Author's Note – Hello everybody! As to your wishes, here's the next chapter of Fire Dragon. After doing my customary final read-through of this chapter before posting it, I've found that I rather like it…editing a chapter multiple times sure does wonders sometimes! The chapters following this one are rather exciting, the plot really picking up, questions being answered, and fascinating events taking place. However, for the time being, sit back and enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think by reviewing.

Another Note – The chapter title means "Warnings and Amends" in Latin. You'll notice, starting in fifth year, that other students and professors are going to play a bigger roll now in Fire Dragon rather than staying in the background like in fourth year. Luna Lovegood is introduced in this chapter, and I want to know what you think about my portrayal of her. I have plans for her…big plans. But for now, does she seem in character?

Disclaimer – I think we all know by now that since I'm not JKR and that I don't own Harry Potter or anything associated with Harry Potter. This includes Draco Malfoy, who has repeatedly informed me that nobody owns him, and that he in fact owns himself, thank you very much.

Chapter Twenty-One

"Monitorum Itaque Satisfacere"

The Monday before school was scheduled to start up again, Hermione sat with Ginny in their bedroom. Past issues of Witch Weekly were scattered about on the floor surrounding the redhead while Hermione sat at her desk and flipped through the latest issue, finding no interest in the gossip and fashion advice.

"He still won't talk to you?" Ginny looked up, her eyebrows raised in question.

She shook her head, dropping the magazine down on her desk. "I've tried talking to him. I've tried reasoning with him. Nothing works."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "He's just being a prat," she said. "He'll get over it."

"I don't think it's going to be that simple, Ginny."

"Hermione, Harry's one of your best mates," she said. "He'll come around."

"Was," Hermione stressed.

"Huh?"

"He was one of my best mates," she said with a sigh.

She frowned, standing up and sitting down on the bed directly across from Hermione. "You can't honestly think that."

"What do you want me to think?" she asked. "It's been almost two weeks, and he won't even give me the time of day."

"Hermione, I know you won't tell me exactly what happened between you and Harry, but it honestly couldn't have been that bad."

Hermione bit her lip. "It was that bad," she said as Zander swooped in through the window. "And, Gin, I don't really want to talk about it anymore."

"Hermione…"

"Ginny, please," she said, giving her a tired look as Zander landed on her arm.

Ginny glanced at the black owl and sighed. "Ok," she said. "I'll just leave you to your Mystery Bloke then."

Ginny left the room, closing the door behind her as Hermione sighed and tore open Draco's letter.

Granger-

The Ministry of Magic passed Educational Decree #22 today. I know mentioning this in my letter seems pointless, but it allows the Ministry to hire professors if Dumbledore can't find one. They hired a woman named Delores Umbridge for the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor. Father was involved in this decision, and I urge you to be careful around this professor. Something isn't right here. I met her the other day in Diagon Alley when I went with Father to pick up something he needed in Knockturn Alley. They spoke as if they'd met before. I don't like her.

Has Potter spoken to you yet? I know in your last letter you mentioned that he still wasn't speaking to you. That's rather immature of him. He read my letters and he should know that I don't mean you any harm. And I still state that I feel violated knowing he read my letters. Does he have no manners? No tact? No common decency? Well, either way, I do hope he starts speaking to you again. I don't want you to loose a good friend just because you're friends with me, even if it is Potter. You shouldn't have to choose between your friends. It's not right.

-Draco

Draco-

Delores Umbridge? She's the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, isn't she? A professor who has ties to both the Minister and your father, this can't turn out well. Do you know to which extent she is involved with your father? Is she in league with You-Know-Who?

On to other matters. No, Harry isn't speaking to me. He won't even look at me. The tension between us is beginning to become evident to the other people living in this house. Ginny obviously knows Harry and I had a rather large fight. Ron has started to notice the rift between Harry and me. Even Mrs. Weasley asked me the other day if everything was alright. It's very distressing, and I wish he would just listen to me. And you're right. If he'd read your letters, which he did, then he should realize that you are a different person from the Draco he's always known. But then again, sometimes Harry isn't the most rational person, especially when he doesn't think things through. I wish I didn't have to choose between my friends either. And please don't blame yourself.

On a lighter note, I'm a Prefect!

With a soft smile, Hermione ran her fingers over the large P inscribed over the Gryffindor lion shown on the badge.

I got my badge in the post today. I can't say I'm exactly surprised, rather more pleased than shocked. The real shocker came when Ron got a Prefect badge. I love Ron, but I just don't think he's Prefect material. I wonder what Dumbledore's reasoning was behind that decision.

Well, I'll leave this letter at that. We return to Hogwarts the day after tomorrow so we'll have plenty of time to talk then.

-Hermione

Folding the letter and tying it to Zander's leg, Hermione sent him out the window, shutting it behind him. Running her hands over her pants, Hermione turned and left her bedroom, set on searching out Ginny. Going down the stairs, Hermione came to an abrupt stop, Harry not even two meters away at the foot of the stairs, his eyes staring up into hers. She held her breath and tightened her grip on the banister.

Sighing, Harry shook his head and brushed past Hermione.

"Harry," Hermione called out. Harry tensed slightly but kept on walking. "Harry, please, at least speak to me."

Ignoring her, Harry ventured on down the hall, Hermione following as he opened a door and entered.

"Harry…" Hermione trailed off, her eyes going wide the instant she stepped into the room.

Mrs. Weasley stood frozen in the middle of the room, Percy laying dead upon the wooden floor, the image of him suddenly shrinking into a dead Harry.

She sobbed, her wand shaking. "Ridd-Riddikulus," she whispered, the spell having no effect at all on the boggart.

Harry and Hermione stepped forward, Harry with his hand out as he tried to placate Mrs. Weasley. Hermione stared at the boggart as it once again shifted. The image of dead Harry split into two individuals, one with black hair and green eyes, the other pale of skin and with blond hair scattered haphazardly across his forehead. Both were splattered with blood, neither moving in death. Harry stared at her boggart and then at Hermione who stood stock still, her face pale and her hands shaking.

"Hermione…" he trailed off quietly.

Taking a step back, her eyes stuck on the image of two of her best friends lying dead upon the floor, she turned and fled from the room, pushing past Sirius, Remus, and Moody as they entered.

Fifth year at Hogwarts began as normal as could be expected at a school of magic, barring of course the warning given by the Sorting Hat and the rather unexpected speech given by the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. The feast ended, Hermione and Ron ushering the first years up to the Gryffindor Common Room. Once everything had calmed down and the new and returning students had settled into the school routine, Hermione ventured down to the Common Room.

"Oi! Hermione." Ron waved from his spot on the couch, a game of chess being set up on the table and a couple Chocolate Frog wrappers scattered beside the board. "Care for a game of Wizard's Chess?"

She hesitated, a book tucked into the crook of her arm. "I don't know, Ron. I really wanted to do some reading."

"Please? Harry's not around…he had a blazing row with Seamus upstairs and stormed off…something about their mothers…" He shook his head. "It was a load of rubbish, really…damn Prophet's fault if you ask me…publishing all that tripe about Harry. So, what do you say?"

Hermione sighed, setting her book down beside the chess board. "I guess," she said, sitting down across from Ron.

Grinning, Ron got the game underway, claiming five of Hermione's pawns within the first five minutes and her queen a moment later.

"Check," he called, her king in direct line to his knight.

She bit her lip, never having been one for chess, and assessed all of her possible maneuvers when an owl swooped in from the window, landing beside Hermione. Hermione looked up as did Ron.

"Who's that from?" he asked, Hermione giving him a short glare. Ron's ears reddened, a sheepish smile forming on his face. "Sorry, sorry, I forgot."

"It's alright," she said, opening the note.

Meet me in the library right now?

-DM

"Is that from Mystery Bloke?" he asked, leaning forward and idly spinning one of Hermione's pawns around on the table.

"What?" Hermione looked up.

"Well, Ginny said something about you having a secret quill pal," he said. "She called him Mystery Bloke, so I just…" He shrugged.

"Oh," she breathed softly, picking at the corners of the parchment in awkward pause.

"Who is he?" he asked. "He's not from…Slytherin is he?"

Hermione froze, her mouth hanging open. With much effort, she managed to close her mouth and answer. "What? No…no, he's not," she said, hoping the sudden flush to her cheeks went unnoticed.

"Oh, ok then," he said. "You know, if you need to…uh, talk to him right now or something…" Ron fidgeted. "I can get someone else to finish this game."

Glancing down at Draco's words, Hermione bit her lip and shook her head. "Ron, you don't…"

"Nonsense," he said, turning around, his hand gripping the back of the couch. "Oi, Ginny! Care for a game of chess?"

Ginny, who'd been playing a few rounds of Exploding Snap with some girls in her year, looked up. "What do I get if I win?"

"What makes you think you're going to win?" he said.

Quirking an eyebrow, Ginny crossed her arms and gave Ron a challenging look.

"Fine," he said, rolling his eyes. "If you win, I'll give you my entire stash of Chocolate Frogs."

"Throw in some Every Flavor Beans and we've got a deal."

A quick negotiation later and Ginny had taken Hermione's place on the couch, Hermione making her way to the portrait when it opened and Harry stepped through.

Hermione started. "Harry…"

He glanced up, his green eyes wide before looking away, his feet shifting as he fidgeted. "Hermione…can…can we talk?"

"Of course," she said, glancing at her watch, noting the time being three-quarters of an hour before curfew. "Could we walk and talk? I have to get to the library."

"The library?"

"Yeah," she said.

Harry stared at her for a moment, his eyes drifting to the parchment in her hands and at the look on her face. "You're going to meet…him…aren't you?" he asked.

She nodded.

Sighing heavily, Harry ground his teeth together his eyes darkening at the thought.

"Harry, he's my friend. I…" she trailed off, grabbing his hand and pulling him through the portrait. "I haven't seen him for nearly two months. Don't you miss Ron and me during the summer when you can't see us?"

Reluctantly, Harry nodded as they walked down the corridor towards the library.

"I missed Draco this summer."

Harry winced. "Can't you call him Malfoy?"

"Harry, really, this is ridiculous," she said.

"It is not," he said, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I don't like him, and I don't like that you're friends with him."

"That doesn't really change anything," she said. "I'm going to be friends with him whether you want me to be or not. He's not all that bad of a person."

"Could have fooled me," he grumbled.

"Harry, he's not his father."

"He sure acts like it," he said.

"Draco doesn't exactly have a choice in that matter," Hermione said, pleading to get Harry to understand, to accept her friendship with Draco.

Silence.

"His life is just as fated as yours," she said. "There are a lot of things he has no control over."

Harry snorted and shook his head. "It doesn't change that he's a cold-hearted git who torments us everywhere we go," he said. "Have you forgotten that, Hermione? Have you forgotten that he used to call you a…a…"

"A Mudblood?" she finished for him.

"Yes," he said, "that, Hermione."

She sighed and shook her head. "That's just his exterior," she explained. "Once you get through that, you'll see that he really is a good person. Draco isn't evil, contrary to what everybody likes to think. He even spent a week at my house this summer."

Harry blinked and frowned. "At…your house?"

She nodded. "Yes, and he didn't hex anything. He didn't insult my parents. He didn't try to hurt me. Dare I say it, but I had a lot of fun with him."

He pressed his lips together and furrowed his brow even more.

"Harry?" Hermione leaned around to glance at Harry.

"I'm just trying to imagine Malfoy in a Muggle house," he said. "I really can't."

She smiled softly. "Yeah, it was quite the experience for him," she said. "You should have seen him with the tele."

"Either way, I still don't like the idea of you being friends with him," he said, Hermione frowning. "But if you want to be friends with him, then that's your business."

Hermione smiled. "I'm glad you understand," she said.

Harry nodded. "But I want to make one thing clear," he said. "I don't want anything to do with him. Nothing at all, Hermione."

"Ok," she said and paused for a moment. "And, Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"You can't tell anybody about Draco and me. Nobody at all."

He nodded. "I won't…and I haven't," he said, glancing at her.

They'd arrived at the doors to the library. Hermione paused, her hand gripping the door handle.

"Thanks, Harry," she said.

He once again nodded. "You know I couldn't have stayed mad at you forever," he said with a weak smile.

Giving the library doors a lingering glance, Hermione launched herself at Harry, hugging him tightly. "I'm glad you're not mad at me any longer," she said. "I hated when you wouldn't talk to me. Don't ever do that again."

He laughed. "Well, don't go befriending any Deatheaters, and we've got a deal," he said, giving her a gentle shove in the direction of the library. "Go, you don't want to keep him waiting."

Hermione grinned. "Yeah, he does throw monumental hissy fits when people are late," she said. "I'll be back before curfew."

This early in the school year, very few students occupied the library, only the rare seventh year student aiming to get ahead with NEWTs in sight. Seeing this, Hermione reminded herself of OWLs approaching and resolved to begin studying the next day. Tonight, her studies could be put on hold; she had a friend to see.

He wandered between the aisles, the fingers from one of his hands trailing lightly along the spines of the books as he waited. Hermione stopped in her footsteps when she spotted him, her heart leaping into her chest and a smile growing on her face.

"Draco!"

Draco looked up in slight surprise, soon finding himself with an armful of Hermione, and stumbled slightly as he caught her and wrapped his arms around her body.

He grinned cheekily. "Do you greet all your friends in this manner?" he asked, undercurrents of warmth playing up the jest in his voice. "Or am I the only one?"

Blushing, she backed away slightly, tucking her hair behind her ear. "What? A girl can't be happy to see one of her friends?" She looked up into his eyes.

Running his hands through his mussed up hair, he smirked. "Only if you greet me like that every time you see me," he said.

"Draco!" she exclaimed in exasperation, swiping him on the arm.

"Oi! Watch the clothes, will you?" he said, taking care to inspect the sleeve of his shirt.

Snorting, Hermione sat down, leaning her back against a shelf of books. "Oh, right," she said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. "Draco's precious clothes. How could I have forgotten?"

He dropped to the ground, stretching his legs out before him. "Well, you lot do need to be reminded on a regular basis," he said smugly.

"And what 'lot' are we speaking of?" she demanded in reply.

"All you girls who just can't seem to keep their hands off of me," he said. "Apparently, I'm a real looker, Granger."

She scoffed at his remark. "Because all girls just swoon for the handsome type."

"Of course they do!"

"Oh please," she said.

"Oh come on, Granger," he said, leaning towards her, his eyes bright. "You honestly haven't had fantasies about me?"

Crossing her arms over her chest, she smirked. "Nope."

"Liar."

"I am not!"

"Are too."

"I'm not playing this," she said.

"Fine," he said easily, inspecting his fingernails. "I accept your defeat, then."

"Hey…"

"Nope, those are the terms, Granger.'

"What terms?"

He smirked at her. "The terms I just created."

"Cheater."

"Malfoys don't cheat," he said simply.

"Well, this one obviously does," she said, nodding at him.

Shaking his head as he laughed, he drew one leg up, resting his arm on his bent knee, and stared at Hermione.

"What?" she asked a moment later, her hands gravitating to her face. "Do I have ink on my face?"

He shook his head. "No," he said quietly.

"What then?"

Draco shrugged. "I missed you is all."

"I missed you too," she said in return. "Did you have a good summer? Or at least an okay one?"

He nodded. "It was alright," he said. "Nothing compared to spending it at your house."

"So things were okay at the Manor?" she asked, the full meaning of her question portrayed in her tone of voice.

"Yeah," he said. "No major problems or run-ins with Father."

"Good," she said, relieved. "Harry's speaking to me again."

"Really?"

She nodded and sighed. "We talked and he says if I want to be friends with you, then that's my business." She shrugged. "Either way, I'm glad we're no longer fighting. I hate when people are cross with me, especially one of my best mates."

"I'm glad to see Potter still has some common decency left in him," he said.

"Yeah, well, things weren't exactly as you think," she said. "Harry is…well…he's Harry and that is just the way he is."

"I suppose," he said. A placid silence hung between the two for a few minutes. "What do you think of Umbridge?" he asked suddenly, tilting his head to the side.

Bending forward, Hermione rested her elbows on her knees and settled her chin in the palm of her hand. "She rubs me the wrong way," she said. "There's something off about her, like that speech she made at the Welcoming Feast."

Draco frowned. "Speech?" he asked.

Scrutinizing him, Hermione cocked her head to the side. "Yes…she made a speech right after Dumbledore's about what sort of education Wizarding children should receive and the methods in which they should receive it…weren't you listening?"

Shrugging, Draco shook his head. "I tuned her out the moment she began talking," he said. "I don't fancy listening to mindless rambling, especially from her."

"Well, if you had been listening, you would have realized to which extent the Ministry is involved with Hogwarts," she said urgently. "I fear things are going to change this year, and not for the better. She spoke of progress and of changing things."

Realization dawned on his pale features. "Oh," he said, meaning heavy behind the word.

"Exactly," she said. "And with the Ministry…"

"And my Father…"

"…and your father behind her…"

Draco's eyes grew wide. "We're screwed."

Hermione gave Draco a look. "That's one way of saying it," she said in a reprimanding manner. "But, yes, that's the general idea. This year's going to be different." Hermione paused for a beat, the wheels in her brain spinning. "And that's exactly what the Sorting Hat was warning us of…of her…of unnecessary change…and of how we must band together this year."

"Wait…what did the Sorting Hat say?" Draco asked absentmindedly.

"Are you telling me you weren't listening to the Sorting Hat song either?" she asked.

He shrugged. "I haven't listened since second year," he said. "It's the same tripe every year."

She shook her head back and forth disbelievingly. "You're so much like Ron sometimes," she said.

Mouth gaping indignantly, Draco glared at her. "Don't compare me to Weasley."

"Then don't act like him."

"I do not!"

"You do to," she said smartly. "And you know it."

Shuffling of papers, the soft scoot of a chair, and a distinct, "Hem hem," and Hermione was turned around, peering through the books at the rest of the library.

"What's she doing here?" she asked, Draco crawling up to kneel beside her.

"I don't know," he said, watching as Delores Umbridge moved from table to table, her customary pink cardigan pulled tight across her body and her hands clasped beneath her chest. She smiled sickeningly sweet as she spoke to each student in the library, said student reluctantly packing up his or her belongings and leaving the library.

Hermione glanced at her watch. "It's not even curfew yet," she said. "We still have ten minutes."

"I don't think that matters right now," he said. "We can't be seen."

"Then we have to get out of here," Hermione said, watching as Umbridge poked her head among the stacks of books on the other side of the library, no doubt checking for students lurking within.

Slowly, Draco stood, grabbing Hermione's hand and pulling her up. He made his way to the end of the aisle, poking his head around the corner. The double doors stood not even ten meters away, and Draco sized up the distance between.

"We'll never make it," Hermione said, glancing up at him. "She'll definitely see us."

"Then what do we do?" Draco looked at Hermione.

"We're going to have to…" Hermione glanced up, a quiet voice floating in the air.

"Excuse me, Professor," it said, the voice soft and airy.

Hermione peeked around the corner. A girl with long blond hair and a string of bottle caps strung around her neck stood before Professor Umbridge, her head tilted to the side, vaguely smiling.

Draco frowned. "Isn't that Loony Lovegood?" he asked.

Shoving him, Hermione glared. "Her name is Luna," she said.

"Sorry, sorry," he said, holding his hands up. "It's just what I've heard."

"Well, it'll do you good not to repeat everything you hear, Draco Malfoy."

"Ok, ok…don't get your knickers in a twist," he mumbled, his gaze returning to the eccentric Ravenclaw.

"I have a question for you," Luna said, clasping her hands behind herself.

"A question for me, dearie?" Umbridge replied, her smile unnaturally wide.

Luna nodded, her pale gaze flicking to the far book shelf for the briefest of moments. "Did you know there's a colony of Drivelweeds living in the library?" she asked, her head slanted to the side.

"Drivelweeds?" Umbridge asked.

Luna glanced at the same bookshelf before returning her pale gaze to Umbridge. "Yes," she said, grabbing the professor's arm and turning her around, Umbridge's back now to Hermione and Draco. "Over there," she said, pointing off into the distance, "beside the portrait of Humphrey the Great."

"What is she talking about?" Draco whispered.

"I don't…" Hermione gasped with realization. "Draco, she's trying to help us," she said, pulling on his hand. "Quick, we have to go now!"

Darting out from their hiding spot, Hermione and Draco quickly made their way to the doors, each of their gazes trained on the back of their new DADA professor. Opening the library doors, Hermione sent Luna a thankful smile before letting the doors close with a soft click.