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Disclaimer: see chapter eleven
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"Harry, seen Hermione anywhere?" Ron dropped down beside Harry who was still reading in his corner.
The only reply was a half-hearted grunt.
"Harry?" Ron waved his hand. "Harry." He pulled the book from Harry's hand and hit him over the head.
"Ouch!" Harry put his arms up, defending against anymore blows. "What was that for?"
"I was asking if you know where Hermione is."
"Oh," Harry hesitated for no more than a second before quickly answering: "No."
Ron seemed to not have noticed the hesitation, though Harry swore he saw a flicker of suspicion cross his friend's face.
"Hey Ron?" Harry called out as the redhead was about to leave, "If you find Hermione, can you tell her there's something I really need to talk to her about?"
"Umm, sure," Ron answered quietly. He turned to leave, feeling put out.
--
"You tell me to get the cloak and stand in a corner, to eavesdrop no less, and how did that help?" Hermione vented as she struggled to keep up with Draco's hurried pace. "Draco? Malfoy, are you listening to me?"
He remained silent as he determinedly stalked towards Dumbledore's office.
"Where are you going?" Hermione began, but was cut off by someone shouting her own name.
Ron was coming towards her, called for her to wait.
"Oh, bother," she sighed. "We'll talk about this later, Draco Malfoy, you hear me?"
Without so much as a nod acknowledging her, he disappeared around the corner.
"Hey, where have you been?" Ron asked upon reaching Hermione.
"Library." And it was the truth. Hermione rarely lied, only occasionally omitting certain facts. All in all, what is truth but a convenient arrangement of facts?
Ron gave her a look clearly stating she spent too much time surrounding herself with the bound pages of writings. "Harry said he needed to talk to you. Something important."
"And he sent you like a messenger pigeon?" Hermione questioned.
He shifted uncomfortably, unable to bring himself to state his true intentions. "Uh, sure, I had nothing else to do." He turned quickly and walked away.
Hermione continued to look thoughtfully at Ron before shrugging and following him back to the common room.
--
That night at dinner Hermione only pushed the food around her plate with a fork. The hurt looks from Ron and Harry's words played in her mind.
"It doesn't feel right keeping this from him. I mean sure we told him I have a sister, but the rest is all a lie nonetheless." Harry sighed, "And what am I supposed to say when he finally asks why you hang out with Malfoy so much? Then again, I'm wondering that myself."
Hermione waved off his pointed look demanding an answer. "What about that note you found? We can trust Draco, so don't start on about how it's a trap."
"How do you know, Hermione? How do you know you can trust him?
How could she tell him that Draco was the only person she could confide in as of late? It wasn't like she was revealing her 'deep dark secrets', but Harry and Ron would never understand.
Around her everyone was chatting merrily, enjoying their food. Neville laughed at something Dean said, and a burst of giggles came from Lavender at the other end of the table. Ginny and Harry were chatting quietly, unaware of anyone around them, their fingers intertwined under the table.
Hermione continued to push the food around, staring at everything around her and nothing at all.
She couldn't explain it, but she just knew Draco was trustworthy. No doubts. Hermione didn't sound convincing to herself so she how could she possibly expect Harry to agree?
"It's just that," Hermione sat down, "I'm scared, Harry, and confused. Dumbledore won't tell us anything and I'm not even sure he knows what's really going on. He can't know every little secret people hide from him."
He draped an arm around her shoulders. "We'll figure it out, and if Ron knows he won't be in any more danger than he already is. Both of you are on Voldemort's "Must Kill" list just by being my friends. Even before you met me: Ron because he's a 'blood-traitor' and you because you're a 'Mudblood'." Harry spat out the words in disgust.
"But can he keep his mouth shut!" Hermione cried out. The sudden burst of energy left her and she curled into a small ball, "I don't know, Harry, I just don't know."
"Just have a little faith; it'll be okay in the end."
The food disappeared and the golden plates were once more spotless. Everyone stood and flooded out to their respective dorms, still chatting though slightly slurred as the weary crowds strained to climb the stairs.
Hermione walked a step behind Harry and Ron, the trio engulfed in a thick silence. They were the last to reach the Gryffindor tower, and once in, they noticed everyone else had already gone to bed. Just as Ron and Harry were about to go up the stairs, Hermione called out: "Wait."
She moved to sit on the couch and the boys joined her. "Ron, there's something I need to tell you." Harry perked up, glancing towards Hermione as if not believing his ears. Ron's gaze flickered uncomfortably from one friend to the other. "I can't keep lying… I have to tell you the truth."
"Just have a little faith; it'll be okay in the end."