A/N:

As promised: chapter 35. It's longer than usual with two significant parts that I felt were too short on their own, so I mushed them together. I also realised I needed to provide Draco with an electrical storm…in Scotland…in November. So I googled and the internet provided me with THUNDERSNOW so, you're welcome!

Please let me know what you think in the comments or come and have a chat over on tumblr ( mxstyassasxin).

Enjoy! xx

Chapter 35 - Inception

"Granger. Granger." Hermione was roused by a strong grip on her shoulder and thought for a moment that she must have fallen asleep outside in the summer sun, before remembering the bitter chill she'd felt waking up in the Shack earlier.

She groaned and stretched, feeling the rich material of the common room sofa below her, but kept her eyes closed, swatting the voice away.

"Hermione, come on. Wake up," the low voice continued.

"Here, Draco," a sing-song voice called. "She'll want something to eat. They all missed breakfast."

"Breakfast?" Ron sounded groggy. "Ah thanks, Luna!"

"Well, it's from lunch but you're very welcome, Ronald."

Hermione sensed the others moving around, all awoken by the promise of food and sighed, resigned to the fact that her rest was over for now.

"You couldn't have given me a bit longer?" she queried as she sat up, Draco wrapping an arm around her shoulders to help.

"Not really, Granger," he scoffed. "It's only an hour until the final bell and we have quite a bit to discuss."

She lifted her head from Draco's shoulder and looked at her friends where they were all busy eating.

"No," she shook her head stubbornly. "No, not today."

"Granger," the way he drawled it told her she wouldn't be getting her way. "They are here now. You are telling them now."

"But I-" she stopped short as he tucked a finger beneath her chin, bringing her gaze to meet his.

"But nothing, Granger. You promised you would tell them," he reminded her, eyebrow raised imperiously. "Just them, while they're here. I promise I'm not surprising you with the entire Auror department."

Hermione huffed out of her nose and Draco chuckled.

"Oi! Malfoy, why don't you leave her alone and let her eat," Ron shouted with his mouth full, and all signs of teasing fell from Draco's face as his mask slid back into place.

Hermione narrowed her eyes and looked past Draco's shoulder with a low growl in her throat.

"Oh shut it," Ginny swatted her brother's arm. "Just leave them to it."

"It's fine, Ginevra," Draco turned, all prim and proper, to face the others and Hermione instantly missed his touch.

She shook herself out of it and rose gingerly from her seat before grabbing a plate of food from the coffee table - the sight making her stomach grumble - and sinking to the floor. As she took her first bites, she leaned back against Draco's legs and looked straight at Ron, daring him to say something.

He went red in the face and looked away, much to Ginny's amusement.

"Oh honestly," she laughed, turning her attention to Hermione and Draco with a smile still on her face. "Anyway, you going to fill us in on the big secret?"

She waggled her eyebrows at them, her eyes glinting mischievously, but her face quickly fell when she saw the serious look they exchanged.

"Well?" Harry asked leaning forward.

Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling Draco give her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. She took the strength he offered and opened her eyes, prepared to speak, but was interrupted by a loud tapping at the nearest window.

Everyone looked at the scruffy looking owl shuffling impatiently on the other side of the ancient glass, but it was Luna who went to let it in.

"No! Wait!" The rotten smell of wrongness hit Hermione almost immediately, but too late; The bird had taken flight across the common room, a damp, brown package dropping from its talons into her lap.

She pushed it to the floor and watched, helpless, as the package rolled open under the coffee table revealing dark stains and matted fur, a gaping hole where the rabbit had been slit down the middle. He'd gutted it for her.

"Evanesco!" Ginny shouted, far quicker on the draw than anyone else.

Hermione stared, numb, at the place the poor creature had vanished from.

"Bloody hell," Ron muttered and Hermione dragged her gaze away from the rug to look at him, seeing him staring at the same spot with a green tinge on his face, the sandwich he'd been eating forgotten in his hand.

"What was that about?" Harry looked indignantly between his girlfriend and Hermione. They looked at each other, dawning horror in their eyes, and Hermione swallowed. There was no escaping this.

"It's to do with that note and everything last week, isn't it?" Ginny breathed.

"What note?" Harry insisted.

"I've been getting threats, of a sort."

Behind her Draco scoffed, and she dug her nails into his ankle.

"Like this? From the public?" Harry's eyes narrowed.

"Not exactly," Hermione sighed. "This was a first, but I also received a note last week, after Hogsmeade. From Greyback."

"Hermione!" Ron and Harry shouted together.

"How, you can't just... 'Mione!" Harry spluttered. "You can't just keep something like that to yourself for a whole week!"

Draco cleared his throat obnoxiously and she turned to hiss at him.

"Not the time."

"Great. So Malfoy knew."

"But of course she told Draco, Harry," Luna inputted helpfully.

Hermione ran her hands down her face and groaned.

"I had my reasons for keeping it to myself at the beginning. You're my pack and I have to protect you. Initially that meant not telling you-"

"We're Aurors, Hermione," Harry interrupted.

"Trainee Aurors, and that doesn't exactly make me all that confident about your safety. If I'd told you - no, let me finish," she held up her hand when he went to interrupt again. "If I'd told you in Hogsmeade that I'd sensed him, you would have run off with no plan, no backup, and that would not have been keeping you safe."

She glared at him until he lowered his gaze and sighed resignedly.

"Alright. Just, will you tell us now, then we can go and inform the Aurors."

She was pleased to see that he only gestured to himself and Ron when he said 'we'.

"I promise that was the plan, Harry. Even before that came through the window." Her face screwed up in disgust.

"The beginning then," Harry pinched the bridge of his nose before pushing his glasses back into place, gesturing for her to talk. "You said you sensed him in Hogsmeade?"

"At Aberforth's. He bumped into me at the bar on purpose but when I ran out the door after him, he'd gone. I could still feel him watching, but I couldn't see him. There were too many people so I just tried to keep you all inside and in my sight until we left."

"That's why you collapsed," Ginny's eyes widened in understanding. "You had that pressing on you all day."

Hermione nodded and Draco started running his fingers soothingly through her hair. She leant into the touch before continuing.

"The note I got the next day, the one I burned, it was him saying that I should join him."

"And now this." Ginny ruminated. "What? Some sort of token?"

Hermione shrugged tiredly but noticed Draco's hands falter as he suddenly tensed.

"You're going to have to bring it back, Gin," Harry told her, carrying on with his job oblivious to the tension emanating from Draco. "It's a shame the bird was so quick to leave, but we might be able to get something useful off the packaging."

"Alright," Ginny stood from the sofa. "I'll walk down to the gate with you so I don't have to do it here."

Hermione saw Ginny glance at her sympathetically and gave an exaggerated eyeroll in response, turning the look on Ginny's face into a smirk.

"I'll be back in a bit 'Mione," she said, tugging Harry by the hand towards the portrait hole.

"Bye, guys," she smiled.

"Ooh I'll come with you," Luna sparked to life again, grinning at Hermione and Draco before skipping off after Ginny and Harry.

"See you, 'Mione," Ron stood with his hands in his pockets. "We'll get this sorted and I'll try and keep him out of trouble."

Hermione barked a laugh. "You, Ronald, are just as likely to get into trouble as him."

Ron chuckled. "Less of the life and death trouble then."

And with one last confused look at Draco, he waved and left.

Hermione sighed and twisted up onto her knees to face the stoic pureblood behind her. She was worried about how tense he'd become after Ginny had mentioned the token, and the look on his face didn't help dispel any of that concern.

"Draco?" she spoke quietly, rubbing her palms along his thighs. "Are you with me?"

He blinked rapidly and looked down at her, his mouth pulling up at the corner once he focused back in on her.

"I'm the one who's meant to be taking care of you," he murmured, wrapping his elegant hands around her wrists and pulling her up off the floor.

The words rattled around in her head until she shook them loose, smiling at him despite the sudden pounding of her heart. There was something she had to do, something she was going to say. Get a grip, Hermione.

"So, despite that," Draco sneered briefly, "how was your evening?"

"Uneventful," she replied distractedly. "Draco, are you alright?"

He looked conflicted and wouldn't meet her eyes, so she worked her hands free and reached up to cup his face.

"Hey, look at me. Please."

He did, slowly, and the eyes that met hers were that searing, molten silver again. She gasped and he sighed, closing his eyes as he leant into her hands.

"This urge, Hermione," he whispered. "I need you safe and I can't stand it."

Her stomach dropped and she started to remove her hands, taking a step back.

"No," his eyes flew open again and he held her hands where they were, keeping her close to him. "I can't stand the thought of you not being safe. Of any of them not being safe, really. But mainly you, and mainly because of him."

Hermione suddenly found herself pulled against his chest, his arms wrapped tight around her shoulders and her head tucked beneath his chin. She could feel his chest expanding against her cheek with every shaky breath he took.

"Draco," she crooned, working her arms around his trim waist. "I am safe. I'm here."

She paused for a moment, considering her next reassurance as they stood there as one.

"I'm yours."

His breath caught and he froze, the comforting sway of his body stilling completely. She didn't pull away and he didn't let her go, if anything his arms tightened and he buried his face further into her mess of curls. If it hadn't been for how still everything was, she'd have missed him utter; "I know."

When they eventually parted, it was only far enough for him to place a lingering kiss to her forehead, his hands clasped behind her back while hers rested on his chest. He loosed one hand to reach for his wand and pointed it at something behind her. She turned just enough to see, out of the corner of her eye, the needle on the gramophone lower to the record. A slow ballad started, one she recognised from Andromeda's birthday gift to her, and Draco replaced his hands on her back, swaying them both to the music.

X – X – X

When the Aurors arrived at the school gates a week later, Hermione assumed they were there to question them properly about Greyback. She was sorely mistaken.

Even for Aurors, the only way into Hogwarts was either through the gates or authorised, personal floo access. As such, they had arrived on the path to Hogsmeade and sent a patronus to McGonagall, requesting immediate questioning of Draco Malfoy who just so happened to be studying in the library with Hermione when the Headmistress found him.

"I think you had both better come with me," she sighed, standing with an indiscernible look on her face, hands clasped in front of her.

"Professor?" Hermione looked up from the book she was taking notes from.

"There are Aurors at the gate who wish to speak with Mr Malfoy-" Draco stiffened next to her "-and I believe it prudent for you to accompany us, Miss Granger."

"Of course." Hermione stood immediately and bundled her work into her bag, sending the books she had been using for reference back to their shelves.

Draco hadn't moved.

"Draco?" she leaned over the table and gently placed her hand on his where it was crushing his quill.

He blinked and looked up at her, and she felt his grip relax despite the horror on his face.

"They're not taking you anywhere, I promise you," she searched his eyes, imploring him to hear the determination in that statement.

"I can second that, Mr Malfoy," McGonagall reassured, and Draco's gaze shifted to the Headmistress. "They cannot enter the grounds without my say so, let alone remove a model student from my care."

She smiled kindly and Draco nodded, swallowing down his fear as he stood, bag in hand.

The three of them made their way quickly through the castle and out into the grounds beneath heavy clouds. In the gloom, Hermione made out four wizards garbed in burgundy robes on the other side of the gates and her eyes narrowed at them as she got closer. Four Aurors. She knew from Harry and Ron that it was typical for the Aurors to work in teams of two, and the implication that Draco was somehow worth double the manpower for a simple conversation raised her hackles.

"Thank you, Headmistress," the Auror who stepped forwards spoke. "We'll take it from here."

His wand slipped into his palm, readied, and Hermione started a low growl that had him glancing at her nervously.

McGonagall paid no heed. "Whatever you need to ask Mr Malfoy can be asked here, Larsson."

"I have orders to take him in for questioning. That's why we're here."

"Mr Malfoy is in my care and has been a model student. He certainly has not exhibited any behaviour to warrant this treatment so your conversation will occur here, with myself present, just like any other student."

One of the other Aurors behind Larsson snorted and grinned sardonically.

"He's found a way to get rid of that mark on his arm then. Come on Malfoy, speak up!"

Hermione looked back at Draco to see his head bowed and his shoulders pulled up taught around his ears as his body shuddered. Her growl grew louder.

"Oooh little Death Eater got himself a guard dog," the same Auror laughed, and Hermione had a sudden vision of her claws disappearing into his throat.

"I suggest you control your men, Larsson," McGonagall grit through her teeth. "You'll get not one word from us if such insults continue."

Larsson turned his head and waved two of the Aurors back, leaving just his own partner at his back within hearing range.

"The issue, Headmistress-" Larsson lowered his voice and peered around Hermione and McGonagall to get a look at Draco, "-is that the monitoring spells on Mr Malfoy's wand have been picking up some worryingly sophisticated magic."

"He is a seventh year NEWT student. Of course he is going to be using sophisticated magic. I seriously doubt any of it is worrying."

Hermione's eyes, however, widened in understanding. She must have made a small noise because both McGonagall and Larsson turned to look at her.

"Miss Granger?" the Auror raised an eyebrow inquiringly.

"That would be my fault, Auror Larsson," she said confidently, stepping closer to Draco who was in desperate need of comfort if the now violent shudders were anything to go by.

"The entirety of wizarding Britain knows that you have no need to be casting the Animagus spell, Miss Granger," Larsson smirked, believing to have caught her in a lie. "Let alone with another's wand."

"I have felt it prudent to allow Miss Granger's closest confidants to train as Animagi," McGonagall caught on, and Hermione could have sung. "It makes her monthly transformations as easy as possible here at the school and serves to keep the other students, as well as Miss Granger, safe from harm."

"You'll forgive me if I don't believe that Draco Malfoy is a close confidant of Hermione Granger's, Headmistress." Larsson turned his smirk on McGonagall who fixed him with a stern glare.

"Not if you're insinuating my students are incapable of overcoming ingrained prejudice and moving forwards. If you are, I can assure you that they are doing far better on that front than the Auror department is."

Larsson had the common sense to look sheepish just before the grey sky lit up above them, the bright sheet lightning drawing everyone's attention. The loud crack that followed drew a whimper out of Draco who fell to the ground with his arms over his head.

The heavy clouds released their load as Hermione crouched over Draco, trying to get him to look at her. Professor McGonagall was on his other side trying to pull him upright and Auror Larsson was yelling at them through the gates.

"You can't do this! Headmistress, Draco Malfoy is still on probation. He cannot become an Animagus!"

Hermione squinted through the blizzard as McGonagall strode back towards the gates.

"You can tell the DMLE not to worry, Auror. I'll ensure he registers with the ministry just like I did with trainees Potter and Weasley."

Auror and Headmistress glared at eachother until Larsson gave in. He fell back, burgundy robes speckled with white, and called the other Aurors to him, their disapparition obscured by another blinding flash reflecting off the curtain of snow.

Draco whimpered again at the ensuing crack and Hermione wrapped her arms around him.

"They're gone, Draco. They're gone. Didn't I tell you they wouldn't take you anywhere." She smoothed his hair, damp with snow, back from his face. "Come on, up you get. You haven't put all that effort in to miss this."

He opened his eyes and she spotted the beginnings of a determined look returning. She smiled.

"So you're really doing this? No stopping you, right?"

"No stopping me, Granger," he croaked and scrambled off his knees with a bit of help from Hermione and McGonagall on either side of him.

"You know what to do, Mr Malfoy," the Headmistress raised her eyebrows.

He nodded. "My potion is in Severus' old office. Figured it would be dark and quiet enough since Slughorn's still up on the sixth floor."

"Let's get a move on then."

They moved as quickly as they could through the blizzard, the snow lighting up each time the lightning shot through it. They didn't even pause to shake the snow from themselves once they reached the castle, Draco and McGonagall leading the way down to the dungeons and the old potion master's office.

"Here," Draco pulled the vial from a cupboard and swirled the blood-red potion around inside.

"Good," McGonagall praised. "It's the right colour. Now, the incantation one more time before you drink it, Mr Malfoy. Then you know what to do?"

"Let the image come to me and don't fight it."

"Well done." The professor placed her hand on Draco's shoulder as he raised his wand to his heart, and he paused. "You could have come to me, you know."

"I know I could have," Draco responded, his voice full of gratitude for far more than the simple statement.

"Good luck then," McGonagall smiled and stepped back to join Hermione.

She watched him speak the four words of Latin and tip the vial to his lips. She saw his eyes close tightly and his hand clutch at his chest while he gritted his teeth. She was aware that she was biting her own lip nervously, could taste the tang of copper, but her attention was drawn solely to what would hopefully be Draco's first transformation of many.

Draco began to shrink, but he was laughing. Hermione glanced warily at her professor who gave her a reassuring smile.

"Perfectly normal, Hermione. It's always good when a witch or wizard finds joy in their Animagus form."

They turned back to where Draco had been to see a sleek arctic fox trotting around in a circle before sitting primly and regarding them with his head tilted to one side.

Hermione grinned.

"Hello, Draco."

The fox barked, got to its feet, and then Draco stood there once more, snow still clinging to his robes as he beamed at her.