Thank you to RESimon for being such an amazing beta.
CHAPTER TWO
The high windows of the Hogwarts library showcased a mesmerizing array of glittering stars over the grounds. A few tables away, a group of fourth years giggled to each other as they pointed out different constellations, drawing them out with their wands in the air between them. Neither Harry nor Hermione paid the view any mind, however. They both had an array of books open in front of them, although the amount Hermione had in front of her dwarfed those that Harry had. She'd roped him into her research on Horcruxes, still to no avail. Malfoy sat alone a few tables away, and she'd barely been able to take her eyes off of him. He'd been hunched over a book for the better part of the hour that they'd been there, ignoring her as studiously as he had before they'd been bonded. It had scarcely been twenty-four hours, and Hermione was still reeling at the sudden swerve in the trajectory of her life, wondering how she had gone from one-third of the Golden Trio to married to one of Harry's most loathed rivals overnight.
A life for a life. Narcissa Malfoy had traded her loyalty for the guaranteed protection of her son, by way of tethering his life to hers. She was Harry Potter's best friend - the Order would do their utmost to protect her, even if just for Harry's sake. She swallowed as she looked up at her husband once more, taking in the angry set of his features. Forever seemed to stretch impossibly far ahead of her as she pictured her life tethered to this man who so clearly despised her.
"...need to find out more," Harry said, looking up at her expectantly. "Hermione?" he prodded after a moment, forcing her to tear her eyes away from Malfoy to look at Harry.
"What?" she asked, blinking at him.
"Did you notice anything?" he asked, slowly. "You've been watching him like a hawk for nearly fifteen minutes," he added.
"No," she said. "Nothing."
"There must be something, I know he cursed that necklace and he's probably planning his next move as we speak," Harry said, narrowing his eyes at Malfoy. "Haven't you noticed anything out the ordinary?"
Yes. He married me, she wanted to say. We got married and I had sex with him just last night - "No," she said instead, sighing. Her glamoured ring felt heavy on her finger, and it shone to her like a beacon although no one could see it.
"I watched him today, on the map," he said, and her blood ran cold. She'd forgotten about the Marauder's Map last night. "He keeps disappearing, and I can't figure out how. Where do you think he's been getting off to?"
She searched his eyes carefully, looking for any hint of guarded suspicion glinting behind his eyes.
But there was nothing, and he continued chattering away, oblivious to her panic. "I have to figure out which parts of the map are missing- perhaps it's a defect. And I need to know what's in that book. The cover's blank, did you notice? It probably has more curses in it," he added darkly.
She sighed, partially in relief and partially in exasperation at her best friend's fixation. "Maybe he didn't curse the necklace-"
"And maybe that book he's reading has something on Horcruxes in it, and you've been so busy trying to convince me that he's done nothing wrong that you've been too blind to see it," he said in an angry whisper.
"I highly doubt that, Harry," she deadpanned. "I've been through nearly everything, including half of the restricted section, and I have yet to find even a hint of the subject. Yet you think that Malfoy would have a book on them, right out in the open?"
"Yes."
"Harry," she said, reaching for his hand and frowning when he snatched it away. "You're letting your paranoia get to you, Malfoy hasn't actually done anything of concern yet, not that we can confirm at least-"
Harry took in a sharp breath, glaring at her. "You might not believe me, but I know he did it," he snapped.
"I've always been on your side, Harry," she said. "You know I have. It's just that maybe this time, you're not-"
"I'm not what, Hermione?" he asked, his voice sharp as he glared at her.
"Maybe you've been focusing on the wrong person, is all," she said, hoping her tone was gentle enough the placate him.
But no, this was Harry Potter, and his temper got the best of him more often than not. He shoved his chair back loudly causing a few curious glances to stray their way. "And maybe you have been in denial for too long," he snapped, snatching up his books and departing the library in an angry huff.
She sighed, directing her books into her bag with a flick of her wand as she stood to leave herself. When she glanced at Malfoy again, she froze, noticing that he was looking back at her, his eyes as dark and Stormy as ever.
She swallowed, ducking her head as she passed by his table on her way out, dropping a note in his lap as surreptitiously as possible before scurrying out of the library.
X
She'd been waiting in the Room of Requirement for only a few minutes when Malfoy burst into the room, advancing on her until she was nearly perched on the edge of the lone sofa that the room had provided.
"Do not mistake our new affiliation as giving you free reign to summon me as you please, Granger," he seethed down at her.
"Don't you mean Malfoy?" she snapped back, crossing her arms.
"You are nothing to me, mudblood," he spat, still glaring at her.
"And I don't care," she snapped back, stepping away from him. "Give me your ring."
"Why?"
"Because in case you have not noticed, we will need a way to communicate when necessary, whether you like it or not," she snapped. "Unless you would prefer your esteemed housemates catch you conversing with a mudblood?"
He glared at her for a moment longer before pulling off his ring and dropping it in her outstretched palm. She deposited her ring beside his, then murmured a quick charm and tapped them with her wand. "The enchantments on the rings are somewhat complex and I don't understand them completely, but I was able to overlay them with a simple protean charm. I assume you know how it works?"
Malfoy scoffed, taking his ring back and making for the door.
"Malfoy," she called, and he paused. "Harry...he's suspicious of you," she said.
Malfoy scoffed again. "I can handle Potter," he spat, turning to glare at her once more.
"I'm serious, Malfoy," she said. "He...he has a way of watching you, and he knows that you've been disappearing to do...something. I don't-"
"As I said - Potter does not worry me," he said, moving to exit the room.
"What have you been up to, Malfoy?" she asked quietly. He did not turn this time, but his shoulders tensed slightly.
"Nothing of your concern," he spat, exiting the room and letting the door slam behind him.
X
A few nights later, Hermione was in the Gryffindor common room thumbing through yet another book in hopes of finding a mention of Horcruxes when her ring began to burn, causing her to drop it suddenly.
"You alright?" Neville asked, looking up at her in concern. Even Lavender glanced up curiously from where she was charming her toenails into different colors across from where Hermione and Neville sat.
"M'fine," she said, clamping a hand over her burning ring. As she stuffed her book into her bag, she slipped it off and let it fall inside, pretending to rifle through its contents as she read the message. RoR. Now, it read.
She mumbled a quick excuse about going to the library, tearing out the portrait hole and breaking into a run. When she made it to the seventh-floor corridor, she froze when she saw the look on Malfoy's face. He looked...stressed. A pale hand worried through his white-blond hair, and his appearance was bedraggled. He was pacing in front of the entrance to the Room of Requirement anxiously, although no door appeared.
"Malfoy?" she asked as she approached. "What's happened?"
His eyes snapped to her as she approached. "I need you to find Slughorn - now," he said.
"Wha-why?" she asked, thoroughly confused at the frazzled look on his face.
"He confiscated a bottle of mead from me while I was on my way here, and I need you to get it back," he said.
Hermione scoffed. "You want me to retrieve your alcohol, Malfoy? Kindly p-" she stopped short as he grabbed her shoulders, gripping them hard.
"Get it back," he seethed, glaring at her with a dark intensity. "It is critical."
She shook him off, although the retort she had prepared died on her lips as she searched his eyes, seeing the fear that lingered there. "What did you do, Malfoy?" she asked, softly searching his eyes.
His eyes hardened before he looked away. "Just get it back, Granger. Now."
She appraised him for a moment longer before nodding and heading back the way she had come. The urgency in his voice haunted her movements until she found herself running through the halls, praying that she would not be stopped by any Professors.
By the time she made it to Slughorn's office, she was panting with exertion. She rapped hard at the door, fumbling for an excuse as she heard the sounds of shuffling inside.
She blinked when Harry, and not Slughorn opened the door instead. "Harry?" she said incredulously.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, peering past her into the empty hallway.
"I could ask you the same thing," she said, peeking into the room past Harry.
"Ron...Ron's uh, had a bit of an accident," he said, scratching his head.
"What kind of an accident?" she said sharply, craning her neck to see deeper into the room. She caught movement behind Harry but could see no more past his tall frame.
"Romilda Vane?" Harry offered sheepishly.
"What about Romilda?" Hermione said, crossing her arms. "I told you to watch out for her, Harry, she's planning something-"
"We're a bit past that now, I think," Harry said. "She left me some chocolates, and he thought they were a birthday gift…"
Hermione gasped. "She didn't-?"
Harry nodded sheepishly. "Don't worry though, I brought him down to Slughorn straightaway," Harry explained. "He's alright now."
"I am going to hex that girl-"
"Relax, Hermione," Harry chuckled. "He's fine-"
"Well hello there Miss Granger," Slughorn said, appearing behind Harry. "What can I do for you this evening?"
"I, uh," she stumbled. "I had an important question about Potions that I was hoping you could help me with-"
The portly man chuckled, giving her a clap on the shoulder. "Ever so studious, aren't you?" he said. "Never mind that now though, we've got some conversations among men to be had on this night," he said, giving Harry a sly wink. "We can have a chat tomorrow, perhaps?" he said, already turning away.
"Wait!" she called desperately, forcing down her indignation at the man's flippant words and casual sexism. "It's important," she rushed as he paused to look back at her.
"Surely it cannot be so important that it can't wait until morning, my dear," Slughorn said. "You may call on Professor Snape if need be, however. Come along, Mr. Potter," he said, closing the door behind them.
She sighed, turning to leave before she paused, recalling the look she'd seen in Malfoy's eyes. She started pacing outside the door as she weighed her options, cursing the man and his damned bottle of mead. She'd raised her hand to knock for a second time when she heard a crash inside the room, followed by fearful shouts. She tried the doorknob, sighing in relief when it opened easily.
When she stepped into the room, however, her determined expression dissolved into one of horror. Ron lay on the floor, convulsing slightly as something bubbled out of his mouth. Slughorn was frozen in horror, while Harry was rummaging through a cabinet across the room. Harry sprang up suddenly, racing over to Ron and shoving something into his mouth at the same time that Hermione found her voice and screamed. This startled the room's occupants, who all turned to gape at her. Save Ron, of course, who lay still on the floor, unmoving.
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