Chapter 2 New Discoveries
Authors note: Thank you to everyone who read the first chapter. Im really excited to get this story on the road. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine but I do rather enjoy J.K Rowling's books.
Oooo
Hermione woke up rather early to join all the Weasley's and Harry for breakfast. While eating, a Hogwarts owl delivered their letters. Hermione was practically jumping for joy. Quickly she grabbed her letter and ripped it open.
Dear Hermione Granger,
We welcome you to join us for another year a Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We are also glad to inform you of your new Prefects position. The first meeting will be held at the beginning of the train departure. Please don't be late.
Breakfast
Period 1 – Defense Against the Dark Arts
Period 2 – Charms
Lunch
Period 3 – Herbology
Period 4 – Free Period
Period 5 – Potions
Dinner
To Hermione's surprise Ron had also received a Prefects badge. She looked over to Harry staring intently at his letter. "Is everything okay Harry?"
"I – I'm – the new Quidditch Captain!" Hermione jumped up and gave Harry a quick hug.
"That's fantastic Harry, I'm so proud of you!" She adverted her gaze to Ron. "Ron do you have anything you want to say to Harry?"
Ron tried to plaster his best fake smile. "Blimey Harry that's great." He gave Harry a pat on the back before going back to eating. They would be leaving soon for Diagon Alley.
Oooo
After retrieving their books from Flourish & Blotts the trio made their way over to Madam Malkin's for school robes.
"Mother if you're wondering what that smell is a mudblood just walked in." All three meet the gaze of Draco Malfoy. His cruel words were causing Hermione to frown until she noticed the change in him. He looked taller, wiser, and sharper, a little paler then normal but if Hermione hadn't known him he could be considered handsome.
Hermione was drawn from her very strange thoughts as Harry and Ron moved in front of her with their wands drawn. She tried to pull their arms back down. "Guys honestly stop. It's not worth it. He can call me whatever he wants."
Neither budged as Narcissa and Madam Malkins tried as well. It wasn't until Madam Malkins reached for Draco's left arm that things changed.
"I think it could be a little shorter on the left sleeve." She reached to grab his arm.
"Don't touch me women! Mother were leaving. Wouldn't want to shop where a mudblood does." Hermione watched as he held his left arm against his chest while pushing past Ron to leave.
Quickly Harry grabbed both her and Ron and dragged them into an empty alley way.
"We have to follow him." Harry's voice sounded urgent as he pulled out his invisibility cloak.
"What Harry no stop."
"Yeah Harry what's this all about?"
"You guys saw the way he held his left arm. He's one of them. He's a Death Eater." Hermione's jaw dropped as Harry tried to explain.
"Harry that's ridiculous. He's only sixteen and just because he held his left arm does not mean he has the Dark Mark."
Harry's face was turning red as he tried to explain. "No Hermione it makes perfect sense. Voldemort probably has him doing some inside job!" Hermione was becoming skeptical. Harry always jumped to conclusions and that's what got his Godfather Sirius killed.
"Ron what do you think?"
"Well Hermione I'm not saying he's a Death Eater but there's really no harm in following him."
"Fine!" She threw her hands up in defeat as she joined her friends under the invisibility cloak. It only took them a few minutes to find Malfoy. He was entering Borgin and Burkes now with his father. The trio moved onto a nearby roof to get a better view. Hermione was the closet to the window.
"See anything Hermione?"
"Um … I don't know." She could see Malfoy and his father talking with the store owner. Two other people stood in the shop like body guards. The Malfoys made their way over to a rather large cabinet as the body guards looked out the window.
"Guys get down!"
They waited a few more minutes before looking up again. This time the window was closed.
"Bloody hell."
"Guys can we just leave?" Hermione was becoming rather nervous with the whole situation.
Oooo
Once they were back at the Burrow it was question time for Hermione. She sat on the floor of their room as they cast a silencing charm on the door.
"So Hermione what did you see?" She knew what Harry wanted to hear. He wanted her to say Draco was a Death Eater and she clearly saw the mark on his left arm.
"I've told you guys I don't know what I saw."
Ron was becoming as impatient as Harry. "Come on Hermione you had to see something."
"Fine ok! I saw Malfoy and his father talking to the store owner. There were also two other people in the shop. No I didn't recognize them. And finally they were walking over to something before the window closed. So basically I saw nothing of any importance. So can we please just drop it."
"Fine."
"Okay."
"Good now I would advise you two to get some sleep and start packing your trunks because we don't want to miss the Hogwarts Express tomorrow. Now goodnight." Once she closed the door she leant against it for support. She didn't like lying to Harry and Ron but the cabinet she saw just could have been a normal cabinet. She would have to do some research once they got back to Hogwarts.
Oooo
"Blaise can you hurry up I want to get a compartment alone before I go to the Prefects meeting."
"Whatever you say my Lord." A smirk made its way onto Blaise's dark features.
"Shut up Zabini." The smirk only grew.
They placed both of their trunks on the train and went to find a seat. They took a booth. Draco sitting on one side alone and Pansy and Blaise sitting on the other.
"Hello Drakey."
"Hello Pansy." Disgust showed on his face as Pansy's scent entered his nose. She smelled horrible. Quickly the news hit him. 'Crap!' That's one pureblood Slytherin that's not his mate. He tried not to stress. Maybe it would be the Green girl. He wouldn't mind bonding with her or her younger sister. The dirty thought worked a smirk onto his face.
Oooo
"Guys come on! Do you want a compartment to ourselves or not?" The boys huffed before joining her. After a few minutes they joined Neville, Luna, and Ginny.
"Hey guys."
"Hey." Came from the three individuals in the compartment. Harry stole the seat by Ginny forcing Hermione to sit next to Ron.
After a few more minutes of light chatter the train started to move and Hermione jumped up in excitement. "Ron I think we should go to the Prefects meeting."
"Okay."
She gave Harry a small nod before leaving. He seemed rather upset he hadn't become a Prefect as well. Especially because Ron become one and that was surprising enough.
Oooo
Hermione and Ron were one of the first to greet the headmaster in the magically enlarged compartment. They took a seat towards the far side next to the windows.
"Hello Professor. How are you?"
"Aye Miss Granger I am splendid. And yourself? I hear this will be a rather interesting year for you."
She frowned at his words. "I'm doing good." Her mind started to drift as more and more students filled the compartment. Draco Malfoy was the last to enter and took the seat closet to the door.
At first Draco was overwhelmed by the smell. His mother said things like this would happen. Slowly he closed his eyes and took deep breaths to calm himself. Suddenly his eyes flashed open as the smell from yesterday filled his nose. He quickly looked around the room. There were about fifty students, more than half girls. One could be his mate or maybe she just walked by the door. No that's couldn't be it. The smell wasn't going anywhere it was certainly in this room. He could barely focus on the meeting as he continued to take deep breaths savoring the smell. The beautiful honey and cinnamon scent was like a drug. He couldn't get enough. He would bath in its glory if he could.
His attention was broken as the Headmaster he was supposed to kill stood. "I will leave a few copies of who your partner will be for the first month. No complaints or switching allowed." With that Dumbledore apparitied off the train leaving papers in his place.
All the students rushed to see who their partner would be. Hermione stayed back waiting for the crowd to die down. She looked over to see Malfoy with his eyes closed and smelling the air like a dog while students left the compartment. She stood and walked over to the papers with Ron.
Perfect Partners for The Month of September:
Vane and Seamus
Weasely and Thomas
Nova and Larned
Wong and Prince
Granger and Malfoy
Schraam and Woodruff
Hermione frowned as Ron smiled. "I got Dean Thomas!" He looked over to Hermione and read the paper. "Oh blimey sorry Hermione."
She continued to frown as she looked over her shoulder to see Malfoy still sitting there with his eyes closed. "Its fine he will probably just ignore me. Being paired with a Mudblood and all."
Being the last ones but Malfoy in the compartment they decided to leave. Upon exciting Hermione thrusted the list into Malfoys hands. His eyes shot open from the movement and smell becoming extremely strong. He only saw a flash of red hair as he looked down at the list. His eyes skimmed the paper until he found his name.
"Bloody hell!" His partner was Granger. The Mudblood. The know it all. The Gryffindor Princess. The brains of the Golden Trio. What did he do to deserve such an awful year?
Oooo
Hermione and Ron joined their friends just as Harry was leaving. She grabbed onto his arm. "Where are you going?"
"The Bathroom." She was skeptical but released her hold.
Once Harry was out of sight he slipped the invisibility cloak over his head and headed for Malfoys compartment. He slipped in just as Blaise was closing the door. He couldn't just stand there so he slowly climbed to where the luggage was kept over the seats.
Malfoy noticed a foot randomly appear and disappear. He thought he was going crazy until Goyle's luggage moved and a hand appeared to push it. 'Potter. Had he come to see the show?' Malfoy might as well have some fun with Potter for a little.
Blaise was the first to address Draco. "So is it true?"
A smirk plastered itself on Draco's face. "I cannot give away the information you request."
Pansy was trying to play footsy with him. "Did you meet him Drakey?"
"Now now Pansy no one gave you permission to speak." She stopped moving her feet and looked down at the table. The rest of the train ride was filled with pointless chatter until they reached Hogwarts.
"Draco aren't you coming?"
"No go ahead. I'll just be another minute." He noticed Granger and the Weasel leaving the compartment without Harry. He caught her eye as she searched to see if Harry was still on the train.
"Come on Hermione he is probably already in the Great Hall with Ginny."
"Fine." She knew Ron was getting hungry and would most likely leave without her.
Draco stood and closed the train doors and the blinds so no one could look inside. Quickly he turned around wand raised and shouted.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Harry became instantly paralyzed and fell hard onto the floor.
"I thought so," he said jubilantly. "I heard Goyle's trunk hit you." Malfoy was now staring down at the helpless Harry.
"You didn't hear anything I care about, Potter. But while I've got you here …"
Suddenly Malfoys foot came smashing down hard on Harry's face. Malfoy heard the noise of his nose breaking and watched the blood spill down his face and onto his neck.
"That's for my father. Now let's see …" Quickly he grabbed Harry's invisibility cloak and draped it over Harry.
"I reckon they won't find you until you back in London. See you around Potter … or not."
Oooo
During the feast Hermione started to hit Ron with her books. "Will you stop eating out best friend is missing!"
Ron looked up. "Hermione he's right there."
It was Ginny's turn to talk. "He's covered in blood. Why is he always covered in blood?"
Once Harry was seated Hermione couldn't hold back her worry any more. "Harry where have you been. You've had us worried sick." Harry glanced over to Ron who was currently stuffing his face with food.
Ron paused and meet Harrys gaze. "Sorry mate I was hungry."
Harry let out a small laugh. "Its fine."