It's a Do or Die Situation
"I wish you would just leave well enough alone, Harry," Hermione said with a slightly amused expression. "Innocent until proven guilty, don't you think that's a good rule?"
"There are exceptions to every rule, Hermione." Harry said. "And Malfoy is the biggest exception of them all."
Hermione looked defeated. "Look," she said to Harry, "I know how it is, trust me; I was there these last few years too. I can't pretend that I fully trust him; I would hope you would think me smarter than that. But I can say that I think he's really trying. Sometimes I look at him and I see flashes of Lucius that scare the hell out of me, but then I see some of Draco, and it's like a battle going on inside of him. I think that if he thinks it's worth fighting for, then I think it's worth trusting him for. I'll deal with the consequences when they come."
Harry was silent for a minute, then said: "You know Hermione, someone could kill your cat and you would still think all they needed was a hug."
Hermione grinned and then gave him a hug. She pulled back and whispered in his ear: "Sometimes a hug is all it takes."
Harry smiled at his friend. "You're amazing, you know that?"
Hermione smiled back. "A girl can never get tired of hearing that," she said.
Draco felt completely lost within the world. Now back at Hogwarts, Draco took to his familiar haunt – the quiddich pitch.
He had no broom with him, he just simply circled the massive field on ground, feeling as though flying wouldn't help to clear his head this time.
Draco had always suspected that Severus Snape was playing double agent. He used to get excited when he thought of all the ways he could catch him betraying the Dark Lord, oh, that would be Draco's shining moment, but he would also wonder, deep down, how Severus could carry such a burden. Now Draco was starting to understand.
Draco never felt as though anyone trusted him, up until his meeting with Dumbledore. The old mans eyes searched him intently for what seemed like an eternity to Draco before being satisfied, and then just like that, he had Dumbledore's trust. Trust was something shocking to him, as Slytherins never trusted anyone. It made Draco feel powerful and vulnerable all at once, an oxymoron in 5 letters- that was what trust was. Tonight was the first opertunity he had in a long time to reflect on the crazy path his life had taken, but of course that had to be spoiled.
Draco's solitude was interrupted by a mass of unruly black hair and bright green eyes.
"Malfoy." Harry Potter said as he came across the pitch. "Funny finding you here."
"Funny haha or funny 'I've been searching the school because I want to yell-slash- threaten you'?" Draco replied sarcastically.
Harry paused for a moment. "The latter," he said.
"Save it, then," Draco said and started to turn away. "I really don't need this now."
"I think you do." Harry said as he grabbed Draco's shoulder and pulled him around. "There are some things that need said."
Draco had turned, and was now fixing Harry with a full powered Malfoy glare that most men cowered under. He guessed Harry didn't get the memo.
"I don't know what you're playing at, Malfoy," Harry started. "But it better not be to betray us. The only reason you aren't in a permanent petrified curse is because Dumbledore, and for some bizarre reason, Hermione, trust you. I don't, Ron doesn't, and we have damn good reasons. Six years worth."
Draco's eyes flashed angrily. "Oh boo-hoo Potter. I'm glad you're such a big man that you can forget about the past, I see now that you really are just such a hero."
Harry glared. "You have no idea…I didn't ask for what was given me."
"And neither did I!" Draco shot back. "You're an orphan, my mother is dead and my father is a lunatic. You have some great friends that have been there for you practically the second you entered this world, and now I'm finally getting one that doesn't just want money or power. You've been dealt a cold hand, Potter, but so have I. You think its hard being the one everyone expects to save the world? Try being the one everybody expects to destroy it!"
Draco let the words hang in the air for a moment before solidly turning and stalking up to the castle. Harry just stood there, speechless.
Draco stopped and looked out at the far quiddich goal. Soon Harry joined him at his side, looking up as well.
"I remember the first time I met you, Malfoy." Harry said in a slightly far-away voice. "In the robe shop, remember? We were being fitted and you talked like you knew everything. I didn't know a thing. The day before that I found out who I was, and it was like I would never be normal again. But then I came to realize there really was no such thing as normal. Muggles, wizards, we all have our own standards, don't we? And when I met you, you reminded me of my cousin, and I knew I could handle this new world, because it really wasn't so different. It wasn't normal, but it wasn't bad either."
Draco looked at Harry and tilted his head. "And the moral of that riveting story would be?" He asked.
"I never expected you to destroy the world, Draco, people in general do a good enough job themselves."
"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, to our humble school."
The three muggles were standing in Professor Dumbledore's office with expressions that couldn't even be described. Those in attendance included the headmaster and mistress, Harry, Draco, Hermione, and Ron, Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, and Professor Rain. Remus and Severus both wore identical expressions when they looked at Petunia, as if they were somewhere far away or perhaps back in time.
"I remember you," Petunia said, pointing to Remus. "You were her…you were her friend."
Remus jumped slightly and inclined his head. "James and Lily were two of my most beloved friends; I am here to make sure that her family is safe. It's the only thing I can do after all she did for me."
Lily looked slightly taken aback, but nodded slowly and turned her gaze back to the headmaster, who began to speak.
"Lemon drop?"
The three uniformly shook their heads, although Dudley did it in a somewhat sad manner.
"Very well then, onto business." He cleared his throat. "You know why you are here of course," he said slowly. "Miss Granger I'm sure has done a wonderful job at explaining the particulars. Now for the rules."
Vernon looked slightly outraged that there would be guidelines he had to follow after being practically abducted from his own house, but even he was not immune to the pure energy and power that Dumbledore radiated, and he shrunk back slightly.
"While you are here, no one in this school is to know you exist. You will be transported to Grimwauld Place in a few days after proper accommodations have been arranged. You cannot leave your quarters unless accompanied by someone in this room, as these are the only ones in attendance to this school who know you are here. Please keep in mind that you're here because you need to be protected, and it would also do to remember that you were given a choice in the matter. It would be a disaster if the student body were to discover your existence, as there is anti-muggle sentiments even inside these walls, as shamed as I am to admit. If you ever need anything- food, warmer fire, a book, anything, a house elf with come to assist you. Hermione can show you to your rooms, and he can give you the particulars of the fireplaces and such. Do you have any questions for me?"
The three Dursleys looked at the old man and were silent. Dumbledore nodded and inclined his head towards Hermione, who beckoned them to follow her to the exit of Dumbledore's chambers. Harry watched the retreating figures of his relatives still in a somewhat perplexed daze…the slight of them here at his school threw him off terribly.
Hermione beckoned to the muggles and they followed her through a passage in Dumbledore's quarters. She took them through a deserted corridor and then to a very forbidding looking hall of doors. Hermione passed three of these doors before settling on the fourth. She turned and grinned at them before opening it with a very antique looking key.
Unanimously the Dursley family swallowed their pride and gazed in wonder at the magnificent room. It looked like a miniature house common room complete with squishy armchairs and sofas and a roaring fire. A desk sat off to the side and a huge collection of books stood proudly in a corner. Another set of doors to the right and left signified bedrooms and the entire room was aglow in warm candlelight. The colors were Gryffindor, of course, and not even Mr. Dursley had a word to say against anything.
"Welcome to your new quarters," Hermione said graciously. "The bedrooms are to your right and left, each one is equipped with it's own bathroom. The fire will be kept going by a house elf, don't be alarmed if you see one, although I doubt you will."
She motioned them over to the fire and pointed out a container of floo powder attached to the mantle.
"If you ever need anyone for anything, all you need to do is grab a handful of this and throw it into the fire and say their name. If you need me or Harry for whatever reason, you can reach us by saying the Gryffindor common room, and then our name. I should warn you to say this quietly and to set away from the sight of the fire until you see that no one else is in the common room, remember, no one is to know you are here. Do you have any questions?"
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley firmly shook their heads, but Dudley looked down at Hermione in a rather odd manner.
"Would you like me to charm your things, Dudley?" Hermione asked kindly. "I can set up your computer over here on this desk, or in your room if you like."
Dudley relaxed a little and grinned. "My room," he said.
Hermione nodded and led the way to the room on the left, with Dudley carrying a small box behind her. Once in the room Hermione went to work enlarging the computer, even going so far as to add a couple inches to the monitor for Dudley's benefit, and finally casting the right charms to make the muggle technology run.
Dudley wasted no time starting up the computer and practically salivated at the speed it was running.
"This works faster here than it does at home!" He exclaimed excitedly. "I don't understand, I thought magic was all about cursing people and giving them odd body parts."
Hermione shot him a questioning look and then tried to explain. "The wizarding world and your world are not so different. There are good guys and bad guys, rich and poor, we have a government and schools; the only difference is that we can harness magic. Your mother hates us because she was jealous of her sister, and because her family got mixed up with the bad guys of our world, but we aren't all bad, just some of us aren't all good either."
Dudley looked as though he was taking it all in, but from what she had heard about the large boy Hermione really couldn't be sure. She wanted so desperately to persuade him that prejudices would solve nothing, but how can you correct years and years of misinformation?
"Am I allowed to look around this place?" Dudley asked.
Hermione was surprised at the request, but nodded. "The castle you mean? Of course, as long as I am with you. You better prepare yourself for some surprises; however, the castle likes to play tricks on all of us."
Dudley nodded somewhat unsurely, and followed Hermione out of his room and into the living quarters where his parents were still looking around, somewhat dazed at all the current events.
"I'm going with Hermione." Dudley announced to his parents. Hermione noted the fact that he told his parents, rather than ask permission. Both Dursley's looked absolutely horrified at the prospect of their only child leaving their immediate eyesight, but looked much too tired and somewhat defeated to do anything but curtly nod their heads.
Hermione took it upon herself to be as absolutely cheerful and gracious as possible, and found it wasn't hard with Dudley. She kept in mind that he was being nice to her because he couldn't help it, and the thought made her smile. She detested the thought of being able to control someone, but she would readily make an exception if she could have an ally in at least one of the Dursley's.
She took some satisfactions, too, in the awe Dudley had in the wonderful castle. He reminded her of a first year, completely full of wonder at everything Hogwarts had to offer. He shivered a little in the potions dungeon, stared in amazement at the ceiling in the Great Hall, and of course went a little crazy when he saw the kitchens and all the goodies that were being prepared in it.
When they were done with the general tour Hermione stopped outside the Dursley room and asked what he had thought.
"Brilliant." He admitted, completely unashamed. "I always thought Harry was going to some psycho ward for the mental to be honest, but after all this-" He waved his arms around him, "I almost wish it were me instead."
Hermione nodded in understanding. "You're actually lucky, Dudley, not too many non magical people get the chance to see the magical side of the world, although many dream about it. It's what most children grow up on, fairy tales and stories of dragons and mermaids. It's all real, the same as you and I."
"I never heard those stories." Dudley admitted. "It was forbidden really, when Harry was sent here I finally realized why, but I don't understand how all this could be bad."
"It's not so bad here," Hermione replied. "But just remember what I said. There are good people and bad people here too, and a wand is just as deadly as a gun when put into the bad guy's hands."
Dudley nodded, and with that Hermione waved him goodbye and set off to her own room, exhausted.
Harry, Hermione, Ron, Jess, Jared, and occasionally Lauren had all taken to eating their meals in Hermione's room. They still were excused form classes, which made the boys happy and Hermione miserable. Unfortunately though, it didn't look like they would be resuming any time soon.
"Dumbledore said we can't be distracted." Ron said happily. "We have enough on our plates, why should we add surprise potions exams?"
"But Ron!" Hermione argued. "We need to learn to prepare ourselves!"
"We are preparing ourselves, Hermione." Harry chimed in. "We're still getting private lessons from Professor Rain, That's more knowledge than sitting in old Binn's class."
Hermione, knowing it was useless, gave up and continued to eat. "I'm still not happy about it." She grumbled.
"Of course not," Ron grinned. "And we wouldn't want you any other way."
Jess and Jared sat back and watched the three. Lauren had gone back to America to keep up with her studies and to avoid suspicion, all five worried deeply about their friend, and how she was done all alone.
"I think we should invite Draco to eat with us sometime." Hermione said thoughtfully. "I mean, since I am betrothed to him and all, I might as well make nice, right?"
Ron glared at his friend, but Harry actually began to nod slowly. "I guess the only way we'll learn to trust him is to actually get to know him," He said.
Hermione threw Harry a thankful look and nodded. "I'm glad you agree Harry, I think he could probably use some friends right now."
"I didn't say anything about being friends." Harry smiled. "But I don't really need anymore enemies."
"Cheers," Hermione said, and finished the last of her pumpkin juice. "As long as you have friends, there's really nothing you can't do. I'll talk to him about it tomorrow."
Ron still looked just shy of livid, but who was he to argue when it was two against one?
The five friends laughed late into the night, enjoying the relaxed peacefulness that was so fleeting nowadays. Maybe even a good night's sleep wouldn't be too far out of reach tonight.
A/N- Wow, half abandoned, but I tried my best to continue onward. To be honest I really had my doubts about finishing, but I've been getting steady reviews for the past year, and I hate to disappoint you. Thanks for the lovely comments, they're very highly appreciated. This chapter probably contained quite a few errors, and for that I'm sorry, but I read it and re read it, and am not very good at picking out my own flaws. I'll be seeing you all soon!
