A/N: Hello everyone! Thanks for accompanying my story all this time. I just want to wish a Happy New Year for all of you.
Chapter XIX
Nott was unfortunately right.The following week was replete with stories about why I moved out. And people have really crazy minds. So we have from me cheating with a Hufflepuff sixth year, to Weasel making Potter talk to McGonagall about how I'm using Hermione to try and keep on the Dark Lords ideals and take his vacant place.
Apart from this imaginative tell tales, the only different thing that happened with me was an owl that Potter sent yesterday. My father decided that it would be better to keep quiet for now, or it seems like that. No more muggle murders or anything new in the wizardry community.
And that's not what makes me suspicious. According to Potter no one tried to go to the Manor all this time. I don't understand this. Even if my relationship with father was strained at the end of the war, he still cared for my mother deeply.
If he could see her again, even if it was a quick visit, he would go. That's what makes me more aware of the situation. Sure he can have changed, after all even if Azkaban didn't have Dementors anymore, the place is still creepy. It just doesn't make sense for me.
-Mr. Malfoy can you please pay attention on your work.
Flitwick was at his desk, looking as small as ever and just a little more old. In truth the final battler seemed to get a part of everyone's lives as an exchange for escaping from Death.
-Sorry professor.
When I was just begging the charm, Ginger appeared on the doorframe and everyone stopped what they were doing to look at Harry Potter's girlfriend. Really it's like the bloke attracts attention even for the things related to him, like they are some kind of preciousness.
-Sorry professor Flitwick, but the headmistress wants to speak with Malfoy.
-If that's it, you may go Mr. Malfoy.
It's pointless to say that every pair of eyes was directed at me, just my luck. And why in the name of Merlin they have to call me in the middle of the class? She could have waited a little, it's not like it would take more than twenty minutes.
Ginger was smirking at me when we got out, probably because she knew I utterly disliked the timing. And Hermione says I'm the git here. The hallways were deserted, and it was awkward to be walking alone with her.
-What is it this time?
-I don't really know, but it could possibly be something about your father. Harry told me they're having some trouble trying to track him.
I snorted at that and smirked when she looked back with a frown.
-That's not unpredictable. He doesn't have Hermione's brain this time, and the Weasel isn't any help.
-Like you're doing anything yourself.
-As far as I'm concerned I am. And it's something dear Potter suggested. If you search that little brain of yours you may find it there.
She looked scornfully at me and began to walk faster, I presume to be as far from me as she could. We walked in silence for some time, and I was just starting to think of reasons for McGonagall to want to talk with me so much, when I realized that she stopped. I was just at her side when she shook her head and began to speak.
-Have you talked with Hermione lately?
That took me by surprise. Her voice was almost a whisper, and she looked concerned.
-I saw her three days ago. That was the first time since I moved from the Heads common room. She looked fine, a little paler but I suppose it's because the N.E.W.T.s are so close. I'm sure she's not sleeping properly by now. Something happened?
She glanced at me, and as much as she was trying to look calm, she keep biting her lower lip in a nervous way and it just made me more worried.
-Ginny, what happened?
For a moment her eyes were wide, but then she sighed and started to rub her forehead like she was having some kind of headache.
-We were at the library yesterday, and yes she was paler. But that's not what's worrying me. She wasn't focusing, and we're talking about Hermione here, and the N.E.W.T.s are close, so I asked what was wrong. She said she hasn't slept much, and that she was a little nauseated. She told me it was probably from something she ate at breakfast, but I almost didn't see her eating anything besides drinking some pumpkin juice. So I got suspicious.
I was puzzled after she said the last part.
-Suspicious about what?
-I asked if she could possibly be pregnant.
At that moment I started to feel a lot of things. First of all it was like something heavy dropped on my stomach, and I couldn't breathe properly. After that came the rage and an incredibly strong need to make Weasley suffer as painfully as I could. And at last the fear.
-Malfoy, you're all right? You are a little pale, or paler than you normally are.
-What did she say?
-Who?
-Hermione!
She looked at me suspiciously, with one eyebrow raised and a frown.
-She told me it wasn't possible, and that she was probably just sick from the food.
I couldn't help the sigh of relief that escaped. That bloody scared me!
-You look a lot more relieved than is fashionably acceptable from a friend.
Her eyebrow was still raised and this time she actually looked angry.
-What do you mean?
-You know exactly what.
It took me a moment to realize the implications of what she was talking about.
-I can't believe you could think that Hermione would do something like that to your brother.
It was my turn to be angry. Hermione is the most loyal person I know, and to think that she could cheat in that way, and shamelessly in the face of Weasly….Not her. Sure we flirted a little, but she never moved farther than what was acceptable. And that time in the common room, well I was the one trying to kiss her.
-I know Hermione, but you're the one that is unknown. And let's face it, your background don't help either.
-We're friends Weasley. She helped me a lot, and I own her a great deal. And I think that she would be deeply wounded if she knew you were thinking of something like this about her.
My voice was more stiff than I expected, but she touched a nerve. After a terrible uncomfortable moment, her shoulders relaxed and she stopped glaring at me.
-Yeah, I know. Sorry.
After a few minutes, that seemed more awkward than all the time we talked from all the years in Hogwarts, she spoke again. The concern returned to her voice.
-She fainted one hour later.
-What?!
-We were just finishing an essay, she was helping me with potions and I saw her face lose all the color it still had, and she fell to the side of the chair. I was startled; she was cold and wouldn't wake up. I asked Luna to call someone to help. We managed to get her to the Hospital Wing, but Madam Pomfrey couldn't find anything wrong with her.
That puzzled me more.
-But there must be an explanation. People don't go fainting out of nowhere like that.
-That's what I thought.
-You think it had something to do with my father?
-I don't know, possibly. But I can't think of a way he could get in the castle and disappear without anyone noticing. Even Sirius couldn't.
She's right about that, and my father wasn't an Animagus. That would make things even more difficult.
-You told Potter about it?
-Hermione asked not to tell anyone, she still thinks it's not worth getting all of you worked up. That's why you didn't know. But it may be something important, so I mentioned it to Harry. Ron still doesn't know, and after the last Hogsmead visit Hermione's anger didn't subside yet. You would think that after all this time they would manage to be together longer without getting all riled up about something so petty.
-Wait, you said manage to be together?
She raised an eyebrow at me again, and stopped just outside the gargoyles that led to the headmistress officer. I didn't even realize when we began to walk again.
-They're not talking with each other. Ron is obviously jealous, and I think he's right this time.
-Hm?
That wasn't the cleverest answer of my life, but I wasn't expecting something like that. Before I could formulate something better to say, she smirked and turned to head back to the classrooms.
-The password's Snape. Don't think you can fool me Malfoy.
I blinked a few times after she disappeared and decided that it would be better to talk with McGonagall. That's when I remembered that Dumbledore and Snape's portraits were there too. As if it's not bad enough that I have to talk with the headmistress alone, I still get to see the faces of these two.
The place hadn't changed at all since the last time I was there. McGonagall was sat at her desk, with Dumbledore's portrait just behind her chair. He smiled at me, and the casual manner of the look made that guilty feeling arise, and I just wished it wasn't a long talk.
-Draco, how are you today?
-I'm fine, sir.
I glanced briefly at Snape, and realized that he was silently watching me, and his face wasn't good. That made me more nervous. McGonagall finished writing something on an old book, before motioning for me to sit.
-Hello Mr. Malfoy.
I only managed to nod at her. She was more intimidating with Dumbledore just hanging there looking at me.
-I presume you know about Miss Granger?
-Just heard actually.
She narrowed her eyes for a second, but I managed to glimpse it. And I didn't get a good feeling about that.
-Tell me Mr. Malfoy, did you manage to contact your father in some way?
-Not yet.
-I see.
Oh, wait a second, I know that look! I can't believe they're suspecting me of all people. That explains why she was so eager to talk with me. I looked up at Dumbledore, and he was still smiling. That knowing look in his eyes all the more visible and I had to remember myself to stay calm.
-I can assure that I didn't try to do any harm on Hermione. Weasley just told me what happened, and it's been three days since the last time I saw Granger.
-We're not saying that it was you Draco.
Snape's voice startled me so much that I almost slipped on my chair. My head jerked to the place where he was, and his face was stern, but not reproachful.
-Professor Snape is right, Mr. Malfoy. I wanted to talk with you about another subject. Mr. Zabini was here a while ago, but he didn't know anything about it. But he mentioned it would be better to talk with you. So tell me Mr. Malfoy, have you ever found any suspicious muggle possession of Miss Granger?
-No, not at all. I mean, sure she have some thing's her parents gave her on Christmas. They're strange, but I think all muggle things are sort of like this for me.
-Her parents weren't under a Memory Charm?
-Yes, but Hermione managed to get their memories back. It took her some time, and their relationship's a bit different. She told me they're more aware of magic, and it seems like they are more reserved with her, but I don't think they would sent something dangerous. Hermione told me her parents talk less with her, and she was shaken by that some time ago, but I think it's just shock from realizing that all they thought was real isn't.
The look on her face was almost impressed, and it annoyed me more than the other one. She shifted on her chair, and touched her spectacles.
-Very well, thank you Mr. Malfoy. You can return to your classes now, but if you remember something please tell me immediately.
-Right.
I got up from the chair, and turned to the door. But before opening it I remembered something, and turned to the headmistress again. She didn't seem the least surprised.
-Sorry to ask headmistress, but Hermione's still at the Hospital Wing?
I could swear that her lips moved upwards just for a moment.
-No, she's already in the Heads common room. Poppy said she could go, but demanded that she took the morning off.
-I don't think Hermione took that too well.
-Not at all.
I nodded and opened the door, but this time I didn't get further out because of her.
-Mr. Malfoy, the password is Unity.
She glanced at me for a second before getting back to her book. Dumbledore's smile widened and he inclined his head as if wondering if I would say something. Snape just shook his, and the black hair obscured his face before he looked at McGonagall disapprovingly.