Draco realized he had wanted to kiss Hermione since the Yule Ball. He remembered that evening as though it were yesterday. All night he had watched her dance with Krum. He had admired the way her dress showed off her small waist… observed the way she tilted her head when she laughed. He longed to dance with her, to run his hands through the cascade of curls that fell around her shoulders. Seeing Krum so close to her made him feel ill, like he had been hit by a horrible curse that had rendered him speechless. And then without knowing what he was doing he had followed her out of the great hall, transfixed, determined to find a way to approach her…but it had all gone terribly wrong.
And now she was in his arms. Draco buried his face into Hermione's neck. She smelled of something sweet, like orange blossom. He closed his eyes and let the wonderful scent wash over him. A small part of him was triumphant when his father had told him about the mission. It would be a chance to get close to Granger, even if it meant she would only hate him in the end...
Draco pulled Hermione tighter against him. His hands worked their way into her hair, his lips traveled down her neck, then he lightly tugged at her blouse to kiss her shoulder.
Hermione felt lightheaded. Of course she knew this might happen…getting involved was the quickest way to complete her mission.
But she hadn't expected Malfoy to make a move so soon. And it wasn't so much the kiss that surprised her. It was the way Malfoy held her…gentle and at the same time impatient, cautious but at the same time bold. He lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck, then he carried her to the window seat behind them.
Hermione tilted her head back to watch as he took her hand and kissed her wrist.
In between kisses Draco stole glances at her, brushed his hand against the smooth skin of her cheek, and traced the outline of her lips.
He was holding her as if she was something delicate, breakable. As if he wanted to keep her safe…savoring every second, knowing that she might soon come to her senses and curse him into oblivion.
Draco's lips found hers again and he kissed her more urgently.
Hermione closed her eyes. She had expected to feel nothing…to have the upper hand…to feel detached. Now she found she didn't want to pull away. No one had ever kissed her like this before. Krum's kisses had been clumsy and awkward, his caresses too rough and unskilled. But Malfoy knew exactly what he was doing, and she no longer trusted herself around him.
She turned her face to the side, breaking away from him. "I think we should slow down," she said softly.
Draco pressed his forehead against hers. "If you say so," he whispered.
He released his hold on her and pulled away. Then, to her surprise, he laughed.
"What's so funny?" Hermione demanded.
"Nothing," he said. "Just that I see why you want to take things slow." He winked at her and placed his hand under her chin. "I can tell you're relatively new at this sort of thing."
Hermione turned bright red and slapped his hand away. "Excuse me?"
"I can tell Krum wasn't a very thorough teacher. But don't worry, I'll better the instruction."
He leaned in to kiss her again, but she slapped him, hard.
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL WAS THAT FOR?!" he raged.
"Krum was an excellent kisser! Much better than you!" she lied. "And don't flatter yourself, I don't need a teacher."
Draco's eyes flashed with anger. She made for the door to the Astronomy classroom, then paused. "You're not the first person to take me out flying, Malfoy. And after tonight it's clear you bought your way onto the Slytherin team. Krum had real talent. I doubt you'll play on any team after Hogwarts."
Draco's face paled and before he could think of a response, she turned the handle to the Astronomy classroom and stormed off.
How dare he?! The bastard! And to think she had actually enjoyed kissing him!
And that routine! How many other girls had he taken out flying? No doubt he thought she'd be easy to fool. Wrong Malfoy! Wrong! She wouldn't be swayed so quickly. He'd have to work much harder than that if he hoped to get anywhere near her again.
Hermione slept fitfully that night. She was soaring high above the countryside, in a land that seemed quite foreign. The sun was low in the sky casting a glow over golden hills and distant peaks and valleys. The air was warm and felt like a soft embrace.
Perched upon a huge bedrock was a castle with slate roofs and blue-gray turrets that shone in the waning light. As she flew closer she saw that the front of the castle was shaped like the bow of a ship. It almost appeared as if the castle was sailing towards her, cutting through the forest below.
She circled around, flying past several arched windows, and looked inside. The halls and rooms appeared empty, but candles flickered along the walls letting her know someone was there. She flew higher and landed on the terrace.
She spotted a boy standing a few feet away.
"Harry?" she whispered. At once, she recognized his untidy black hair and bright green eyes.
He was standing by a large wishing well. He looked down into its depths. He seemed to be searching for something. Hermione called his name again, but he couldn't hear her.
After a few moments, he turned and opened a door behind him. Hermione followed him down a long spiral staircase that seemed to go on forever. They finally reached a large gallery, but it was dimly lit. She froze. She sensed something move in the darkness.
"Harry?" she asked, grabbing his arm. "What's that?"
Suddenly, a tall figure emerged from the darkness, armed with a wand.
"Who are you?" Hermione demanded. "What do you want?"
Suddenly, a jet of light issued from the figure's wand and Harry crumpled to the floor. He screamed, and his body twitched this way and that, his eyes rolled back in his head, and his screaming grew louder, so loud Hermione thought her ears would burst. Then, for a few moments he gasped for air, struggling to make any sound at all. Patches of light burned bright on Harry's arm, and like a network of veins they traveled up to his neck then to his forehead. The lights blazed brilliantly then faded, and just when Harry caught his breath, they formed again, causing him terrible pain.
She knew Harry was dying. It was a slow, painful death, unlike anything she'd ever seen before. She had no idea how to help him.
Suddenly, the figure advanced on her and raised the wand once more.
"Noooo!" she screamed.
Hermione opened her eyes and almost fell out of bed. She looked around her. There was no one in the girl's dormitory…but somehow…the screaming hadn't stopped. It took a moment before she got her bearings, then she reached for her sweater and pulled it over her head.
She raced downstairs to the common room. Everyone was huddled around a copy of the Daily Prophet. The screams were coming from the picture on its front page.
A crowd of muggles were running away from a large explosion in Central London. There was a woman lying on the ground screaming just as Harry had done in her dream. A Death Eater stood over her, his wand pointed directly at her chest.
She spotted Ron standing at the back of the room. "What's going on?" she asked.
He looked pale, like he was going to be sick. "Voldemort's invented a new killing curse."
"What?" Hermione gasped.
"It's not like Avada Kedavra. It kills you slowly. You feel like you're burning alive and drowning at the same time…eventually the pain becomes so terrible you wish for death. They're calling it Mors Multarum."
Hermione looked at him, shocked. Had she seen the future? Would Harry be met with this curse? She had to tell Dumbledore…
Dumbledore! He had asked her to steal the note…the note she had failed to retrieve from Pansy the day before. She looked at the clock hanging on the opposite wall. She was running late.
Hermione rushed to her room to change, then left the Gryffindor common room, an uneasy feeling in her stomach. She tried to shake the image of Harry screaming from her head, and made herself focus on the task at hand.
She waited outside of the Slytherin common room for an hour but Pansy didn't emerge. She began to panic, searching for her in the Great Hall, in the corridors and even in the library (though to tell the truth she doubted Pansy had ever set foot there). Finally, she made her way to the Astronomy Tower. It was a few minutes before class, and the room was empty.
Craving some fresh air Hermione opened the door that led to the terrace. It was ice cold outside, and the sky was grey and stormy. Her cloak flapped violently in the wind. She suspected it would rain any minute now.
Hermione wrapped her arms tightly around herself, then made her way to the edge of the tower. She leaned against the railing, and despite her best efforts, she remembered Draco's kiss from the night before.
She put a hand to her lips. Why couldn't she just forget about it? Why did he have this effect on her?
Suddenly, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps and the rustling of a cloak.
"Just the person I wanted to see," said a shrill voice.
Before Hermione could turn, someone hit her from behind, pitching her forward, until half her body was leaning over the railing.
"Fancy finding you here…all alone."
Hermione clung to the railing for support and looked over her shoulder.
It was Pansy.
She seized Hermione by the front of her robes and shook her. "What were you doing with Draco last night?"
Hermione screamed as Pansy pushed her backwards. Her heart caught in her chest when she looked at the ground below her.
She was hanging over the railing upside down now.
Her blood rushed to her head.
"I saw you leaving the library together!" Pansy spat, digging her nails into Hermione's arm. "What are you after?"
The world seemed to spin."Pull me back over!" Hermione yelled.
The wind whipped Pansy's jet-black hair into her face. Her eyes were narrow, snake-like, and she had a demented look about her that sent a chill through Hermione's spine.
She felt drops of water on her cheek. It was starting to rain. Pansy's feet slid as she struggled to keep her footing.
"Answer me, you stupid Mudblood!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Hermione shouted, anger finally overpowering her fear.
"Don't play coy with me, Granger!"
A flash of lighting lit up the sky, and what had started as light rain soon became a torrential downpour.
Hermione tried to pull herself up but Pansy pushed her down again. She screamed as she slid further back.
"ARE YOU MAD?!" shouted a male voice.
Hermione struggled to see. She twisted to her left and saw Draco running towards them.
Pansy turned, distracted.
In that moment, Hermione saw Pansy's school bag swing forward and without a second thought she thrust her hand inside it. This was her chance.
Hermione was amazed that in the middle of this chaos and her possible death, she could still keep her thoughts on the mission.
Quickly, she felt around for the note. Hopefully Draco would distract her for long enough…
"Go away!" Pansy spat. "This is none of your business!"
"LET HER GO! NOW!"
Hermione took hold of the note and stuffed it into her robes.
Pansy turned to Hermione. For a split second she thought the Slytherin would let her fall to her death, but instead she yanked her back over the railing.
Draco rushed to her side. "Are you alright?"
Hermione nodded.
"I'll take care of this," he hissed, eyeing Pansy with extreme distaste.
"I was only having some fun, " said Pansy innocently, a large Cheshire cat smile on her face.
"You've completely lost your mind!" screamed Draco. He seized her arm and began dragging her away. "What's the matter with you, do you want Dumbledore and that Romena woman to lock you up in Azkaban?! You could have killed her! If I hadn't been here…"
Hermione waited for their voices to trail away as they left the Astronomy tower.
When the coast was clear she raced to Dumbledore's office, the precious note finally hers.
Moments later she sat across from Dumbledore, soaked to the skin, her heart still pounding in her chest, watching as he poured over the note and its contents.
"They are coordinates," he said gravely. "The castle will be attacked in a few days' time. All the exits and entrances to Hogwarts are clearly marked here."
"What shall we do?" asked Hermione.
"You will secretly return this note to Ms. Parkinson, and let her deliver it. Perform a memory charm if necessary."
Hermione's mouth dropped open in shock. "You're going to let it happen? You're going to let Voldemort attack Hogwarts?"
"Voldemort will attack sooner or later," said Dumbledore calmly. "This note tells us exactly when and how. It is our best form of defense."
Hermione opened her mouth to argue but he cut her short.
"Do you remember how the students from Durmstrang visited us, Ms. Granger?"
"What?" she asked, completely flabbergasted.
"Durmstrang?" he asked pleasantly.
"By ship," she said slowly. "They emerged out of the lake."
"Precisely," said Dumbledore.
"I've spoken with the new Headmaster there, Durmstrang will lend us their ship. And I'd like you, when the time comes, to lead the evacuation. All first and second years. You will leave the moment I send word."
"And the rest of the students?" asked Hermione.
"The rest will remain here at Hogwarts."
A dawning sense of realization hit Hermione. "There isn't enough room for everyone, is there?" she asked Dumbledore. "Isn't there some way the rest can escape?"
"They're best chance is to remain here," said Dumbledore softly. "The Order will do their best to defend them. And those who wish to join the fight will be permitted to do so."
She looked outside the window and observed the students walking through the school grounds. "They shouldn't have come back to Hogwarts."
Dumbledore stood behind her and followed her gaze. "They have remained alive this long because they returned to Hogwarts."
He motioned for Hermione to follow him.
"The ship will dock on the coast of Étretat."
Hermione racked her brain. The French name sounded familiar, then she remembered it was a coastal town famous for its white cliffs, natural rock arches and dazzling water. The magical community there was known for its healing abilities.
"The students will be granted asylum, and later reunited with their families when their safety can be assured. You will sail on to Spain to meet Harry. He needs your help."
"Harry?"
"He's waiting for you…in the Alcazar of Segovia."
Dumbledore held out a pensieve to her. "If you please, Ms. Granger."
Hermione leaned forward, and her blood chilled as she saw the image reflected in the pensieve. It was a castle with high turrets and spires, and an exterior that looked like the bow of a ship…the castle she saw in her dreams.
"You will receive further instructions at a later time."
Hermione nodded absently.
"Is there anything you'd like to tell me?" Dumbledore asked, observing her closely.
She looked into his clear blue eyes and expectant face. She didn't want Dumbledore to think she was weak.
"No, nothing."
"Very well then, Ms. Granger. You may go."
She nodded and hurried out of Dumbledore's office.
"It's going to happen soon," said Nott.
"What is?" asked Malfoy. They had finished with Potions and were making their way to the Great Hall.
"The attack on the castle. My father doesn't want me to stay. I'm leaving tonight. We made a deal with one of the guards…the one that's working for our side."
Draco wasn't surprised. Nott hated getting his hands dirty. It was only a matter of time until he made his escape. "Where will you go?" Draco asked.
"Salem," said Nott. "I'm finishing the year abroad. You should come too if you know what's good for you."
"I can't," said Draco. "I've been initiated, it's too late for me. You know that."
Nott and Malfoy turned the corner. They came upon a long hallway filled with suits of armor. At the end of the corridor they saw a group of Ravenclaw boys. They were all huddled around a copy of the Daily Prophet, discussing the new killing curse.
Malfoy recognized Roman Everley, head of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.
The boy looked up and spotted the Slytherins walking down the corridor.
"Well look who it is," Roman shouted across the hall, pointing at the Daily Prophet. "Proud of yourselves, are you?"
Nott and Malfoy stopped in their tracks. Roman marched up to them, "On your way to celebrate your victory?"
"Get lost," said Malfoy, but Roman didn't move.
Moments later the other Ravenclaws surrounded them too. They were outnumbered.
"You're a pretender Malfoy, just like your father. You're playing both sides…but it's only a matter of time until you're found out."
"Bit paranoid today, are we?" Malfoy retorted.
Roman's face screwed up in anger. "Come off it, your whole family's out there supporting You-Know-Who. They're—"
"Get out of our way, or you'll be sorry," said Nott, raising his wand and taking aim.
"Why should I?" Roman challenged.
"Have it your way then."
Nott muttered an incantation. "Lumine Ignis!"
Roman's robes caught fire. The flames traveled from the hem of his cloak, all the way up to his sleeve. He screamed and his wand fell to the floor with a clatter. He flapped his arms helplessly, and his friends backed away, afraid they'd catch fire too.
A smile crept onto Nott's face, and the light from the flames shone in his eyes, giving him a diabolical appearance.
"Aguamenti!" shouted Malfoy dousing Roman with a jet of cold water. "Hold still!"
But Roman was twisting this way and that, desperate to get away from the flames.
Amidst the chaos, a Ravenclaw boy stepped forward and grabbed a hold of Nott.
Finally, Malfoy seized Roman's cloak and tore it off, then stamped out the last of the fire.
"YOU'RE MAD!" shouted Roman pointing at Nott, then at Malfoy, his voice trembling with rage. "ABSOLUTELY MAD!"
The remaining boys closed in on Malfoy, but Roman held them back. "Don't bother. I'll finish him off."
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "There's no need to play the hero—"
Roman punched Malfoy in the face.
He fell to the ground and blood spurted from his mouth. Roman bent over him, then dragged him up by his collar.
"There's no one here to help you, Malfoy. And you'll be locked up in Azkaban soon enough—you and your snake of a father."
He pulled his fist back to hit Draco again.
"Leave him alone!" shouted a voice.
Draco turned. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hermione racing towards them.
Roman's eyes narrowed. "Stay out of this, Gryffindor."
"I will not stay out of it," said Hermione indignantly. "Release him this instant!"
"You're defending him?" asked Roman in disbelief. "After everything he's done to Potter?"
Hermione clenched her fists. "If you resort to violent means then you're no better than the Death Eaters."
Roman released his hold on Draco and marched up to Hermione. He pointed a finger at her. "You're lucky you're a girl, because if you weren't—"
"Leave her alone!" Draco warned, getting to his feet.
Malfoy moved towards him, and Roman pulled a spear from the suit of armor behind him.
"Stand back!" he warned, using it as a weapon.
Several things happened at once.
Nott kicked the Ravenclaw holding him, and in his hurry to get away, crashed into Malfoy.
Malfoy lost his footing and stumbled forwards.
Without thinking Roman lunged, and Draco gave a horrible, ear-splitting cry that echoed through the corridor.
The spear had gone through his side.
Draco crashed to the floor. He clutched his side in agony, and when he moved his hand away, Hermione saw blood seep through his robes.
Hermione looked at Roman, horrified.
The boy shook his head. "I didn't mean to, I—I thought he was going to attack me."
She rushed to Malfoy's side and lifted his shirt to see the damage. The cut was very deep. Her hands were soon covered with blood. Draco was staring at her, his eyes wide with shock. "It's going to be alright," she whispered to him, trying to keep her voice from shaking.
She looked at the Ravenclaws standing around her. "Call Madame Pomfrey! Hurry! He's losing too much blood!"
Before any of them could answer, the windows above them shattered. Glass went flying everywhere. Hermione covered her head with her hands. She could hear everyone stumble backwards. When the debris cleared, she looked up. A man on a winged horse had blasted through the window.
"Urgent message for Dumbledore," said the man.
Hermione felt a rush of wind hit her face as the horse flapped its enormous wings.
"The Ministry has fallen. Voldemort has taken complete control. Hogwarts is our last hope."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks to everyone who has favorited and followed this story! Lot's more is coming soon! Would love to hear your thoughts as it helps me write sooooo much faster :)
