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Draco Malfoy's days came and went with a pace that seemed to slow each time he woke. Each night he would wait awake for Granger to fall asleep - this was the only time of night he was certain his thoughts were his own. He would conjure a false window in the room and sit on the bench beside it, taking in the fabricated night views he'd crafted.
The biggest challenge he had was keeping up his outward persona inside his own mind, allowing him almost no time for relaxation and peace. It's not that he was thinking or projecting anything he didn't believe in, but rather that having to constantly antagonize to save face was extremely exhausting. Especially when he hadn't had anything to take his mind off her thoughts.
It was at night that he would pull a small, black box out from underneath his bed, along with a centuries old book. He'd willed himself not to think of it all day - to keep Granger from reading his thoughts on it. He didn't need her input, her commentary, her solutions . He didn't need to hear her thoughts on how she was better suited to handle it, or how his technique was wrong.
Draco walked with the book and the box to the worn green sofa in the center of his room. It had taken him a while to get comfortable with his dingy, poorly decorated quarters, but he had gotten used to it eventually. Now he found more comfort in the darkness than he did during the times he was allowed to wander the castle - which was becoming more and more of a rare occurrence nowadays.
With a flick of his wand, Draco engulfed the fireplace with flames and lit every torch and candle in the room. As Draco settled in on the couch, he slipped the lid off of the box and examined the contents carefully.
There, split into two narrow, delicate pieces, was the Wishbone.
He'd allowed Granger to think he wasn't putting in any effort - that was easy enough. Part of him was insulted that she would assume he had no interest in working to break their bond. He scowled bitterly and tossed the lid carelessly to the floor. As if he'd ever want to elongate this undesirable scenario. But, as it were, it was better for him this way.
Draco had spent weeks inspecting the artifact - casting spells trying to piece the bone back into one to no avail. One night, he'd snuck into the library and gathered as many books as he could on the headmasters at Hogwarts. He had hoped he would find something in there, as Granger had been looking for the Wishbone in the Headmaster's office after all.
It had taken a week of research every single night for Draco to come across a small paragraph - one that could have been easily missed, had he not been looking so intently. Within Headmaster Elizabeth Burke's section, he saw a note about the Wisdom Wishbone.
Crafted by former Headmistress of Hogwarts, Elizabeth Burke, from the clavicle of a Phoenix, the Wisdom Wishbone is an artifact that grants those who possess it unadulterated cleverness and wisdom in all their endeavours.
As is tradition, this heirloom has been passed down from Headmaster to Headmaster, and shall be for the rest of time.
This caught Draco's eye. That is what Granger had referred to this cursed item to in her thoughts every single day since the incident. He read further on.
Once broken, the two pieces of the bone shall remain separated and the bond created will last a lifetime.
Draco had lost it upon reading this line. Whatever Granger had read must have missed out on this, otherwise she would not have suggested trying to mend the bone.
He had thrown the Wishbone. He tried to snap the two halves even further, but found it impossible. He had tried to burn it in a fire to no avail. He had done everything in his power to try to destroy the wretched heirloom but nothing had worked. Instead, he left himself worn out, furious, and disheveled.
Since then, Draco had kept the bone in a box and took note of all his readings and observations on bonds of the mind. The current book he was reading mentioned the best way to push out an invader of the mind was to practice and excel in Occlumency. Just as the Mudblood had suggested.
It was nearly dawn by the time Draco found himself drifting off to sleep. Maybe having to deal with the little know-it-all could be avoided if they did this each night. Shared different sleep schedules. That seemed to be working easily enough, for the most part.
As Draco Malfoy finally fell asleep, his last waking thought was about how he knew that would never suffice.
It was a hot night in early July when Hermione had decided to go meet with Malfoy in person. She'd spent much of her week building up simple potion stock while reading on how to train for and how to perfect Occlumency. She'd learned that if two people share a bond of the mind, the knowledge of Legilimency was not needed, as they were both already invading each other's brains.
Hermione had noticed a pattern with Malfoy. Once she had caught on to his feelings of anxiety, his thoughts of his parents, and his general fears, he had begun avoiding her. At first, she thought he'd simply had a few later nights than usual, but then each night got later and later until suddenly he was almost never awake when she was asleep.
This simply would not work if they were meant to get rid of this bond together. For the past three days leading up to this evening, Hermione had willed herself awake with the help of some waking potions. She'd felt Malfoy's annoyance and he knew what she was planning.
'Even from miles and miles away you can't help but be underfoot, can you?' He had snapped at her. 'Can't let me have a moment of peace? I get it, I am very interesting, but can you just fuck off to sleep?'
Their nightly interactions went a lot like that. When Hermione caught Malfoy plotting to change up his sleep schedule, she followed suit. None of this was pleasurable to her - in fact, she had enjoyed it when they had alternating schedules. But if they were to get this thing under control until they could break the curse, they needed to work together. Unfortunately for both of them, that meant being in each other's minds.
Hermione had packed the map in her satchel and double checked that she'd had her wand, a flagon of Polyjuice Potion (if it was necessary), and a few notebooks. Before departing, she had checked on her healing draughts. They were sufficiently stirred and ready to sit and simmer for the next 9 hours - perfect. She needed to ensure that her work was getting done while she was dealing with this nightmare in order to avoid any questions. If Hermione had failed at building out a stock and becoming the Potions Master the Order needed, her friends would never forgive her for staying behind.
Hermione had left the wards of the Fidelius Charm and looked back where the cottage would have been. It was simply an empty field. Perfect. With a deep breath, Hermione tossed her hood over her head and Apparated out of sight.
Hermione found herself at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, the light from the castle unable to catch her. Malfoy had warned her about the guards, the Dementors, and the Carrows (twins who worked under Voldemort, as she caught from his mind).
Out of her bag, Hermione grabbed the Marauder's Map. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," she whispered and flicked her wand over the top of the map. Suddenly, the blank sheet of paper filled in with a full map of the castle, as well as where everyone was, and several secret entrances.
'What in Merlin's name is that?' Malfoy had asked when the map first appeared in her mind during her planning. 'All this time you three little pricks have been keeping tabs on the entire school?' He was more shocked and less mad - Hermione hadn't replied to him. She had been getting good at not reacting to his intrusive drivel.
'Probably best you turn around, Granger. These guards can sniff out a Mudblood quicker than you can Apparate,' he jabbed, 'I can already smell the metallic, fecal scent from down here.'
Again, she ignored him, but she knew he could tell that he was getting to her. She had to focus - and she would deal with the nasty git when she saw him face to face.
'Scared I'm going to punch you in the face again, Malfoy?' she couldn't help that one slip through. She smirked as she outlined her entrance into the castle.
According to the map, there was a dying tree at the edge of the wood that had a disillusioned trap door beneath one of the gnarly knots. Get to the tree, find the knot that looks like Professor Snape's nose, and tap four times quick, three times slow.
It didn't take long for Hermione to find the tree. It was the one dying tree in that entire area. She had an even easier time finding the knot - and it was remarkable how much it did look like his nose. Malfoy had seen it as she visualized it in her mind.
'Spot on with that one, they are.'
Four taps fast, three taps slow and the knot retreated back into the tree. Suddenly, a door appeared in the moss. Hermione had jumped with glee, feeling proud of herself before reaching down and swinging the door open. After checking that no one was watching, Hermione leapt into the trap door and shut it behind her.
Unfortunately for her, she hadn't looked around hard enough. Someone had been watching from the shadows.
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