Disclaimer: I own nothing here. JK Rowling owns everything other than the bad story line and a few characters. I am just playing with the story as i see fit. I hope you enjoy.
"Harry come on, you know we have to go to Snape's class, regardless if he likes us now or not he will still write us up," Hermione almost whined as Ron and Harry had cooked up some master scheme.
"Mione just use the Dopple Ganger spell for a few minutes. Ron and I have to go check on something real quick and then we will be right into class, my love. We might not even be late," Harry smiled at her and gave her a quick kiss as he darted off. Ron just shrugged and took off after Harry, leaving Hermione standing there in a huff.
"Both of them might as well say, 'We don't care about our education as long as we get to fight against opposing forces.' Honestly, Harry has been doing much better in his class, but he is still risking a lot. Snape will blow a gasket if they get caught out of class," Hermione huffed to herself mostly. What she neglected to notice was the platinum blonde boy that was walking next to her.
"Well, Ganger, looks like lover boy and King Weasley are out to find more trouble and we're left to make sure they don't get Snape in a fit. Hopefully they don't get caught up by Filch or one of the other Professors," Malfoy's draw was more playful than it had been the last time she had saw him. He seemed lighter hearted and less like the selfish prick that he had been.
"It would seem that way, Ferret Boy. You know you aren't so bad now that you have changed sides. Let's just hope for your safety you keep it that way. You know Harry or Ron would have no problem destroying you if it meant keeping their families safe," Hermione was just putting fair warning out there, not really meaning it as a threat.
"I know I was blind by my father's ideas. It seems nicer not thinking that I am better than everyone else. Granger I was wondering if you could possible help me get the others together to where they can hear me and maybe possible on my homework," Malfoy seemed almost like a little kid asking his parents for money.
"Yes I will help you out with getting the other to listen. It's not gonna be easy but I am sure they will agree to something. Now let's get to class," Hermione took off at a quicker pace when she noticed that it was only five minutes till class. She saw Harry and Ron coming back shaking their heads about something. "Whats wrong," Hermione asked.
"Dakota and Slone are taking off something about prison break in the States. I don't really know what they were going on about but looks like Moody and Dumbledore are doing the training tonight," Harry was shaking his head. All of them squeezed into their seats as they just as Snape closed the door.
"Today Class, we will begin brewing the Dreamless-Sleep Draught. While this is not a complicated potion it could make nightmare worse if the potion is not mixed properly. Miss Granger what ingredient would cause Nightmares to increase and possible worsen?" for once Snape seemed almost civil to Hermione.
"If you add to much Unicorn Blood it would cause the nightmares to worsen, also if you add even a drop too much of crushed Unicorn horn I will cause the drink to have Nightmares for the next week or so depending on how much more you added," Hermione sounded like she was reciting the book word for word.
"Very good, Ms Granger. I believe that merits 15 points to Gryffendor for that fine citation. Now you will be making the potion by yourself but will need a partner to test it out. I will leave you to choose your partner, you may begin," Snape's voice still head it's dryness in class but it wasn't filled with as much hate toward the Golden Trio.
Potions had went almost smoothly today, with the exceptions that Crabbe had manage to almost blow up his cauldron. If it wasn't for a hasty protection charm cast by Harry, Hermione, and Snape it might well have injured a few students. None the less, Harry and Hermione had both manage to make a potion with the correct coloration to match a perfect Dreamless-Sleep Draught. Ron's had turned out a shade lighter, while his partner Draco's had turned out almost the same as Harry's and Hermione's.
"Can I hang out with you guys," Draco asked timidly as they left to go onto their free period. Harry looked at Ron and just shrugged. None of the trio had really fought with Draco since he had changed sides. Actually he had began to grow on them since they had to train with him.
"Yeah, I mean honestly we don't have anything planned. We were just figuring on sitting outside and enjoying the last few warm days before winter sets in," Harry murmured as he walked up the stairs to the Great Hall. Today almost seemed like a summer day compared to the last few frigid days. While it was still Fall, it had began to drop below freezing and in some cases it seemed colder with the wind. It had stuck somewhere in the mid 50's today and the wind didn't seem to exist.
Hermione had taken her place by intertwining her left arm with Harry's right. Many of the students had decided that they needed to enjoy the last mildly warm day as the weather had called for tempatures to drop just barely above the freezing point. Cho Chang had even been seen among the crowd, but she didn't dare step a foot toward Harry or Hermione. Hermione sat with her back against her favorite reading tree while Harry plopped down laying his head in her lap. Malfoy and Ron both shrugged and sat down at a bench near by.
"Harry, I want to thank you," Draco piped up from his seat next to Ron. Ron looked apprehensive, while Harry just shrugged due to the fact that he was comfortable and didn't want to move. "I mean it, Potter. If you hadn't of listened to me when we came to Hogwarts, I don't know what I would be right now. I am truly sorry for all the mean thing I done through the years, it was just I had an image to up hold. I had to or else I would go home during break and Father would beat me, because no son of his was suppose to be nice to Muggle Borns. I just hope that you, guys, can look past that and treat me as maybe a friend some day," Malfoy shunned away at his last words.
"Malfoy, maybe one day but you still have to prove your worth as a friend. Allies for right now but, yeah, I would like to be friends some day. Hopefully once this war is over we can see through all the school rivalry, but for right now I need to focus on protecting the ones that I am closest to," Harry trailed off as a thought crossed his mind. Both Ron and Malfoy could see the couple trading metal thoughts but neither was brave enough to ask what it was. Harry all of a sudden popped up and began in a dead sprint in the direction of the stone circle.
"What the bloody hell is going on now, Hermione," Ron blurted out as he began to follow his friend, but stopped at the death glare from the Burnett. Neither Ron or Malfoy wanted to cross the young witch sitting at the base of the tree, but both wanted to know what Harry was rushing off for. "Are you going to at least give us a bloody clue," Ron asked heatedly
"Well, Harry needed to talk to Dumbledore about something. When he got premission he bolted to the Headmaster's office. That is all you need to know at current time," Hermione end that statement by putting her nose back into her book. None of them said very much after this, of course Hermione was still holding a mental conversation with Harry. By the look on her face something was definitely off about this talk. "Well I hope you boys are ready to go to Hogsmeade this weekend, because Dumbledore is gonna have a Halloween Ball for 4th through 7th year," Hermione sounded almost sore about the fact this was happening.
"Is that all Harry had to ask about," Ron huffed at the fact his best friend had run off to set up some dance. Hermione slammed the book into the dirt as her wand lite with a spell that was at the ready. She shoved Ron off the stone bench with more strength than he little body should have produced. Her wand jab at his throat and her fore arm pushing into his chest. Her eye's lite with a mystic blue light, as a small breeze had erupted from no where.
"Ronald Weasley, how dare you. Harry would never go just asking for some fucking Halloween Ball. He went asking about something we aren't even suppose to know about. Which for you information Dumbledore just asked Harry if he would mind setting up security for both events cause he feels the other need to take their minds of of this war. Do you remember what it was like not having to fight for you life every time you turn around. Don't you remember not having to look over your shoulder, worrying if the person next to you was going to be friendly or try and kill you. For us that can't happen not even because of Harry, but because we have chosen to stand up and fight. Ron some of these kids will be scared for life they need that night to take their minds off of it and relax a little," Hermione shoved off of her friend and began dusting off her pants. Harry was in a dead sprint a little more than a hundred yards from the sense that was about to worse.
"Stupify," Ron bellowed pointing his wand at Hermione as time froze. Everything stood still Hermione ducked and twisted just as the spell had reached where she had her back turned. Harry pointed his wand in between both of them throwing up a weak shielding spell, hoping that it would be enough. Luckily it was as Hermione's counter spell was sent whizzing into the dirt. He watched as Malfoy threw his body into Ron knocking him to the ground and Harry wrapped Hermione into a stron embrace.
"What the hell are you thinking, Weasley. She could have killed you if she very well wanted to," Malfoy's draw was showing his slightly irritation at the Red head. Ron struggled to break Malfoy's hold on his wand hand, while Hermione was doing the same with Harry. McGonagall was briskly walking down to the path to the sence.
"Let me fucking go, Harry. I will put him into his fucking place," Hermione almost screamed as she fought against the stronger arms of Harry. She knew deep down inside she was wrong for wanting to squash Ron like the bug he was, but that still didn't stop her from trying. Hermione's body was crying out with all of the energy she was using.
"Ms. Granger, watch your mouth. Now what started this whole thing, Pot... Mr. Malfoy. I know Potter was talking to me when we felt the whole thing begin," McGonagall stared both of the two struggling from the restraints. Neither seemed willing to stop anytime soon.
"Well you see, Professor, Ron said something about Harry. Hermione went off and defended her Boyfriend, by knocking Ron to the ground and throwing and shoving her wand in his neck. After Hermione finished her speech and got up Ron fired a spell at her back. Just about that time Harry made it here managing to knock her spell into the dirt, and now here we are," Malfoy struggled to get the words out as Ron was still fighting against him.
"I see. I will see both of you for detention later tonight. Both of you have until then to figure out some term of reconciliation, Good day Potter, Malfoy," McGonagall dismissed them both with a fair stern voice. Hermione had almost turned red in the face at the fact she had gotten a detention. Ron on the other hand had looked down at the ground.
"Herms, I'm sorry I got you in trouble, and all it's just something in me was telling me to fight back I don't know what it was," Ron was broken hearted at trying to hurt his best friend. He almost began to walk off when Hermione put her hand up.
"I understand, Ron. Every since the beginning of us being in this war, all of us have felt that way one time or another. I have felt hatred for anyone who hasn't had something or someone touched by this war. I feel as if I should take something from them. Ron it will be ok we will work through it and make ourselves better people," Hermione still seemed irritated but she wasn't going to let it tear them apart, "Your like a brother to me, and you always will be. Ron just watch little out breaks like that. If it wasn't for Harry, your lucky to be standing."
"Yeah, I know sis. Well I guess tonight McGonagall is gonna really rem our arses," Ron laughed at the idea. Hermione gave a small laugh and then went silent looking over the water. Her eyes had locked onto a small group of first years. They were laughing and running around. Some were shooting up sparks just for fun. Harry gently wrapping his arms around her giving a feble smile at the scence she was watching. He felt a warm tear land on his arm and then Hermione twisted to bury her face in his chest.
"Where do we go from here, love. Honestly, I don't think I could handle the fact that those kids could die. I couldn't live with myself if they die. Harry, I don't think I am strong enough for this war. What happens if you die, I couldn't live life without you," Hermione's thoughts choked just as her voice would have. Harry just patted the back of her head and held her tighter.
"Then you keep fighting. Mione, all you can do is keep fighting. If anything happens to me keeping fighting, not for me, for them. Hermione they are the whole reason I am still fighting, that and hope for maybe a half way normal life," Harry responded out loud and more for him to believe his own words. Ron and Draco had gotten use to the non-verbal to verbal conversations. Most of the time they toned them out but they picked up on this one simple because Harry had mentioned the war out side of a mission or a training session.
"You don't need to be worried about something happening to, Harry. Even if he get his skinny arse in some tight messes, we will always be there to have his back. No matter what, we will always be here for each other," Draco was the one who stepped up to the plate for once. Now Hermione did actually laugh for real. These words would have been normal for Ron to say, but from the newest member of the Order it was different.
"Draco is right even if I don't exactly like the ferret, yet. Hell I do have to admit that he does have a very charming aurora around him," Ron smirked and patted Draco a little rough on the back.
"Anyone know why Slone and Dakota left this morning," Draco asked thoughtfully, "I thought they were suppose to train us tonight. Not that I am complaining about having the always delightful, Mad-Eye Moody."
"They had a mission to get on with. Something about a couple of high value prisoners escaping and it has to do with Voldemort," Harry said and Hermione felt him almost tense up, "Hopefully, Mad-Eye don't get too creative and have a whole swarm of Death Eaters help us practice tonight. Hell I wouldn't be surprised if he don't have a dragon waiting on us."
"Yeah well got to be ready for everything. Well I guess we will find out when we walk through the door tonight," Ron was twisting his foot into the dirt, "Hopefully it ain't spiders. I guess I will just have to deal with it if it is."
The rest of the day passed with the friend joking about old times, then splitting up to go to class or spend a few hours in the library, reading on new spells. Dinner went by normal but Draco joining the Gryffendor's for their dinner. Noone really commented upon it since most of the school had heard of his bravery on the train ride home. Most of them figured that he would eventually be put into Gryffendor or one of the other houses. Although everything did change when Dumbledore had mentioned that there would be a Halloween Ball and that classes on Monday would be postponed due to the event. Ron and Hermione departed after dinner to go to their detention with McGonagall leaving Harry and Draco to roam the castle. Neither said much until they reached Harry's common room.
"Harry, can I ask you something? What was it like growing up for you," Draco asked for some reason that didn't quite catch Harry. Harry had never been asked how it was growing up in fact he never put much thought into it.
"It was terrible. My uncle beat me most of the time just because I was a freak in his book. My cousin teased me because I was different, and him and his friends beat me up constantly. My aunt wasn't that bad she forced me to do house chores and if I was bad she locked me in the under the stairs. I got hand me down clothes never got anything for my birthday or Christmas. Never got even a thank you and half the time I never got attention. Until I got to Hogwarts I never knew what friendship was or even love. I got to Hogwarts found out that Voldemort had basically made me famous and then I got thrown into a world I didn't know and I had to fight off the strongest dark wizard almost to date. That basically my life to this point," Harry gave a light chuckle, "Sometimes I wonder what life would have been like if I was normal. Then again I doubt I would have met Ron, Moine and the rest of my friends and what I consider family. I guess my life wasn't ever ment to be normal."
"I know what you mean. You know I was always jealous of you. You at school you always seemed to have a great time, you had friends that cared for you, and you were always famous. Hell it always seemed so easy for you to be yourself, you didn't have to hide who you were. My dad beat me just because I played with a couple of muggle kids on day. He killed my grandfather after an argument. I watched, I was 6 at the time and it terrified me. I was always afraid of my father which is why I always made trouble for Ron, Hermione, and you. I never had a choice in it, well I did but it wasn't much of one," Draco just stared down at his clasped hands. The room was deathly quite as Harry sat staring in the fire.
"Draco you don't have to fight, you know that. If you want you can be just a normal teenager, we will still protect you either way. I know what it is like to be terrified, but I don't really have a choice in fight or not," Harry finally zoned in on Draco and for once it wasn't a look of hate but more of a look of understanding looking back at him.
"And let you have all the fun, Potter. I wouldn't dare step back now. I have already sealed my fate with my father and the Dark Lord. Might as well send a couple of Death Eaters to the hell they belong in," Draco gave a smirk and Harry chuckled.
"Sounds like you two are getting along smoothly. I do say that even in your first year I seen a lot in common with both of you," Dumbledore merely waved off the two spells that had been shot his way by the surprised he had caused. He watched as both teens rolled their eyes, "Harry is right, Draco. You don't have to fight but I do understand what you mean about wanting to fight. Now I do say it is time to begin training and we must not be late unless we wish to anger Mad-Eye."
"Yeah I dare say that I wouldn't want to piss him off he might decide to test us on how well we can throw off the imperious curse. Who knows it might not be that bad," Harry sounded more like he was going to have to eat a handful of spiders. Nothing more was spoken all the way to the Room of Requirements. Harry saw McGonagall leading Ron and Hermione to the room and watched as they disappeared into the wall just as Dumbledore, Draco, and himself made it to the top of the stairs. When they entered the Room, Harry almost doubled over as Hermione wrapped him into a hug.
"Alright, Alright enough of the huggy huggy, kissy kissy. We have work to do and trust me tonight is gonna be a ball," Mad-Eye grin made all the teens cringe, "Harry you should be familiar with the first challenge. Let's begin."
"MAD-EYE IS FUCKING INSANE. HOW THE HELL ARE WE SUPPOSE TO FIGHT A GOD DAMN HUNGARIAN-HORN TAIL," Ron yelled over the roar of the fire erupting for the Dragon's mouth. A couple of blue streaks flashed at dragon only to cause it to get angrier. Harry and Hermione were stuck tight to a pillar just large enough to keep them from being burnt.
"Remind me to tell Mad-Eye to go fuck off after this. Honestly Ron is right we can't beat the Dragon with brute force. The soft spot is on the back of the neck and even there we will need three people to knock it unconscious. Hell I would be surprised if we can even get past it," Hermione's voice barely heard over the flames.
"Draco get ready to move over to our position," Harry sent the order over his mental link since it was easier they shouting. Harry looked like he was readying himself to run at the drang and they shot a protego spell in between the pillars that stood between Harry and Draco, creating a stable wall to protect Draco from the flames. Draco started into a dead sprint sliding in between Harry and Hermione just as the flames had finally breached the protective wall. Ron looked puzzled and then his eye's flashed with recognition. He nodded over to Harry and started sending any spell he could think of at the dragon causing it to draw it's attention in the other direction. "Alright let's move while we have the time of day, Luna, Neville, and Ginny also know what we are gonna do. We need to hurry we only have a little window of opportunity. Three reductos to the back of the neck should do it." Harry watched as Draco and Hermione took off and followed in the rear. He almost stopped at the first sight of the magnificent Dragon. He had to fight off ever urge he had to just gawk at the great Dragon. Then out of no where the dragon changed targets to Harry's group. "Shit, Reducto," Harry pointed his wand at the ceiling above the dragon and watched as three large chunks of stone landed on it's head. The Dragon stumbled for a few steps and then fell.
Ron looked puzzled and then shrugged, "Well, I guess it worked." Everyone just nodded and clapped at Harry's quick thinking.
"ALRIGHT, now I need everyone up front in a line. Let's see group one is Poter and Granger, group two is Weasley and Malfoy, and Group three is Lovegood, Ginny, and Longbottom. The task of this challenge is to work as a team to complete a mission, but you all have different task. Potter and Granger must take out Dumbledore and myself, while the rest of you work on taking out as many enemies without being caught. If you are found this training session will be restarted and we aren't leaving until we do it right so lets get a move on," Mad-Eye's last words caused the room to change into what seemed to be the outside of a large manor. They all crouched down and began looking around.
"Harry there is two enemies over by the shed Draco and me will take them out while the rest of you guys move inside. Give us about ten minutes before moving also look for an alterative entrance cause I think there will be packed in the front room. Be careful," Ron nodded his head and him and Draco departed from the group.
Harry tracked them and motioned for the group to move once he seen they were in position to take out both targets. Harry and the others stuck close to the wood line and began to circle around the house looking for some other way in. Finally, Harry saw were the porche dipped down enough for Harry and the other to get on it. "Ok the roof of the porch dips enough for us to get up there and gain entrance from an open window on the second story. Let's move quick guys," Harry send to the whole team over a mental link that he had created for them.
Ginny was leading the group holding her wand at the ready just in case she had to neutralize a target quickly. Neville was bringing up the rear just in case someone slipped behind them. Ron and Draco had already found the spot and were waiting for the rest of the team, hiding behind some bushes. Harry noticed that the back door was almost wide open, and felt an almost sinking feeling. "Accio cloaks," Harry pointed his wand at the area around the back door. Instantaneously two figures appeared from nowhere, and they crumpled as two stunners struck them where they stood. Harry grab both of the cloaks and smiled, "This changes things, guys. Aperro Invisibility cloak," Harry felt a slight strain as he summoned his invisibility cloak. "Alright let's use these to sneak in. Mione and myself will still use the porch roof and begin searching for Dumbledore and Moody. You guys use the back door and begin looking for the others and move the bodies somewhere so they don't see them," Harry smiled at Mione as they both threw the cloak over them and had Draco and Ron levitate them up to the roof.
Harry gripped his wand in his right hand and motioned for Hermione to look behind them. Harry strained to try and map out the area. He knew it was an advanced form of magic but did feel that he was able to do it. He was amazed when he could see through the walls and even see where the different people under invisibility cloaks were sitting. Harry noticed that Mad-Eye and Dumbledore were both sitting in the same room one sitting by the far wall facing the door and the other was sitting in the opposite corner both of them facing the door. Hermione gave a nod to the idea he didn't even have to assemble. Everything seemed perfect until Ron sent him a thought, "Harry, enemies are flooding to your location for some reason. If your gonna take out the main targets do it quick." This meant everything had to be perfect and they had to move fast. Hermione gave a swift nod and the both began moving to the open window of Dumbledore and Alastor.
Both of the men still faced the door but this time they both had their wands out and pointed at it as if waiting for it to open. Now Hermione and Harry were within breathing distance of their targets. Hermione pointed her wand at the door and imagened it opening as it did both Moody and Dumbledore fired duel stunners at the space where two people could have been, only to fall to the floor as two stunners struck them down from behind instantly. Now Hermione closed the door quietly. "Leo and Bookworm are done move to extraction. Repeat Leo and Bookworm have taken out high value targets move for extraction," Harry thought just and Hermione and him exited out the window.
Just as they jumped down they heard the door be blown of the hinges. Harry grab Hermione's arm and began in a dead sprint toward the save zone. He saw Ginny, Neville, and Luna were already there. Then he bumped into someone else who was in a dead sprint for the safe zone. He felt his feet step on air and his body kept moving forward. He tucked himself into a roll, wrapping Hermione in the comfort of his strong arms. Good thing for them it ended up being Ron and Draco they had tripped over and also that both teams had ended up in the safe zone.
Harry heard someone start laughing and heard clapping coming from the house as the room then shifted back into the form it was used for DA meeting. Dumbledore was standing in his normal tall straight form. Harry saw the twinkle in his eyes and the silly grin that stretched ear to ear. Mad-Eye on the other hand looked the same old same old, maybe a little more disappointed that he had been beaten. "Good move, Granger. Never expected the window would have been used or that you would have used the door opening as a diversion. Well I guess y'all are tired and worn out by now. Off to bed all of you, just remember one thing, Constant Vigilance," Moody barked.
Everyone left other than Harry or Hermione since they both had been stopped by a hand from Dumbledore. "Would you mind coming with me to my office real quick. I would like to speak with both of you," Dumbledore was very lighthearted tonight and it showed through in his voice. Harry just shrugged and grab Hermione's hand. They both followed the winding path they had to take due to the stairs constantly moving tonight. After finally making it to the Headmaster's office both of them plopped down into a single chair Hermione using Harry's lap as a seat. Many previous Headmasters and Headmistresses let out screeches of horror at the blatant disregard for rules.
"I would have you know, Albus. This would have never been condoned in my time. I would have had both of them hanging from their toes in the Dungeons. I still believe that the school skirts are too short as some of them go above the knees. Albus Dumbledore, you had best listen to me," One witch almost screamed from her portrait. Harry just sat there while Hermione with a small wave of her hand silenced the offending painting.
Dumbledore crooked an eye brow, "My how my Grandson has corrupted that girl. I remember she would never have broken a single rule in her first year, and now I doubt there isn't a rule that she hasn't broken yet." "Now what I have called you hear for is to talk to you about something that happened earlier today. As you are aware by now Dakota and Slone have both left the school in pursuit of some American Prisoners who Voldemort help escape. I don't think this will interfere with our Christmas plans seeing as Dakota promised me we would have some way to go to her parents. I do believe that it might have an effect on both Dakota and Slone as they will probably both become a little more on edge. Just watch them when they come back to us and make sure everything goes smoothly if you will," Dumbledore looked at both their tired faces. Harry looked almost pale but that was due to the extremities of the protective wall he had created for Draco. Hermione didn't look as bad but she still looked like a good rest would help greatly.
"Alright Grandfather, we will do that," Harry looked at Hermione and they both got up and left. Neither saying a word not even as they undressed and fell into their bed. Harry was asleep the second his head touched the pillow. Hermione was fast behind as she snuggled into his arms.