I've certainly got a lot more time on my hands now that basically everything is closed. It just means that I've got to do a lot of my work online now, which I hate. If any of you faithful readers out there have any good Dramione fics to read during this time then let me know, because I've certainly got more space in my favourites list.
To say that their Horcrux hunt was turning out to be a less than ideal situation would be an understatement. Ron had left, and it was just Hermione and Harry now. Ron leaving them like that had left Hermione with an overwhelming sense of betrayal, because they were supposed to be in this together and he had just abandoned them. Despite that, Hermione still missed him, since Harry was already down in the dumps and there was only so much comfort that Hermione could get from writing to Draco.
Harry and Hermione were currently hiding out together, with Hermione on guard while Harry remained in the tent. She was writing to Draco, which was something she had done a lot of since Ron had left. He had now become a source of comfort for her like she knew she was for him.
It's lonely, without Ron. Harry and I barely speak unless it's a necessity. We're just so lonely and isolated out here. Ron almost livened the mood for us, and now that he's gone we have nobody to do that. I know I should be mad at him for leaving, but I can't help but miss him.
That's pretty much me at Hogwarts, except I miss my mother. I'm surrounded by so many people, but it always feels isolating. I'm always in just a shite mood at the drop of a hat, and I know my friends are getting tired of my attitude. I just wish I could be with my mother. I hate the thought of her being alone at the Manor with that bald snake man. Father is there, but he doesn't have the sway he used to with the Dark Lord. Everything just sucks.
Speaking of Hogwarts, have you tried helping Ginny and Neville like I suggested?
There have been a few instances. Longbottom was about to take another beating from the Carrow's but I distracted them to give him space. She-Weasley almost got detention but I took the blame for her. I think they're starting to get suspicious, since they're always looking at me with that kind of look.
Then perhaps you should arrange a meeting with them. You might be able to help them, but they could also help you. You would just have to prove that your intentions are genuine. Tell Ginny that the 'diary' she caught me writing in was actually a book that let us communicate together. Give them valuable information that might help them more. Start small.
I'll give it a try, but I wouldn't be surprised if She-Weasley and Longbottom don't hex me on the spot or dose me with Veritaserum like you did.
"Hermione?"
Her head shot around to see Harry standing behind her. She then shoved her notes into her bag so that he wouldn't see what she was writing. The last thing Hermione needed was for Harry to find out what she was doing.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Your shift is over, I just called out to you," Harry said.
"Oh, I was just a bit distracted," Hermione replied.
"What's that?" Harry questioned, pointing at the box in her hands.
"It's nothing," she answered as she shoved it into her bag. "Just a little antique."
"Well, you can head inside now. I'll keep watch," Harry stated.
"Alright," she nodded as she got up to leave.
"Hermione?" Harry called back to her.
"Yeah?" she turned around.
Harry sighed, "Never mind."
With a look of resignation, Harry turned his back to her and she just knew that he had been thinking about Ron. It was clear to her that Harry missed his best friend, given how he would look at where Ron would sleep and fiddle with anything that was his. It was one of those times that reminded Hermione how they would always miss each other more than her, but she was okay with that now.
Once Hermione walked back inside the tent, she emptied out her bag and stared at the set of books in front of her. She had been examining them any chance she got, which wasn't many since Harry was always around her. Hermione had been able to feel the magic inside the books, but she couldn't quite deduce what kind of magic it was. Hermione was almost entirely convinced that they had belonged to the founders, since it wasn't until she looked at the blue and yellow books that she noticed Helga Hufflepuff's and Rowena Ravenclaw's initials on them. There was also the fact that the books colours matched the house colours, but that could've just been a coincidence.
"So many secrets," she whispered.
Despite her eagerness to discover what secrets were in the books, Hermione knew that her attention had to be on discovering the secrets of the Horcruxes. Without the sword of Gryffindor, they were nowhere near close to destroying the locket, let alone the other Horcruxes that they still had no idea where to find.
~*•°•*~
It was a few days later when Hermione had once again been writing to Draco. This was after the disaster of their visit to Godric's Hollow, and they were now hiding out in the Forest of Dean. It made Hermione think about her parent, which made her sad thinking about the fact that this was her first Christmas without them. Sure, she had stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas before, but they had still written to her and sent presents. Now there would be nothing from her parents, and they would be celebrating Christmas without knowing that they even had a daughter.
How was your Christmas?
Even worse than last years. We actually did used to celebrate it as a family before the Dark Lord took over our house. Now there's no point in celebrating at all. I already know how yours went, since I heard that you and Potter barely made it out of Godric's Hollow alive.
Well, at least you were still with your family.
Mother doesn't want me going back to Hogwarts after the Christmas break. She wants me back at the Manor. I think it's because she's lonely, since father isn't one of the Dark Lord's favourites anymore so he's trying to work his way back into the Dark Lord's good graces. The Dark Lord favours Bellatrix more nowadays, and she's more mad than ever.
Why do you do that?
Do what?
Call him the Dark lord.
Because it's what I have to call him. If you try calling him anything other than my Lord or the Dark Lord, you won't last long around him.
Why come up with a new name then if he doesn't even want to be called it?
I think it's more like a fear thing. He wants people to fear his name, and he certainly does a good job of doing that.
There was once a time when Hermione feared Voldemort's name, but she had learned to use it instead of You-Know-Who thanks to Harry. Though now it wasn't like they could just say Voldemort, since doing so would hand them over to him on a silver platter. Hermione knew that Draco didn't like talking about Voldemort, and since this was one of those times when they were exchanging letters like they used to in the books, she decided to change the subject.
Since you mentioned Hogwarts, how did things work out with Ginny and Neville?
She-Weasley almost did hex me the first time I approached her alone, but mentioning you got me into her good graces. I gave her the patrols list so that she and her little organisation can get around. I know that they're hiding out in the Room of Requirement, and there's almost always patrollers around to punish anyone misbehaving.
Well, I'm glad that you got them to talk to you. Did you make any progress on that other thing I asked you about?
Yes, I did manage to find out some information about the founders. As I'm sure you know, the Sword of Gryffindor is Gryffindor's signature item. But the other founders have their own little trinket as well. Salazar Slytherin had his own item too, a locket called Slytherin's Locket. It's said to be passed down through what's left of Slytherin's line. Then there's Helga Hufflepuff's cup, and Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem. Hufflepuff's cup is said to be another family heirloom, and I'm sure you know the story about the diadem.
Yes, it was made by Rowena Ravenclaw and her daughter wanted to make herself smarter so she took it and hid it. But it's potentially imperative that we find these things, so do you have any idea where Hufflepuff's cup or where the diadem is?
Like I said, Hufflepuff's cup is said to be a family heirloom while the diadem is lost to history. Don't you need to know where the sword and locket are too?
The sword is a mystery, but we know where Slytherin's locket is.
Granger, I don't know what exactly it is that you're looking for but I think I'd have a right to know.
I'm sorry, Draco, but it's best that we keep this on a strictly need to know basis. If the wrong person finds out that we're communicating like this, you could be forced to give up these secrets which could potentially put me in jeopardy.
Fair enough. I wouldn't want you getting hurt because of me, since I already have enough guilt on my hands.
You shouldn't feel guilty, Draco.
"Hermione? What are you doing?"
Once again, Harry had caught Hermione right when she was doing something that he really wasn't supposed to know. Sometimes she forgot how close their quarters actually were, and this was just another reminder as to how close they really were.
"Nothing," Hermione replied.
"You were writing something," Harry stated.
"Just notes," Hermione answered.
"You seem to be taking a lot of notes lately," Harry commented.
"Yes, well, we've got to track down those Horcruxes somehow. I'm taking notes of any items belonging to the founders," Hermione said.
"And just where are you getting this information from? It's not like we have the most extensive information at our hands," Harry pointed out.
"I'm just putting down any significant mental notes," Hermione argued.
"From your source?" Harry stated.
"What source?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione, I know what that box is. I saw it in one of the books at Grimmauld Place. It's supposed to have the same powers as the Vanishing Cabinet, except it works like a message sender. I remembered seeing it from somewhere, and I just remembered now," Harry explained.
"I'm not talking to anyone, Harry," Hermione insisted.
"Then why do you have it?" Harry demanded.
Before Hermione could say anything, the box made it's activation movement, which it did by the stone on the crest changing colours. Hermione grimaced, knowing that she had been caught in the act.
"Who are you communicating with, Hermione? I have a right to know," Harry said.
Hermione sighed, knowing that she had to fess up. "Draco."
Harry's eyes widened, "Please don't tell me you mean Malfoy."
"Do we know any other Draco's?" Hermione remarked.
"How could you be writing to him, Hermione? Why would you write to him? What were you thinking?" Harry demanded.
"Why don't you let me explain first before you start bombarding me with questions?" Hermione snapped.
"There's no logical explanation as to why you of all people would be communicating with Malfoy. I don't believe this," Harry said.
"He's helping me, Harry. We've been talking like this for the better part of the last year," Hermione admitted.
Harry gawked at her, "What? Hermione, why would you do that? What could you possibly have to gain by talking to Malfoy?"
"He's giving me information and I know he's been helping Ginny and the D.A. back at Hogwarts," Hermione insisted.
"Yeah right," Harry scoffed. "Why would Malfoy even want to help you? Nothing about this makes sense at all."
"It would if you would just be quiet and listen to me!" Hermione exclaimed. When Harry finally quieted down, she continued. "It started last year. I got this book from the writing shop in Diagon Alley before it was raided by Death Eaters. I was using it to write notes for class when it started writing back to me. I didn't know who or what it was at first, but I kept writing to them, and they kept writing to me without knowing who I was either."
"So, you're telling me that you wrote in a mysterious book without knowing how it worked or who you were talking to? Do I need to remind you about the Horcrux I destroyed?" Harry remarked.
"Yes, Harry, I was fully aware of the risks associated with what I was doing. I kept it going because well, I was kind of lonely. Ron and I were fighting, and I knew you couldn't exactly be supportive for both of us while you were off ogling over Ginny," Hermione said.
"I never 'ogled' over Ginny," Harry muttered.
"Um, yes you did," Hermione argued. "Anyways, I was curious as well because I knew that the book couldn't be a Horcrux, so I kept writing to whoever it was and we shared parts of our lives that helped me figure out who they were."
"So then you did know it was Malfoy you were talking to?" Harry stated.
"Yes, after a while. The whole time we were talking, I knew that something was troubling them. They were always so guarded, and I was always initiating the conversations. They wouldn't trust me, and then when I did confront Draco, he certainly didn't trust me then," Hermione explained.
"Draco? You're on first name basis with him now then?" Harry interrupted.
"Well, we've been writing together for over a year now so what else am I supposed to call him?" Hermione remarked.
"Nothing, because you're not supposed to be communicating with him in any way. He's the enemy, Hermione. He let those Death Eaters into the school and stood by as Snape killed Dumbledore," Harry argued.
Hermione grimaced, knowing that Harry would react even worse when she told him that she knew what Draco was doing and that she knew Dumbledore would die.
"The thing is, Harry, there's a lot more to that story than you realise," Hermione said.
"What could be more to the story than what I already know?" Harry demanded, before his eyes widened in realisation. "You knew? All this time, you knew what was happening."
"Harry, you need to understand…" Hermione started.
"Understand what?" Harry cut her off. "That you've been talking to Malfoy after everything he's done?"
"He's not as bad as you think. He couldn't kill Dumbledore, you saw that with your own eyes," Hermione insisted.
"That's beside the point. He tried to use Crucio on me before I'd even whipped out my own wand. He's been nothing but a rotten git to us for years. How could you even try to defend him?" Harry demanded.
"Because he's changed," Hermione proclaimed.
Harry scoffed, "Not likely."
"Would you just listen to me?" Hermione asked.
"I've listened to enough," Harry muttered. "I'll keep watch outside so you can keep talking to your little friend. Next thing you'll tell me is that he's your boyfriend."
That being said, Harry stormed out of the tent, and although Hermione knew he would come back, she knew there was no point in going after him now. Hermione knew Harry enough to know that when he was angry like this that it was best to just let him cool off. Besides, it wasn't like Harry would even last long without Hermione, so he'd have to come around eventually.
With nothing else to do, Hermione opened up the box again and continued writing back to Draco. If Harry was going to ignore her, then she'd at least have Draco to talk to.
So, Harry's found out about Hermione's little communication endeavours and he's less than pleased about it. You'll just have to see how the rest of this goes down, since we're nearing a very pivotal part of the story.
