She took a deep breath. She didn't think she would ever do something this crazy. Even if it wasn't as crazy as Draco Malfoy thought. In light of recent events, she needed to talk to him. However, Ron's kiss led not only to a conversation but also to a rather unexpected turn of events.
- Are you awake yet? It's early. - She heard the sleepy voice of the boy lying next to her.
- Yes. It would have been easier for me to go back to sleep if a man hadn't got his legs caught in me. - she said with a smile on her face. A smile that widened even more as she saw his cheeks flush.
He said, "I'm sorry," and adjusted himself to still lie close but not enter her personal space.
- Do not worry. I'm just not used to it. - She sensed a clear change in his mood, she thought that maybe in his mind she regretted the way their conversation had turned out yesterday.
- Maybe we can use this extra time. - He sat up, clearly avoiding her eyes. - you wanted to talk.
Hermione reached a hand to his face. She ran her fingers over his jaw. She felt Draco tremble at her touch.
- Look at me. - she whispered.
It wasn't until she saw his tear-filled gray eyes that she realized the situation must be worse than she had suspected from the fragments of the overheard conversation between Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape.
- What would you like to know? - he asked in an uncertain voice.
- A few things. The most important thing is what are they making you act on? she said firmly, even a little too firmly even considering her overbearing character.
- Mother. If I don't complete the task, they will kill my mother. And it will not be an easy death. - He replied swallowing.
- Is there anyone else besides her who you would like to save?
- My parents. And godfather.
She looked at him surprised. Why would he want to save his father. He was a bastard. Before she could ask about it, however, Draco reacted as if he was reading her mind.
- I know what you think about him. He's strict and he hasn't always used legal gimmicks, but he's my father and I love him. This disaster in the second year shouldn't have happened. He never wanted the Chamber open. This Diary was to be found with the Weasleys. Such irresponsible revenge for the unauthorized raid of Aurors.
- Unauthorized? - Hermione asked doubtfully.
- Our house was searched the day after my father offered his friend for Defense Against the Dark Arts. he sensed her hesitation and immediately added, - Layl Newport is the only Muggle-born that my father respects.
Hermione didn't know what to answer to him, so she decided she would leave it for later discussion.
- I understand why you want to save your mother. Who is your godfather?
- Severus Snape.
It was me that shocked. She also wanted to save the Potions Master. From talking to the Headmaster, it appeared that he had been forced to do many things by Albus Dumbledore. And since the leader of the light thought he had the right to lead her friend to certain death, she decided to take action. It was the last straw in the cup of doubt about this man's motivation. Her spell was designed for a maximum of five people. It was crazy, but she was sure that falling a few pawns on both sides could clearly change the balance of power.
- Are you against kidnapping? - she asked.
Draco looked at the girl as if she had grown a second head.
- Do not look at me like this. I know how to remove the mark and any promises affecting a wizard's magic, but I don't think your father will voluntarily submit to it. We would have even less chance with the professor.
Malfoy wondered if the girl in front of him had accidentally gone mad. Like his Aunt Bella. He had never heard of the mark being removable. If it were possible, my father would have done it long ago.
- It was a coincidence that I took care of it. I've found information that some people impose a debt on other wizards. I was looking for a way out of this situation. From pure curiosity. Then I found out that Dumbledore imposed such a debt on Professor Snape. - She looked at the surprised Draco - Don't ask me what's going on. This is not my story to present. Anyway, it prompted me to do more research. I wanted to be able to defend myself against compulsion spells, imposed vows, debts, and oaths that would work against me. And so I found a solution. Risky, but it is.
- Will you say it or not? The boy was impatient. Getting rid of the mark was one of the things he wanted badly.
Hermione looked into the boy's eyes. There was fear and excitement in them. There was also hope and relief. She didn't want to disappoint him, but she had to tell him. He will decide.
- Momentarily removing a magic core neutralizes all spells applied to its owner's magic. she said as if she was conveying a well-known fact.
- WHAT? Where did you find it? - Draco growled.
- In the Black library. I was lucky enough to look through the book collection before Dumbledore did. After that, many books disappeared as "too dark". - she sighed.
Draco knew the loss of a magic core could be dangerous, but he had to make sure anyway. - I know that I am desperate, so I will take it anyway, but is it effective?
- I do not know. You will not lose your life. In this book it was written that if you submit to this process voluntarily, nothing will happen because the core will be stabilized. However, I doubt that everyone would volunteer to do so. Your father worries me. Lucius Malfoy is pure blood that thinks I'm just dirt on his sole.
- I'll convince them. However, even without the black mark, you can find a wizard. Someone like Scabior. Someone with a good sense of smell. - he said, resigned.
- Oh Draco, don't you so believe in me? Another spell will come in here. - she said with confidence and a smile on her face.
- What spell?
Hermione pulled a chain with a round moonstone from her sweater. She hesitated for a moment and said. - There is a spell - he didn't have to know thai it is her - that would lock the loved one in stone until he was freed from it. Only they would have to be locked with the house equipped. Another question is whether three wizards can survive in one building with two Muggles.
- Do I understand correctly? Do you want to lock my parents, your parents and Severus Snape in the same house with a spell? How will you build this house for them?
- I will not build. I can lock the whole house in a pendant. I tried. And it worked.
- Why are you telling me all this?
- Why? Idea. Chess can be played by three people. I'm sick of being played with our lives by both Voldemort and Dumbledore. I turned to you because despite my feelings for you, I can see that I am as intelligent as I am. And you can keep a cool head, unlike my two friends.
Draco considered. He cared about his family, even though it was not perfect. He loved his godfather, who replaced his father for many years. And the Granger? It would be good for the Malfoys to come to an understanding with them before they announced their insane courtship with Hermione.
- Okay. So how do we arrange my parents kidnapped? The boy did not believe what he just said.
- I have to think about that. Just tell me, is it possible that only your family can open the letter? The Portkey could be set to activate by breaking the seal.
- What if I did not agree? Or if we hadn't met that evening?
Hermione looked at him and said without hesitation, - Then I would have not three, but four people to kidnap. Even if you are going to be with someone else, I just wants you to be happy. Alive and happy.
- You're even more special than I thought. - Draco, without a moment's thought, placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
- Or I have less brains in my head and am not the brightest witch of our time. So how? Will you try my crazy and not fully developed plan?
- Yes. However, I think it's better to invest in a hypnotic tea. I don't want to risk that one of these stubborns will change their mind in the middle of ... the treatment. - He winked at the amused girl.
- That would be extremely useful. This time Hermione placed a kiss on Draco's jaw. - Could you give this to the professor?
Malfoy watched Hermione pull a damaged book from her bag. Upon opening, he immediately recognized the owner's handwriting.
- Where did you get this? He growled in indignation. - He knew that this book was very valuable to his godfather. She was a memento of his mother.
- I stole it. - she replied without a trace of shame.
- Snape?
- No. Harry. Slughtorn gave it to him when Harry and Ron were late for their first Potions class this year. Normally I wouldn't mind using it, but when I saw there were handwritten notes on it, I took over the book. I think it is unfair to use someone else's intellectual property before publishing it. It's like flying a broom prototype stolen before this broom was released to the market. - she replied firmly.
The Slytherin smiled again. He did not want to be a pawn in the war. He just wanted to live and trusted neither the Dark Lord nor the Headmaster. If he was going to follow a madman, he preferred to choose one who knows what he is doing. And Hermione Granger almost always knew what she was doing.
- So here in this room, in addition to the marriage proposal, we made a pact to change the wizarding world the first night together? - He chuckled.
- Obviously. I would like to see Dumbledore's expression when it turns out that his spy has disappeared. Maybe this will eventually force him to act, in particular, that this spy will officially disappear at Hogwarts.
- He won't be able to think he ran away to the Death Eaters.
- Exactly. The shields will show him that a certain Severus Snape never left the shields of Hogwarts. - sighed - We have to postpone the conversation to another time. You have to go to breakfast and then to class. You also need to change clothes. - She smiled as she leaned forward and placed a kiss on the lobe of his ear.
- You're right. he said without conviction. - For the first time, wishing he had made love to her all night instead of talk. Every touch of her sent shivers of excitement within him.
xxx
- Where's Hermione? - Ginny asked as she sat down next to Harry.
The boy looked at her surprised. Unable to find an answer to the question asked by the red-haired girl, he turned to his friend. - Have you seen Hermione today?
- Haven't seen her since yesterday. - Lavender Brown, their friend's roommate replied.
This short sentence alarmed both boys. - It wasn't her in the room last night? - they asked simultaneously.
- She was not there. - the girl said between kisses on Ron's neck.
xxx
Narcissa Malfoy has never been one to be ignored. She didn't know what fear was. That changed the moment Black became Malfoy. It's not that she didn't love her husband. She loved him very much. However, during the binding ceremony, Abraxas joined her obedience to Lucius. Unfortunately, her lover got involved in this group. And with him, she was dragged too. An attempted escape was punished with the task of obtaining a prophecy. The Dark Lord must have known in advance that this move was doomed to failure. Failure at the Ministry had even worse consequences for them than trying to sever contact with this madman. She knew they both wanted a change. But how were they supposed to do that?
xxx
Another chapter. But was it successful?