Professor Cutting was in her classroom having just finished last lesson of the day. Hermione had caught Draco up, trying to stop him but he'd refused to listen and marched all the way to the classroom despite her continual protests. Draco didn't even knock on the door, barging in and causing Professor Cutting to look up quickly in surprise.
"Mr Malfoy..." she began but Draco interrupted her.
"I want to know what you know. I want to know what is going on and I want to know now!" Hermione heard tones of the old Draco but for once she could understand his attitude completely.
"I really don't know what you're talking about and I won't tolerate you strolling into my classroom..." Professor Cutting began again but Draco approached her and the look on his face made her stop mid-sentence.
"I told him everything you told me," Hermione said and Professor Cutting narrowed her eyes at her.
"Really? I'm not sure that was a particularly wise decision."
"You're going to tell me," Draco said. "I have a right to know and you're going to answer me."
Professor Cutting stepped back from Draco and walked around him without a word. She passed Hermione and completely ignored her before gently shutting the door and then turning back to face them.
"What do you want to know?" she asked.
"How are you going to protect me when the Dark Mark causes me pain?" Draco asked.
"I have a spell that will help and a potion..."
"From Bicfine?" Draco interrupted her again.
"No! He knows nothing of all this. I brewed the potion myself from an old recipe."
"What is it called and how does it work? And I want to see the recipe," Draco demanded.
"Of course." Proffessor Cutting put up no protest and Hermione felt suspicious that she was agreeing to readily to Draco's demands. The professor went to the back of the classroom and removed a book from the shelf. She held a page open to Draco. "It's called Blanking Potion. It make the person who takes it lose all their emotions, only temporarily of course. Your body will physically be in pain but you won't feel it. I also have a spell that works as a protection against evil – Fianto Duri. I believe that they will be enough protection to allow you to say your line."
Draco was staring at the professor having read the page in the book. He nodded.
"Okay. Who else are you working with?"
"I can't tell you that, I'm sorry."
"Yes you can," Draco said. "I need to trust you and I won't do that unless you tell me everything."
"No. That is the one thing I can't tell you and I won't tell you. I don't care if you trust me or not," Professor Cutting stood her ground. "We need the element of surprise."
Draco glared at her but short of threatening her he could do little to make her tell him. "We have a way to get the Legend to accept me and to protect me when the Legend is fulfilled..."
"Draco!" Hermione was shocked that he was telling her this.
"Miss Granger obviously doesn't trust me and she's right not to!" Professor Cutting leaned closer to Draco. "Right now, you should be trusting no-one except each other."
"So where are the parchments?" Draco ignored her words and Hermione stared at him open mouthed. Why was he asking her this? Did he think she had them?
"You are the Keeper of them, I believe." Professor Cutting's answer was short and again Hermione felt suspicious.
"Someone has decided to relieve me of them," Draco said and again Hermione protested but he continued regardless. "I need them back and if you really are on our side I believe you can help."
Professor Cutting's face gave nothing away and for a moment she didn't reply. She went back to her shelf and took down another larger book, opening it on the desk. She then waved her wand over it and turned another page. Inside the larger book they could now see a small book which Professor Cutting withdrew and opened. "When were they taken?"
"This afternoon."
"Were they taken magically?"
"We think so."
Professor Cutting studied the small book in front of her. "It says that the Legend parchments must be in your or Hermione's possession when the Legend is read. The Verse of Six must be held by the person reading their line, except the end which you all read. At this point you or Hermione must be holding that as well."
Hermione had approached the desk. "What is that? How does it contain information about the Legend?"
Professor Cutting ignored her and continued reading. "If the parchments are not in your possession when the Legend is triggered..." she read word for word from the book now, "the Wizard with whom the Legend sits will be relieved of it by whatever means necessary. The Legend will be made available to the Keepers. This will not and cannot be undone."
"Are you saying that it doesn't matter where the parchments are now because as soon as we receive the sign to start the Legend it will find its way to us?" Hermione asked, incredulously.
"By whatever means necessary," Professor Cutting again read from the book then she looked up at them. "It would seem that your problem is going to solve itself. If what you have told me about being able to be accepted and protected is also true then it would appear we are ready!" Draco and Hermione stared at the young professor, still not completely trusting her but at the same time unable to argue with her. She had answered their questions and she appeared to be genuine. "I've answered your questions. Unless you have anything further I would suggest you leave as quickly and discreetly as you can. I don't need to tell you that this book and its hiding place must not be discussed."
Draco was staring at his Dark Mark as if he was expecting it to suddenly change. "Who is it we will be against? Is it someone here at Hogwarts?"
Professor Cutting sighed. "I don't know that. There were a large number of Wizards involved in the attack on the Ministry and some of the ones they caught were former Death Eaters. I sincerely hope that no-one at Hogwarts is involved but it would seem to point to that." Professor Cutting reached up to the place the book back on the shelf and Hermione gasped, then covered her mouth. As the Professor's sleeve had ridden up Hermione had spotted something on her arm. Professor Cutting had a Dark Mark!
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Draco encouraged enthusiastically by Hermione had left a few minutes later. Hermione dragged him along the corridor and didn't stop until they were around the corner.
"What's going on?" Draco asked.
"Professor Cutting has a Dark Mark!"
"What? Are you sure?" Draco rubbed his forehead anxiously. "I was just beginning to really think she was on our side!"
"Maybe she's right! The only people we can trust is each other!" Hermione said and she took a deep breath trying not to panic.
"Do you think we should tell Professor McGonagall?" Draco asked and Hermione nodded but didn't move.
"Draco, I'm scared!"
"You're not the only one," Draco said and then he looked at her for a minute. "I think this is going to happen soon"
"Don't say that, I don't feel like we are ready. I don't think I'll ever be ready!" Hermione felt her emotions threatening to overwhelm her and she took a deep breath trying to steady herself.
Draco reached out and touched her cheek. "Hey, stop panicking. I told you, it'll be alright! Potter's on the case now isn't he?"
"But we won't have a guarantee! I just don't want to risk it without knowing you'll be okay." Hermoine bit her lip, so scared at the thought of losing Draco that she no longer cared what she told him. "I'd rather we fought evil like we did before!"
"This is an absolute end to it, Hermione. This situation will never happen again if we manage to do this," Draco paused. "At the risk of sounding like I want to be a hero I think we have to take the risk. It's too good an opportunity and you know it is."
"So how about if it was the other way around? What if I might die doing this? Would you be so keen to do it then?" Hermione threw back at him and Draco's face turned serious.
"I'm glad it isn't that way round."
"See!" Hermione's voice rose hysterically, her tears escaping her eyes and running silently down her cheeks. "I can't let anything happen to you..."
Draco was watching her, his eyes their deepest grey and he reached out and pulled her against him. They wound their arms around each other in silence and Draco didn't try and comfort her because he knew that despite her emotional state, she knew what was the right thing to do.
"Hermione Granger, I'm taking you out tonight. I'll ask Amber and Michael if they want to go to Hogsmeade. We're all in need of some light relief and I want to spend some time with you. Without any stupid interruptions!"
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