PART 2
Ch. 15- The books
I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO HARRY POTTER
The rain beat against the Manor windows and the wind made the trees around them rock. Mr. Malfoy was gone to the ministry, something about Harry Potter, had gained his attention. Mrs. Malfoy had left to a social event, held for her family. Draco and Rose sat in his bedroom, their noses in the books they had retrieved from Gringotts. The books for the most part had turned up nothing interesting. The book that had intrigued them both, had turned out to be nothing. Draco had tried multiple spells and Rose had offered a few advanced charms, but nothing had come of it.
"It's utterly frustrating." Rose spoke. She was her normal self now, with no one around. She was becoming more comfortable with every day.
"We will figure it out." Draco offered, but she shook her head. "I've run out of ideas." She slid the book away from her.
"What's that?" Draco asked, staring at the package sitting at the bottom of all the other books. She stared at it and pulled it towards her.
"It's from my uncle. It arrived last night, but I was too tired to open it." She explained. She untied the string and ripped the packaging from it. It was books, that Draco recognized immediate. More than he would have thought were in the package and a single folded parchment on top. She opened it and read to herself. "These were my mother's schoolbooks. He'd like me to study them." She told Draco, who nodded along. He only knew that these were the next set of books he would need for his next school year, but he had not yet purchased them. He moved from his desk and sat beside her.
"I wonder why?" Draco asked.
"Sometimes, I can see how close they used to be." She spoke. "He called her Lia." She whispered looking down at the letter.
"They were twins." Draco said. She smiled and nodded.
"I think that maybe you were right about this book. Perhaps it's meant to be like a journal." She picked up her pen and flipped open the book. "Did you see that?!" she exclaimed.
"Where did the ink go?" He asked. The page where she had begun writing had disappeared almost as soon as she had written it. She pressed down and wrote again. It disappeared.
"I don't know. But we've already tried to reveal hidden writing." She offered. Draco stared at the page and took it in his hands. He placed his fingertips on the pages.
"If there is more than one spell on this book, there may be no way to undo it." He offered.
"Why would there be more than one spell? What was she hiding?" Draco thought about his time hiding everything that had come to pass between him and Hermione.
"I've done it." He said without thinking. Now it was his turn to try and cover his words. She only looked at him waiting. He wanted to trust her too. He did trust her.
"Why? What were you trying to keep to yourself?" She asked him.
"There was a girl." She smiled widely.
"And you had to hide your feelings?" She asked. He hesitated. "Or you don't have to share if you don't want to." She looked away shyly.
"No, it's alright." He spoke. "She wasn't exactly what my parents would see as a suitable partner." He spoke softly, afraid someone would overhear.
"Not a pureblood?" She said the words as though they were ridiculous. Draco shook his head. "What happened?" She asked, her facing saddening.
"It didn't work out." Was all he said. She nodded and looked down at the book. "During our time together, we had to keep it a secret and so we would write notes and leave messages around. We had to be careful that no one would accidently read them and so we charmed them with multiple spells. Even if someone tried to reveal the message, it would never work." He explained. She nodded again.
"I'm sorry things didn't work out. Would your family not have understood? Is it really so bad to not be a pureblood?" She asked. Draco was glad she had not been brought up with the same ideals he had. She saw the world as right and wrong; she didn't have the burden of his world.
"There are a lot of people, our families included, that believe all that nonsense. That our blood purity has something to do with our power. They feel as though the wizarding world will die out, if we continue to dilute the bloodlines." He explained and the disgust on her face was apparent.
"That's ridiculous." She spoke.
"It is. I've never beat Hermione on a single exam." He smiled to himself.
"Hermione? Was that her name?" She asked.
"Yes. My father doesn't know, but my mother found out. Her reaction was predictable, but in the end it didn't matter anyway." He told her.
"Draco." She spoke, her eyes looked distant. She took a long time to continue. "What if my mother loved someone the way that you loved Hermione." He stared at her. He had never said he loved her. "What if the reason with all the secrecy was that he was not a precious pure blood?" She asked, her eyes eagerly stared back at him.
"I suppose that is a reason to hide and spell her books. Why no one heard from her after you were born. She was trying to protect you." He told her.
"Let me ask you something. What would your father have done if he had found out about Hermione?" She asked, but she didn't let him answer. "What will my family do if they find out my father is not a pureblood wizard? That I am a diluted version of my mother?" She looked panicked.
"Calm down." He told her as she stood up. "We don't know that any of it is true? This is just a theory. We need more information." He told her, standing too. "We need to focus on one thing at a time. First we need to find out who your father was and then how to find him." He told her.
"What if he's already dead?" She asked and the words came out almost a whisper. "So much can go wrong, so much can happen and there's nothing I can do about it." She told him. Draco looked at her face, her hair beginning to lighten and her eyes changing to black. He took her in his arms and hugged her. She tightened her arms around him.
"Whatever may happen, I need you to understand something." He told her and she leaned away, enough to look up at him. "I will be there no matter what. You can always count on me." Draco watched as her hair went back to normal and her eyes returned to grey.
"I can't thank you enough for all you've done for me. I don't believe I could have gotten this far without you." She told him, now smiling. They both fell silent as the pages in the book flipped alone. The windows were not opened, and no breeze had come. They bent down together and looked at the pages and each other.
Amelia?
The words appeared on the page and remained there.
Hermione sat up waiting. She didn't know what she was waiting for. It was an odd thing to be inside Grimmauld Place. From the moment she had arrived she was nervous. Dumbledore had asked her and Ron to keep their location and what they were doing a secret from Harry. He said it wasn't safe for Harry to know and she felt horrible about it. Harry would be miserable; of that she had no doubt. His uncle and aunt were horrible people, who treated him badly. She sat in the kitchen now, just staring at the wall. She could hear the creaks of the old house and of the grumpy house elf Kreature. She could even hear Buckbeak high up the stairs, where she assumed he was with Sirius. She was startled as Remus Lupin walked inside, as he was surprised to see her there too.
"I didn't know anyone else was up." He said to her. "Couldn't sleep?" He asked her.
"I'm worried about Harry." She admitted to him. It was not surprising to see Remus in the house. He was after all a member of the Order of the Phoenix, and this was their headquarters. It was, however, surprising to see him up so late, when he nearly always looked worn and tired.
"Harry is fine. Dumbledore would not leave him in harms way." He assured her. He stared at her another moment. "Is that all that is bothering you?" He asked her. Hermione realized that she was subconsciously moving the charm on her necklace. The orb within the snowflake pulsed at her quickened heartbeat. She dropped her hand.
"Yes, just Harry." She spoke. Hermione shook her head. "I should try and get some sleep." She told him and stood. "Goodnight." She smiled and he tried to return it.
"Goodnight." He said, making a glass float over to him. As she turned into the hallway, she heard the thunderous steps of someone's approached. She could see Sirius entering through the other door of the kitchen.
"When did you return?" He asked, as Hermione made her way to the stairs.
"Just now." Remus said softly. "Sit down, you're making me nervous." He told him. Hermione could hear the scraping of the chair as he pulled it out.
"You're always nervous Moony." Sirius told him.
"You seem different." Remus told Sirius. "What's happened? Did you speak to Dumbledore?" He asked, Hermione lingered on the bottom step and nearly jumped as she heard the old house elves voice come from behind her.
"Filthy Mud blood in my poor mistress's house. Listening in on conversations. If my poor mistress were alive to see this." Kreature said to himself, unaware that Hermione could hear him or perhaps he did not care. Hermione scuttled up, carefully passing the portrait of Sirius' mother, and heading up the stairs to the bedroom she shared with Ginny. She opened the door, with a slight creek and sat on her bed, pulling her bag and lamp under the sheets. Ginny was sleeping soundly on the other side of the room. She pulled from her bag the letter she received from Draco before Dumbledore had asked her to move here for the remainder of the summer. It had arrived with her necklace. A beautiful reminder of their time together. She had contemplated weather she would wear it or not and had decided that she would accept it after all. It had slowly become a sort of comfort for her. She didn't know how she would feel when she was back at school, but for now, she always wanted it close to her. She stared at the page; she was sure she would not send him any letter. Dumbledore had told them that their letters were being watched and read. She was alarmed to hear rising voices coming from the hallway. She let the sheet fall from her face and saw an astounded and awakened Ginny staring back at her. Both girls listened to the commotion nearby, but it was Ginny who jumped from the bed and ran to the door.
"What the bloody hell is going on?" She muttered. She cracked the door open, but Mrs. Weasley ran past and yelled at her.
"Mind yourself Ginny. Go back to sleep." She told her hurrying through the hallway.
"What's going on? Is everyone alright?" Ginny asked.
"Everyone is fine, go back to sleep!" Her mother yelled from down the hall. Ginny did not move, she looked back at Hermione, who was now standing close behind her.
"Sirius, please!" Remus yelled. "You'll wake the entire house." He tried to say calmly.
"Leave me!" Sirius voice sounded very off to Hermione. He did not sound as he did a short time ago when she was leaving the kitchen.
"How can I help?" Mrs. Weasley asked, but Remus spoke quickly.
"I'm afraid." Remus began, his voice carrying as someone could be heard, running up the stairs above them. "There's nothing we can do." He spoke.
"Is it as you feared?" No one spoke, but the girls could not see what was happening down the hall, they could only hear the whispered conversation. "Oh, poor dear." Mrs. Weasley said.
"He just needs time, Molly." Remus said, but Hermione and Ginny were looking at one another. Ginny closed the door when no other words were spoken. Ginny sat on her bed, staring at Hermione.
"What do you think that was all about?" She asked Hermione.
"I don't know, but he sounded really upset. Like he was breaking the furniture." Hermione offered.
"It's his house." Ginny said. "I wonder what's got him so upset." She muttered. Hermione held her charm and twirled it in her fingers.
"I'm sure we'll hear more tomorrow." Ginny nodded. "I hope he's alright." Hermione spoke.
"I'm surprised anything bothers him, though." Ginny said. "All those years in Azkaban, you would think that nothing could trouble him." She said and Hermione nodded. After a few minutes, both girls laid down and eventually both girls went to sleep. Hermione dozed off to the continuous pacing on the floor above her.
Draco awoke to the sound of his mother's rasping on his door. He had barely slept that night, as he and Rose had continued to try and communicate with whoever or whatever had written in the book. They had not been successful and had decided to sleep, only to try and refocus in the morning. But as his mother opened the door, he could tell that something had happened.
"What is it?" He asked sitting up startled from his bed. She took in a deep breath and spoke calmly. Her expression timid. "What's happened?" He asked again, a sudden worry spread through him. She had promised to keep Hermione from harms way. Had something happened? A new panic set in.
"Alexander is here for Primrose. She is packing her things and she will be leaving soon. If you want to say your goodbyes, you may want to get downstairs soon." She spoke.
"Leaving?" He had been under the impression that Rose's family had all but abandoned her there at his home, but knowing their time was up, was an odd feeling. He leapt from the bed and started to head for the bathroom, washing his face and brushing his teeth quickly. He dressed and was surprised to find his mother still there waiting for him.
"Are you alright?" she asked him quietly as he walked towards the door.
"I'm fine. Is she still in her room?" Narcissa nodded and Draco hurried down the hall towards the room. The door was open, and Rose floated from side to side, packing things into her case. When she saw Draco, she gave him a faint smile.
"So, you've heard?" She spoke. Narcissa lingered at the door and Rose's stance stiffened as she realized. Her demeanor changed and Draco looked back at his mother.
"I thought we had more time." He said carefully.
"Perhaps I can convince my uncle to bring me back for a meal before the summer's ended." She said and smiled. Narcissa spoke from the door.
"Anytime. You are more than welcome here." She said politely. She finished packing. "Draco, help her bring down her things please." Narcissa said. "Her uncle is waiting."
"Of course." Draco said, but his mother could be heard descending the stairs. "I really thought we had more time." He spoke. She did not speak, but she pointed to a small parcel she had left on the bed.
"Write to me. It will be like I never left." She smiled. Someone must have been listening for her to continue to speak this way. Draco shoved the parcel in his robe pocket took her case and followed her downstairs. Her uncle waited for her at the door. He smiled widely at Draco and took the case from him.
"Thank you, Draco." Rose moved from Draco's side to her uncle's. He placed one hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you for allowing me to stay in your home, Mrs. Malfoy. It's been lovely. And thank you for spending time with me, Draco. It was great fun." She spoke so properly, Draco almost believed her. Narcissa leaned close to the girl and kissed her on each cheek.
"It was a pleasure having you." She told Rose.
"Yes, and I will write to you soon." Draco added. Alexander smiled at both and took a step back, Rose in perfect stride with him.
"We should be off. Your Grandfather cannot wait to have you home." He said and they left from the front door into the yard. "Thank you again Narcissa." He called out and Mrs. Malfoy waived. "Hold on tight." He told her and together they apparated. Draco waited a few minutes. In hopes that it was all a trick, and she was coming back quickly.
"Come now Draco. Your mail has arrived from Hogwarts. I think your list is in. We should make plans to visit Diagon alley again before the crowds." She spoke. Draco nodded along, hiding his thoughts from her. All he wanted was to see the parcel Rose had left him. Draco sat at the table and ate mechanically. He held his Hogwarts letter. It was heavier than usual. He had expected more work during his year of the OWL Exams. He opened the letter and a silver and green pin fell from it. Draco looked down at it and his mother clapped in excitement.
"Prefect!" She yelled. "How exciting! Congratulations dear!" She spoke loudly. Draco smiled at his mother and looked at the badge. He read through Dumbledore's letter, and it was official. Draco had been made Prefect of his fifth year Slytherin class. It was an achievement. One that he had been expected to have, along with later becoming Head boy. Draco could not feel the complete excitement, he would have otherwise felt. "We must celebrate!" His mother continued. "I must send word to your father." She stood from the table and headed to her office. Draco stared at the badge and then at his letter. With his mother distracted, he pulled from his pocket the parcel. As he unwrapped it, a note fell from it. He slid the rest of the parcel into his pocket and unfolded the letter.
Draco,
Something has happened. My uncles told me that it is important for me to be home. I am to help my grandfather with something. I don't know what they have in mind, but it was urgent enough for him to come for me, earlier than he was supposed to. I can't take the chance to bring this book with me. I'm afraid of what they will do if they find it. Please keep trying to find my father. I trust you with this. Please don't give up. You're all I have left. I'll miss you.
Rose
Draco folded the letter as his mother approached and stuffed it into his robes. He knew exactly what book she had left, and he knew that he would not stop until he found what he was looking for. With a new sense of what had happened he focused on keeping his mother from his thoughts and smiled. He played the part as she needed.
"How do you feel?" She asked him.
"Fairly excited. I can't say I'm surprised." He said trying to sound confident. She laughed.
"Well of course not. You are the right person for the job!" She boasted. "But I actually meant with Primrose's departure." She said seriously.
"I'm alright." He tried to sound convincing. "It's not as if I will never see her again." He said and she nodded.
"Your father should be receiving word soon. I can't wait to see his reaction. We'll need to get you new robes and all your school supplies and of course a gift to go with your achievement." She spoke. "Do you have anything in mind?" She asked him and he shrugged.
"I'm sure I'll think of something." He told her. After nearly half an hour, Draco managed to escape from is mother's watchful eyes and headed to his room. He pulled from his pocket the book Rose had left him. He flipped through it and held his quill above it. He thought about his words carefully and began writing.
It is important that I communicate with you.
The words written disappeared, and he waited for any sort of message to be returned. When nothing appeared, he held his wand to the page and practiced his nonverbal spell. Nothing occurred, but once again the pages flipped, and words began to appear.
What is mine, but only you can have?
He stared at the page and thought about it. He had no answer. He was not familiar with this riddle. He pressed the quill to the page.
I don't understand.
He wrote and then was surprised to find the words appear again.
What is mine, but only you can have?
Something was better than nothing. Draco stared at the words, with a newfound determination.