Chapter 38 : Recruitment

Her first night in Paris after Sirius' death was horrible. As soon as she and her grandfather were alone in his study, she broke down in tears, Alphard Black holding his granddaughter tightly, unable to ease her pain away because it was mirrored in his own heart.

Her mother, once she had been told of the news, had also shed tears for Sirius, even though they had never gotten along. Hermione's father was quick to organize a small funeral. Without a body, they had nothing to bury, so they filled a small wooden box with the handsomest cloak and robe he owned, a pipe, and his portrait. The box was buried in the the courtyard, marked with a flat, black marble epitaph and a rose bush that Lyra had planted. It was a lackluster funeral, and the family had retired back into the house after.

Her parents had not been informed exactly how Sirius had died, only that it had involved an encounter with Death Eaters. The Dagworth-Granger Manor was closed to everyone except them and the house elves. Hermione's mother and father no longer had friends over for tea, choosing to remain hidden once again. Alphard had ultimately decided to keep his family in the dark.

Hermione waited. She waited five and a half weeks into summer vacation before the letter she had been waiting for arrived. When the owl bearing the envelope arrived, it was quickly shooed away by the house elves, and the letter presented to her while she was reading in the library. She was quick to call her grandfather, who had taken to keeping to himself in his study.

"Grandpere?" she said quietly as she opened the door.

"Yes, my dear?" the man said from his desk. "Come in."

Hermione closed the door behind her, casting a "Muffliato" charm as she did. Her grandfather observed her curiously. Her eyes shone with tears as she handed the man the black letter. Her name was written on it in silver handwriting, and stamped upon in, keeping it closed was the Dark Mark, glaring at them evilly.

"It's time." she whispered.

"I'll be writing you every week." Lyra said, fixing her daughter's hair, "Don't get into any trouble now, and please refrain from disturbing Narcissa, you know it's a difficult time for her."

"Yes, Maman." Hermione said.

"I still do not agree with sending you off to England at a time like this." said Hector, his face pulled into a frown.

"I'll be fine, Papa." Hermione insisted, "I'm a big girl now."

"Take care of yourself, mon cher." her father said.

"Hermione," Alphard said, interrupting the family of three. "You were supposed to leave five minutes ago."

Hermione smiled sadly, hugging her grandfather one more time before grabbing on to her Portkey — a silver thimble — and saying "Portus."

She was engulfed in the familiar feeling of being transported from one place to another. Once her feet were on solid ground, she dropped the thimble and dusted off her robes. Her hand went to her neck, where her pendant was safely nestled under her clothes, making sure it was still there.

Hermione had landed right infant of Malfoy Manor. It looked just as magnificent as it did in the previous years she had visited, and yet, something was different. She could practically feel the Dark Magic emanating from the place, it made her shiver uneasily at the feeling.

The silver door knockers in the shape of serpents were heavy in her hands as she rapped the doors three times. A house elf appeared shortly, guiding her into a sitting room. She had been sitting there, waiting for about ten minutes before a familiar voice came from the doorway.

"Hermione?"

She turned abruptly, smiling at the sight of her friend. He was dressed smartly, as he always was, in black robes that made his skin look paler than it already was. She stood, hurrying to him and bringing him in an embrace, glad to see that he was alright.

"It's good to see you, Draco." she said, once she had released him.

"It's good to see you too." he said, not looking at her, "Have you got any bags? I'm supposed to bring you to your room."

"Your house elf took them already." she said.

"Oh, alright. Follow me, then." he said, leading her up a flight of stairs.

"You're on the west wing of the third landing. My room's on the west of the second. Theo stays here a lot and his room's right across yours." Draco said. Hermione nodded absently as her curious eyes drank in her surroundings.

He opened the door to her room, letting her in. Hermione stood there, inspecting the place before realizing Draco had remained in the doorway, standing so still he looked like a statue.

"Why are you so stiff?" she asked jokingly. "Come inside."

"It isn't proper to enter a lady's room while she is alone." he said, eyes looking at every direction but hers.

"You act as if that matters to you." she said, laughing. "Come on, Draco, we've known each other for years, it's not like you're going to ravish me."

Surprisingly, the tips of his ears became a bright shade of pink. He made no move to enter the room.

"Fine, then." she said, walking past him, "If you won't talk to me in my room let's go to the gardens. Is anyone there?"

"No one else is here at the moment except Mother." Draco said, following her down the hall. "The, er, others are out on missions."

"Has anyone been inducted already?" she asked.

"Flint, Pucey and Warrington took the Mark right after school ended. Then a few I don't know took it last week. I don't think anyone besides you, Theo, and me are getting Marked in our year though."

Hermione nodded in understanding. "Bellatrix is staying here?"

"Yes, she's raving, so it's best not to talk to her though. The Lestrange brothers are staying here too." Draco said. "And Wormtail. Do you know him?"

Hermione nodded. "I've heard of him. Does the Dark Lord really reside here now?"

"Sometimes," said Draco, as they walked along Narcissa's rose bushes. "He's here a lot, but I don't think he ever sleeps at the Manor."

"Do you know when our induction will be?" she asked. It unsettled her that the conversation was progressing as if they were exchanging opinions on Quidditch tactics.

"Tomorrow night, I think. Theo's coming tonight."

"Have you heard anything about your father?" she asked.

"He's still in Azkaban. The Dark Lord hasn't said anything about it." Draco's voice had gone cold.

She rested a hand on her shoulder, offering him a sad smile. "We'll get him back." she promised.

He remained silent, staring at the expanse of the gardens. They remained that way for a while, before a house elf had popped into sight, surprising them both with the announcement that Narcissa Malfoy wanted to have tea with Hermione.

"Just me?" Hermione asked the elf. He nodded furiously, before popping out of sight.

"She'll probably be in the greenhouse." Draco said. "I'll take you there."

The Malfoy greenhouses were unlike the ones at Hogwarts. For one, it did not contain any form of man eating, venomous, or poisonous plants, and another difference was that it was made out of clear crystal and gilded steel, the light shone on the flowers beautifully in the afternoon sun.

Narcissa was already sitting in the middle of the greenhouse, similarly dressed as Draco and Hermione, head to toe in black robes. Hermione curtsied respectfully to the lady of the house.

"Good afternoon, Lady Malfoy." she said, bowing her head.

"How many times have I told you to call me Narcissa, dear?" said the woman. She looked quite different from the last time she had seen her. Narcissa seemed thinner, more tired looking, and Hermione counted several wrinkles that hadn't been there the previous year.

"Force of habit." Hermione said, smiling.

"Sit down, my dear." she motioned to the empty seat in front of her. The table was already filled with several finger foods and scones, as well as a porcelain tea pot. "Thank you, Draco, you may leave us."

She watched as her friend departed, his figure lost in the foliage. An elf popped into view, ready to brew her tea.

"White tea, please." Hermione said, and the elf went to work.

"How are you, Hermione?" Narcissa asked.

"I'm quite well, thank you. And you, Narcissa?"

"I can't say I'm at my best." the woman said, smiling sadly.

"This isn't about me, thought." she said, recovering quickly. "I wanted to ask you, are you completely sure that you want this, dear girl? You don't have to, you know. I never did."

Hermione smiled, understanding the woman's concern. "I'm sure." she said.

"It's quite horrible, you know, taking it. Lucius told me once that it was excruciating, even for him."

"I'll find a way to get through it." Hermione ensured.

Narcsissa sighed heavily. "You're just so young." she said. "All of you are."

Hermione nodded her head, unable to disagree. "It's a choice we have to make."

"Hermione, I know you're a bright girl." Narcissa said, "The perfect daughter if I may say so myself. But other than that, you have a good head on your shoulders, and you're kind."

Hermione frowned, unsure where the woman was going with this.

"I want to ask a favor of you." said Narcissa, her eyes were wide and pleading, so unlike how she normally was, "I want you to keep an eye on Draco. He hasn't been himself lately, with Lucius gone and the induction. I worry about him."

"I worry about him, too." said Hermione. "You don't have to ask me to look after him, Narcissa, I would have done it whether or not you asked me to."

"You really are such a sweet girl." the woman said, eyes shining.

"Are you ready?"

Theodore Nott stood at her door at half past six in the evening the day after she had arrived at Malfoy Manor. He was clad in black robes, as was she, both of them looking as though they were headed to a funeral. Hermione took in a breath of air, sighing heavily.

"I'm scared." she admitted, placing her wand inside her robe pocket.

"I am too." he said, coming to stand behind her as she sat on her vanity. "But it's something we have to do." She nodded somberly, allowing him to help her up from the seat.

A knock came from the door, drawing both their attention. Draco was now standing at the entrance to her room, dressed similarly and looking nervous.

"We should be going." he said, motioning for them to follow him. She obliged, walking behind him and in front of Theo, as they made their way to the Manor ballroom, which had been converted into a meeting place for the Dark Lord and his followers.

They were met at the door by Narcissa, who was looking as anxious as she felt. She ushered them inside, locking the door behind her.

Almost instantly, Hermione felt as if she was in the presence of a hundred dementors. There, sitting in what looked like it could be a throne, was the Dark Lord, his scarlet eyes glowing from the other end of the room. Around the room were his Death Eaters, looking as though they were there as an audience, there were about thirty or so of them, clad in masks and dark robes.

"Welcome …" he rasped. "Come forward, my children."

The three obeyed, coming to a halt about ten feet before him. Hermione looked straight ahead, making sure that her mind was closed off entirely.

"It pleases me that ones so young wish to pledge their loyalty to me." the Dark Lord hissed. His voice was soft, somehow, Hermione though it sounded like a snake slithering across a stone floor. "State your names."

"Draco Lucius Malfoy"

"Hermione Mira Black Dagworth-Granger"

"Theodore Nott"

Their voices echoed throughout the room.

"Do you pledge your loyalty to your Dark Lord, and only to your Dark Lord?"

"I do." they chorused. Hermione's heart was beating so hard that she almost did not notice the tell-tale sign of Legilimency on her mind. Thankfully, her defenses were already up. All the Dark Lord would see were flashes of tea with Narcissa, her hugging her mother goodbye, and several memories of her childhood running through her mind. His presence left her as quickly as it came.

"Hermione." he hissed. She stood straighter, looking at his hideous face.

"Yes, my Lord?" she asked.

"You have no one to pledge your name, unlike Draco and Theodore. Why should you be honored with the privilege of becoming one of my Death Eaters? What is there for you to gain?"

Hermione did not waste a moment to reply. "Power, my Lord." she said, her voice unwavering. "I offer my magic and my might to you, as your loyal follower, in hopes to see the Wizarding World restored to its former glory. There is only one I believe powerful enough to do that, and I kneel before him in servitude."

"Well said, my dear." said the Dark Lord, smiling. It was a horrible thing, his smile. It looked like the face of a young boy who found joy in killing garden gnomes.

"Kneel, my children, to receive my mark."

The fell on one knee, lifting their sleeves to expose the skin of their left arms.

The pain was instantaneous.

It felt as if a hot poker iron was being pressed into her arm. The burning was not the only thing. The Dark Mark's magic flowed into their veins, as if it was tainting their blood with its essence. Hermione felt as if she was under the Cruciatus, only stronger. She bit down on her lip to stop herself from screaming until she tasted blood. Her skin was coated in a fine sheen of sweat and it only kept getting worse. Hermione watched, in pain and morbid curiosity as the Mark appeared on her arm, the swirling snake slithering down the length of her forearm. She willed herself to remain kneeling, digging her nails into her palm in an effort to stay upright.

"Rise, Death Eaters." Voldemort finally said, withdrawing his magic.

They stood unsteadily, facing the Dark Lord with expressions of pain and fear.

Hermione woke from her nightmare with a start. The sudden movement caused her to wince in pain. She remembered suddenly where she was, and why it felt like her body was being pierced with a thousand needles at the same time. Tears began falling from her face against her will.

"What's wrong?" someone whispered from her right.

Hermione tried to scream, only to have her mouth covered by a rough hand. A lamp by her bed was suddenly lit, filling the room with a soft yellow glow.

Draco Malfoy was standing over her, his eyes wide and tired looking. "Don't scream, it's just me."

Hermione nodded, pulling his hand away from her mouth. The movement made her wince again in pain.

"Why are you here?" she rasped.

"I recovered before you did." he said, looking at her worriedly. "You've been asleep for two days."

At her bewildered look, he began to explain. "The effects of Marking are different with every person. I woke up yesterday, Theo woke this morning, but he's still resting.

"Drink this." he said, passing a vial to her. "Pain killer."

She drank it greedily, not minding the acrid taste that filled her mouth because of it. The effects were immediate, numbing the pain away. Along with he numbing, she began to feel light headed.

"You need to rest." she said, laying a hand on Draco's arm sleepily.

"I have to watch over you." he said stubbornly.

"Don't worry … about me …" she said, fighting off the way her eyelids were threatening to shut.

"Just sleep, Mione." he said, she twined her fingers in his just as she drifted off.

She woke several times in the night, only to find that Draco had not moved from where he was. He had moved a chair to the side of her bed resting his head in his arm on the mattress as he slept. His other hand was otherwise occupied, his fingers holding on to hers as they slept. She gazed at him fondly, brushing away a lock of hair that had fallen onto his face. She could see the Dark Mark peeking from under his sleeve, looking out of place on his pale skin.

She fiddled with the pendant under her clothes, muttering a few words under her breath as she held it, as if talking to it.

"Inducted." she whispered. "Recovering."

"Where's Draco?" she asked Theo when she finally came down to eat. It was lunch time, but even then, she and her friend were the only ones present in the dining room. Hermione took a seat next to Theo, who seemed to be halfway through his meal.

"The Dark Lord called him, Narcissa, and Bellatrix this morning." said Theo. "They haven't left the room since then."

"How are you?" she asked, as she looked at the food prepared for them Her stomach churned at the sight of it, as if protesting even the mere thought of eating. She poured herself a glass of water instead.

"As well as I could be." Theo said, smiling weakly. "You?"

"Just as well as you, I guess." she said. "What do we do now?"

"I don't think there's much we can do." Theo said. "We can't Apparate yet, so we're no use on missions."

"I'm supposed to get my license in September." she said.

"Lucky," groaned Theo, "Draco and I have to wait an entire year."

The two were interrupted by a flutter of wings. A barn owl had entered the room through an open window, landing on the dining table. Tied ti its leg were three Hogwarts envelopes. Hermione retrieved the letters and fed the owl a few bits of bread. It squawked pleasantly before flying away.

"Guess this means we're in for a trip to Diagon Alley." Theo said, waving his letter around.

"Theo," Hermione said in a strangled whisper, "Theo!"

"What's gotten into you?" he asked, brows furrowing in confusion.

"Those are the OWL results!" she screeched.

Theo dropped the envelope as if he had just been burned. "Bloody hell, I forgot about those."

Hermione held her own envelope in her shaking hand, "We'll open in together, alright?"

He nodded, looking just as serious as she. With shaking hands, she tore open the seal and took out the parchment tucked inside.

"How did you do?" Theo asked, trying to sneak a look at her parchment.

"Dix." she whispered.

""Excuse me?" said Theo, looking flabbergasted.

"Dix, Theo." she said again. "Ten! I got ten Outstandings!"

"Blimey, Hermione, congratulations!" said Theo brightly.

"How did you do?" she asked, genuinely interested.

"Not as much as you." he joked. "I only got five."

"That isn't bad at all!" Hermione grinned. "Oh, this is the best news."

"Nice change of things, yeah?" Theo said. "Oi!"

Hermione jumped, startled at his sudden exclamation. "Why did you —"

Her attention was drawn to the figure in the entry way. Draco stood there, looking tired and weary, his eyes looking red.

"Mate!" Theo said, showing Draco his envelope, "OWL results are in."

"Cool." Draco said, not moving from where he stood. "Hermione, can I have a word?"

Hermione stood, flashing a look at Theo as she got out of her seat. "What's wrong, Draco?"

"Let's go to your room." he said weakly. Hermione grew even more concerned as she neared him, he looked worse up close. She guided him out of the dining hall, just before she turned to look at Theo, who was mirroring her look of worry on his face.

"What's wrong, Draco?" she asked again, after sitting him down on her bed. He bent his head, covering his face with his hands. Hermione laid a hand on his back comfortingly.

"You can tell me." she said softly.

"He's going to kill me." Draco rasped, his voice muffled by his hands. Hermione's hand stiffened against him.

"What?" she hissed, fear clutching at her heart.

"No, not like that." he said, "He might as well just Avada me, though."

"Don't say that!" Hermione said fiercely. "What did he tell you?"

"He gave me a task." he said shakily. "It's impossible. I'll die if I fail, if I don't, he'll kill me anyways. Fuck. Hermione, what am I supposed to do?"

"What's the task?" she said urgently, alarmed by the despair in his voice.

Draco shook his head in anguish, "I can't tell you … if he finds out I did … he'll kill me… he'll kill me…."

Hermione wrenched Draco's hands away from his face, forcing him to look at her. "He wont find out." she said, her voice serious.

"You can't know that." Draco said incredulously, "The Dark Lord —"

"Won't find out." she repeated. "Trust me."

She could see him sag in surrender. His next words chilled Hermione to the bone.

"He wants me to kill Dumbledore."

Draco had gone, mostly because of her incessant nagging. He had hesitantly gone back to his room, after countless assurances from Hermione that everything would be alright and they would sort things out together. She found herself alone in her room, once again whispering to the pendant around her neck.

"Task. Murder. APWBD." she said, the necklace's silver shone brightly with the words before fading. Moments later, it warmed up in her hand, new words forming on the surface.

"Noted. Do as you must."

She dropped the necklace just as a knock sounded from her door. Theo stood there, looking at her worriedly.

"Is everything alright?" he asked.

"Yes," she said quickly, rising from the bed, "everything's fine, Theo."

"Why was Draco —?"

"It's nothing." she said, waving him off.

"Oh, alright then." he said, "Well … I'm off. I can't leave the house for too long, I'm the only one left to keep it up nowadays."

Hermione nodded in understanding, moving to hug her friend goodbye. "Be safe."

"You too, alright? Keep an eye on Draco." She nodded, watching her friend disappear down the hall.

"Morning." Hermione said to the only person in the dining hall the next morning. Bellatrix Lestrange painted quite the picture, eating jam and toast with her feet propped on the table. She looked up when Hermione revealed her presence, smiling at the girl.

"Good morning, niece." Bellatrix said, in a grin that seemed more like a smile. "This seems to be the first time we've met."

"So it is, Aunt Bellatrix." Hermione said, smiling. The expression on her face betrayed the feeling of hate that threatened to burst out of her chest at the mere sight of the woman. "May I join you?"

"How is dear Uncle Alphard?" Bellatrix asked, "Still a Muggle lover?"

"I would not be here if he was." Hermione smirked, "Let's just say I changed his mind on a few issues."

"And Lyra? Why are they not here? Fighting alongside us?" It almost seemed like she was being interrogated.

"You know how they are," she shrugged, "Grandfather has never been much of a fighter, and Mother can barely hurt a fly."

"Let's hope you're not as weak willed as they are, then." Bellatrix's eyes flashed with something one could only describe as ferocity. Hermione equalled the woman's intense gaze, not allowing herself to be pushed down.

"You will find, Aunty, that I most certainly am not." she promised.

To her complete and utter surprise, Bellatrix laughed. It was a mad, cackling sort of laughter that filled the room and seemed to echo through the Manor. "I like you, girl." she said, "You remind me of … well, me!" Another peal of laughter rang out, making Hermione more uncomfortable. She didn't want to be like her Aunt at all.

"Bella?" Narcissa Malfoy had appeared in the room, dressed as if she were going somewhere.

"Is it time already, sister?" Bellatrix asked wearily, twirling a knife in between her fingertips.

"Yes, Bella, we have to go." said the lady of the hose, glancing at Hermione for a fraction of a second before taking her leave.

"Sorry to cut our chat short, darling niece. We'll continue this once I get back." she rose from the chair lazily, kicking it back with such force that it toppled over.

"Have a good day, Hermione."

The days at Malfoy Manor were long and lonely. Draco had chosen to look himself in his room, claiming that he was busy every time she tried knocking on his door. She had once again resorted to busying herself in the library, scanning through old texts that may somehow be of help to Draco's task. If Dumbledore had told her to proceed with the task, he must have already had something planned.

She was reading a book on the First Wizarding War when she chanced upon the short chapter regarding escape routes. Her heart raced as quickly as her legs did as she ran through the halls of the Manor, coming to a halt in front of Draco's door. She rapped her knuckles on the wood loudly, the sound echoing down the hall.

"Go away!" shouted the voice from inside.

"You are going to let me in, Draco, or so help me I will knock this door down with every curse I know." she yelled, knocking on the wood again.

She kept knocking incessantly until she heard a shuffle of feet on the other side of the door, and the sound of a lock being undone. The door opened, revealing an exhausted looking boy, his eyes were rimmed in dark circles and he looked like he hadn't slept in days.

"You look like death." she pointed out, shoving her way inside.

"I didn't say you could come in." he said, glaring at her.

"I don't care either way." she said, laying the book down on his desk. His room looked exactly like one would have imagined it; it was as if Salazar Slytherin himself had lived there. Green and silver lined the walls, as well as his bed, posters of Quidditch players were Spellotaped here and there, as well as a few pictures of them and their friends over the years.

"Hermione, I'm busy." he tried to say, but she cut him off with a wave of her hand.

"I found a possible way to do it." she said, motioning to the book. He was beside her in seconds, leaning over to read the article as if his life depended on it, which it actually did.

"A Vanishing Cabinet? But where —?" he trailed off, seeming to remember something. "Montague?"

She nodded her head, glad that he understood. "The one from last year. You were the one who found him, didn't you? All we have to do is find its twin and —"

"I know where it is."

Hermione stopped talking abruptly, staring at him in shock. "You know…?"

"We need to get to Knockturn Alley."

They had been unable to convince Narcissa that they would be fine going to Diagon Alley on their own. The woman insisted on accompanying them, repeatedly saying that they were too young and it was too dangerous.

That was how they found themselves in Madam Malkins, being fitted for new uniforms instead of doing what they were out to do. Draco was being fussy, which Hermione understood, but it was getting quite tiresome to hear him complain about pins.

". . . not a child, in case you haven't noticed, Mother. I am perfectly capable of doing my shopping alone."

Madam Malkin clucked reproachfully, "Now, dear, your mother's quite right, none of us is supposed to go wandering around on our own anymore, it's nothing to do with being a child —"

"Watch where you're sticking that pin, will you!"

"Honestly, Draco," Hermione said impatiently, "if you stopped struggling for just a minute we would have been done ages ago."

But Draco was not listening to her, instead his attention had been drawn to the mirror, where the faces of Potter, Weasley, and Longbottom were reflected. She saw his grey eyes narrow.

"If you're wondering what the smell is, Mother, three Blood Traitors just walked in," said Draco.

"I don't think there's any need for language like that!" said Madam Malkin, scurrying out from behind the clothes rack holding a tape measure and a wand. "And I don't want wands drawn in my shop either!" she added hastily, for a glance toward the door had shown Potter and Weasley both standing there with their wands out.

Narcissa strolled out from behind the clothes rack, glaring at the group of boys who had appeared. "Put those away," she said coldly to Harry and Ron. "If you attack my son again, I shall ensure that it is the last thing you ever do."

"Really?" said Potter, taking a step forward."Going to get a few Death Eater pals to do us in, are you?"

Madam Malkin squealed and clutched at her heart. "Really, you shouldn't accuse — dangerous thing to say — wands away, please!"

Potter did not lower his wand, and Narcissa smiled unpleasantly. "I see that being Dumbledore's favorite has given you a false sense of security, Harry Potter. But Dumbledore won't always be there to protect you."

Potter looked mockingly all around the shop. "Wow . . . look at that . . . he's not here now! So why not have a go? They might be able to find you a double cell in Azkaban with your loser of a husband."

Draco made an angry movement towards Potter, only to be stopped by Hermione, who held him back with a look of warning.

"Don't you dare talk to my mother like that, Potter!"he snarled.

"It's all right, Draco," said Narcissa, restraining him with her thin white fingers upon his shoulder. "I expect Potter will be reunited with dear Sirius before I am reunited with Lucius."

Hermione's fingers twitched angrily at the sound of Sirius being mentioned. It seemed to anger Potter just as well. He raised his wand higher.

"Harry, no!" moaned Longbottom, grabbing his arm and attempting to push it down by his side.

"Think, you mustn't … you'll be in such trouble …"

Madam Malkin dithered for a moment on the spot, then seemed to decide to act as though nothing was happening in the hope that it wouldn't. She bent toward Draco, who was still glaring at Potter.

"I think this left sleeve could come up a little bit more, dear, let me just —" Hermione's eyes widened as the woman moved to raise the cloth.

"Ouch!" bellowed Draco, slapping her hand away. "Watch where you're putting your pins, woman! Mother — I don't think I want these anymore —" He pulled the robes over his head and threw them onto the floor at Madam Malkin's feet.

"You're right, Draco," said Narcissa, with a contemptuous glance at Hermione, "now I know the kind of scum that shops here. . . . We'll do better at Twilfitt and Tatting's. Come, now, Hermione."

With that, the three strode off, Draco taking care to band as hard as he could into Weasley on his way out. Narcissa's mood had been dampened considerably, she was snapping at them impatiently by the time they had collected all the things they needed for school. When she wasn't looking, too put out by the altercation with Potter, Hermione and Draco slipped away, running off into an alley way they hoped led to the place they were looking for.

They hurried past the Weasley Joke shop, careful to hide their faces with their hood as they passed. Draco led her through the maze of passage ways until they found the worn down sign that bore the name Knockturn Alley.

"There." Hermione whispered, seeing the shop that they were looking for. Borgin and Burkes sold a wide variety of sinister objects, one of them may just help them with Draco's task. They went in, the bell ringing as the door slammed shut behind them. She left Draco to talk to the oily-haired, stooping man named Borgin, and proceeded to wander around the shop, careful not to touch anything as she did.

She could hear Draco arguing with Borgin about how to repair the cabinet, Borgin sounded reluctant to commit to the deal. Hermione strode back to the front of the store, glaring at the man intensely.

"I hope you reconsider, Mr Borgin," she said sweetly, "after all, we do have other means to make you comply."

She nodded to Draco, who raised his sleeve, showing the man the Mark that swirled angrily on his skin. Borgin's face contorted in fear at the sight of it.

"Tell anyone," said Draco, "and there will be retribution. You know Fenrir Greyback? He's a family friend. He'll be dropping in from time to time to make sure you're giving the problem your full attention."

"There will be no need for —"

"I'll decide that," said Draco. "Well, I'd better be off. And don't forget to keep that one safe, I'll need it."

"Perhaps you'd like to take it now?"

"No, of course I wouldn't, you stupid little man, how would I look carrying that down the street? Just don't sell it."

"Of course not . . . sir."

"Not a word to anyone, now, Mr Borgin." she called out, her soft voice ringing through the room, "I would hate to see what would become of you if word of this slipped out."

"Naturally, naturally," murmured Borgin, bowing to the both of them.

Next moment, the bell over the door tinkled loudly as they exited the shop, with Draco looking quite pleased with himself.

"I told you not to buy the necklace." she said under her breath. "It won't work. We should just stick to the plan."

"I will decide what will and won't work, Hermione." Draco said. "It's my task."

She rested a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "You don't have to do this alone, Draco."

"I don't want to drag you into this." he said, frowning. "If the Dark Lord found out I've been receiving help —"

"I'm already in this, you idiot." she said, slapping him gently on the arm. "We're doing this together whether you like it or not."

He looked down at her, gratitude swimming in his eyes as he nodded in agreement.

"Let's go, before Mother calls the Aurors in to report us missing."

a/n: Some of you guys hoped i wouldn't kill Srius, I know, but I feel his death is somehow essential to the whole plot of Harry Potter. Also, I noticed a lot of you hate Ron in this fic, I know I made him out to bee an ass, but I genuinely hate him in the books, too, which is something I think I'll get a lot of hate for if I expounded on it.