Hello everyone! I know, it's been ages. With the state of the world lately, I've been very preoccupied and stressed. BUT today, I am beginning part two, and I have two more chapters already prepared to be edited and posted in the coming weeks. Hopefully I can get back to maintaining weekly updates. I will also be posting the first chapter of another story which is very nearly finished.

Please enjoy, and maybe review this chapter. And hop on over to the other story if you'd like! Much love.

PART TWO

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Hermione weighed her powdered root with shaky hands. She was rushing to complete a few healing potions for Madam Pomfrey. It had been three days since the attack on Hogwarts; luckily, there were no casualties, but there were many injuries. Professor Trelawney was still unconscious, Flitwick was covered in burns that would not heal, and poor Hagrid was missing.

Hermione sighed as she stirred her powder into the bubbling cauldron. She checked her watch again, disappointed when it still only showed the time without flashing to a message. She had yet to receive anything from Draco since the attack and she was scared to send anything herself, just in case someone on his end had discovered it. Her charm to hide the message could be undone if someone with high intelligence found it.

She turned as she heard footsteps pattering toward her quickly. Professor McGonagall was walking briskly toward her and Hermione stiffened.

"Miss Granger," McGonagall greeted, dipping her head lightly.

"How is he?" Hermione asked, referring to Harry. No one had seen him since just after the attack. Hermione knew Harry was now aware of Draco's involvement, and she also knew through McGonagall that he was not taking it well. He felt Dumbledore had been duped by the Malfoy family and that this was going to be the end of the War.

"He is…improving. He has worked off much anger in the Room of Requirement. He's asking for you."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Are you sure I should go?"

"As far as I am aware, he does not know of your involvement past taking Mr. Malfoy to Dumbledore. I don't feel it would be prudent to make him aware, either. Not yet."

"I think I agree, Professor," Hermione said as she wiped her hands on her white apron. "Shall I go now?" the aging professor nodded and Hermione swept out of the Hospital Wing and made her way towards the staircase that would lead her to the Room of Requirement.

She stalled in the corridor outside of the Room for a few moments. Finally, she took a breath and paced the wall, revealing a door that led to the Room Of Hidden Things.

"Harry?" She called, starting down one of the aisles. She tried to block out the thought of Death Eaters entering this room, aided by her own boyfriend.

She wandered for a few minutes before finding Harry standing before the very Vanishing Cabinet that Draco had mended. Hermione drew closer to Harry and hesitated before placing a hand on his upper arm.

"When he came to you," Harry breathed. "Why didn't you tell me?"

He wasn't facing her. He was staring at the Cabinet with a blank look on his face. "Dumbledore asked us all to keep it a secret. And with your link to Voldemort's mind… It was a worry that he would find it. It's still a worry. Dr-Malfoy could be killed, Harry."

"He's a Death Eater. Why did he turn?"

"It wasn't his choice to get the Mark. His father gave him up, to avoid being punished by Voldemort for the battle at the ministry last year."

Harry nodded. "But why didn't he just follow? What made him want to join the Light?"

"I'm not sure how much I am supposed to tell you. But essentially, it was because of his mother. He was scared for her, and I am pretty sure she was suffering abuse. He wanted her saved."

"So. Mrs. Malfoy has been placed under protection?"

Hermione nodded. "She's in an Order safehouse somewhere. Narcissa Malfoy being protected is why Malfoy became a spy."

"How do we know he won't turn on us?" Harry looked at her this time. She hesitated.

"Because he made an Unbreakable Vow, Harry. To ensure protection of his mother, he made an Unbreakable Vow with Dumbledore to assist the Order to the best of his abilities."

"With Dumbledore…gone; does the Vow still stand? Or did the magic pass as well?"

"As long as one of the parties is still alive and well, the Vow remains in place until completed, or broken. It will only end with the war or with Malfoy's death." Hermione whispered the last piece of her sentence.

Harry nodded at her. "I'm sorry for being so angry with you. And leaving you alone these past few days."

"I understand why you needed to. I could hardly believe the turn myself."

Harry enveloped her in a hug and they stood holding each other for a few long moments before Harry voiced his next concern.

"Can we tell Ron?"

"I think we need to ask McGonagall that. He won't take it well either." Hermione inwardly shuddered at the thought of telling Ron. Ron hadn't been told why Harry was hiding himself away; he assumed it was due to Dumbledore's death. Ginny was already aware, as she had been aware of Hermione's relationship with Draco.

Hermione had only seen Ginny once since the battle, when the redhead had told Hermione that Harry had locked himself into the Room of Requirement. Ginny had seemed sad about Dumbledore's death, but assure Hermione she still believed in Malfoy's innocence despite the common misconception that Malfoy had killed Dumbledore.

As Hermione led Harry back toward the Hospital Wing to talk with McGonagall, she couldn't help but check her watch once more, despite not having felt any warmth from it in the passing hour. She sighed as she confirmed Draco had still not messaged her and the worry in her stomach grew even more.