Draco waited as Angela showered thinking to himself. It had been a day since he had seen Hermione and wondered where the hell she was. He did not like that Caelin fella and hated the way he looked at her. Draco knew that something had been off with Hermione but he didn't realize it was this serious. He needed to get the locket and find a way to contact Hermione soon before it was too late. He had barely gotten to know her and she was already gone. He'd be damned if that was the last time he'd see her. It was time to do some research.
Without a word to Angela he walked out of the room towards the library. He stormed passed the paintings who muttered to themselves probably about how he shouldn't be allowed in the castle but screw them. He didn't have time to fight a bunch of moving oil smudges. When he got to the restricted section he was glad to find only one person in there.
"Professor Snape, what are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question Draco."
"Research, with Hermione." He said quickly.
"And, how are you and Miss Granger getting on then?"
"Fine, I mean she's still Granger, you know."
Professor Snape eyed him carefully.
"Very well, I will be on my way then. And Draco?"
"Yes Professor?"
" Be careful with whatever it is that you are doing. The Dark Lord does not take kindly to...traitors."
Professor Snape left Draco without a backwards glance. With everything that had been happening with Hermione, Draco forgot that he was a good for nothing blood traitor. He forgot that the most powerful dark wizard of all time was after him. He shuddered at the thought of Voldemort. He pushed the image of Voldemort killing him and his entire family out of his head and focused on the problem at hand, helping Hermione.
He found a book about how to break spells and hoped to Merlin that it could help him. It would be too risky going through the book Hermione had in her room about Reincarnation, Angela would become suspicious. At least he could pawn this off as genuine research. He checked the book out and ran back to his room. Luckily, Angela was still in the bathroom, hopefully she hadn't noticed his absence. He skimmed through the index of the book until he found Spell Breakers
what he needed and that's when he saw it.
Most reincarnation spells are irreversible however there are some exceptions. Some may be stopped by destroying the life source of the person while others may be stopped by destroying the object of the person's affection.
Draco's heart thudded in his chest as if it were begging to come out. If they couldn't find a way to destroy the locket, the only other way to save Hermione would be for him to die.
Hermione watched Caelin from across the room. He wanted her to stay. He needed her. It all didn't make sense to her. She felt something deep for Caelin but she wasn't sure if it was enough to keep her there. Draco was in a danger and she couldn't just leave him alone. She was all he had left.
"Hermione, I'm sorry," Caelin said slowly. "That was selfish of me."
"I'd be lying if I said I knew what I wanted right now Caelin."
She watched his face fall and instantly regretted her words but they were the truth. She didn't know what she wanted.
"You have to understand Hermione. Besides Angela, I have never met anyone like you. You must forgive me for being so, rash with you."
"It's okay Caelin, but I think I need some time alone."
Without another word she rushed out of the cave and on to the beach. She didn't know where her legs were taking her but she ran as fast as she could. She stopped when she came to the edge of the forest. It was strange how this world worked but it was mysteriously beautiful all the same. She slowly stepped into the dense wood and followed a faint trail on the ground. The woods smelled like pine and she heard birds chirping in the trees. It was nothing like the forbidden forest, dark and eerie. There was something peaceful and magical about this wood.
She walked over a few branches and could hear a nearby stream running. She strained her ears to listen and followed the sound of the running water that led to a small pool in the break of the woods. She walked to edge of the glistening spring and could see sparking fish glowing underneath. There was a large deer drinking happily on the other side of the pool who took no interest in her at all. Hermione wondered how all of this was possible. This was a middle world for the dead who were not actually dead. She remembered what Caelin had said about refusing to be homeless and the world giving him a home. She racked her brain for something to click and then it hit her. This world was almost like the Room of Requirements. If you found a way to connect with it, it would give you what you wanted.
Her mind raced to Draco, his platinum hair and smoldering eyes. She looked in the waters and saw his face as if he were only just beneath the surface of the water. Her hand gingerly crept over his glistening face.
"Draco,"
Her hand touched the image of his face and the water rippled, sending the image away.
"I'm coming."
