.

Finding nothing in his bag she walked slowly up the stairs to his room. The door had been left open a crack, so she easily pushed it open a bit more to slide inside. A quick glance about his room revealed nothing; it looked much like hers with only a few small differences, such as his mirror being on the opposite side of the room, and the desk where the mirror should be. She took a few cautious steps towards the desk; perhaps he Draco had left some clue upon it?

Shaking her head she turned away from the desk, he'd left no evidence of any plans in or upon it. Walking across the room Hermione headed towards his closet, her hand began to turn the door when she heard voices in the common room.

"So the letters come?" Said a gruff voice she could only assume was another Slytherin Death Eater.
"Yes, let me grab it; I must have left it in my bag." Draco's voice sounded dangerous, and yet it seemed to be covering an underlying fear. There was some rummaging and then he spoke again, "It's not here, oh well it doesn't matter there was nothing important on it."
"Are you sure that mudblood didn't find it?" The first voice said with deep loathing. Hermione's heart stopped as she waited for Draco's reply.
There was a pause then he finaly spoke, "What would that thing be doing going through my stuff? Even if she had found it somehow she wouldn't have a clue what it means, for all her grades she hasn't really got the brains to figure it out. Anyways does it even look like she's here? Lets go find somewhere else to talk incase she does comeback."

Hermione heard the portrait slide back into place as the two of them left. She sunk down onto the floor, a tear streaming down her cheek. Had Draco really meant what he said? He hadn't known she was there, he could have thought he was speaking with out her ever hearing it. Or had his comments been like the other things they'd been forced to say to each other throughout the year to keep up the farce of still loathing each other? Should she just as Draco what this was all about? Hadn't he told her he was a Death Eater, why wouldn't he tell her this too? Getting up from the floor she wiped her face dry of the tears, walked into the common room closing Draco's door behind her so it was approximately where it had been when she had snuck in. With a new determination she walked towards the portrait door and stepped out, she paused to listen in which direction the sound of walking was going; then quickly and quietly as she could she began to follow.

A/n: Again thank you to all my reviewers, your comments really are a wonderful help!