Chapter Twenty – Six: Hermione
Hermione steeled herself, ready to convince the two boys that they needed to face Zabini today, when a quiet, terrified whisper deflated her.
'I told you.' Draco whispered hoarsely. Hermione watched as Harry's expression morphed from shock to determination.
'No. I won't let him have you!' Harry growled as he leapt out of the bed and stormed out of the room past Hermione. 'Hermione, you will take Draco to -' Harry barked at her as he stomped down the hallway.
'You need to get dressed, Harry!' Hermione interrupted sharply, watching Harry's back as he stopped, looked down at himself and abruptly turned on the spot.
'Take Draco, keep him in my apartment.' Harry grumbled to Hermione, who sighed but was interrupted before she could speak.
'That's not your decision to make, Potter.' Draco said. Hermione turned to find Draco was crossing the room with the bedsheet tied around his waist. Hermione couldn't help but stare at the pale boy who was clearly malnourished. Her heart squeezed in pain for Draco.
'What?' Harry exclaimed, facing Draco, who met Harry's eyes with a glare.
'I will face Zabini. I will tell him I no longer belong to him, and I will not be hiding away while that happens. I want to see his face.' Draco said, sounding far too calm for Hermione's liking.
'I will not put you in danger!' Harry said, throwing his hands in the air. Draco seemed to straighten his back, just a little, reminding Hermione of the pompous git Draco was at school.
'I will not be in any danger.' Draco said, raising one eyebrow. 'Not when I have you.'
That threw Harry, who glowered at Draco wordlessly. Hermione bit her tongue. Draco had a good point.
'You have no wand.'
'No, but I have your protection.'
'But if Zabini gets through me-'
'He won't.'
'BUT IF HE DOES-'
'HE IS NOT THAT GOOD A WIZARD, POTTER! WILL YOU BLOODY WELL SHUT UP FOR ONE BLOODY MINUTE?'
Hermione bit her lip, watching the two wizards with amusement as she contemplated if Draco's pride could outmatch Harry's stubbornness.
Draco stepped closer to Harry, right into his personal space. Hermione watched Harry take a deep breath through his nose, a sure sign he was working hard not to explode in anger.
'I have you. I have Hermione. Zabini is not an overly gifted wizard. I will be fine. I trust you both. Let me see him the moment he realises he lost me.' Draco murmured to Harry. The boys faced one another in a silent standoff. But Hermione caught onto something Draco said.
'Draco …' she began hesitantly. Draco didn't tear his eyes from Harry's, but he acknowledged Hermione by tilting his head in her direction.
'Yes?'
'You said that Zabini is not a gifted wizard?'
'I did.'
'Is that true?'
'I wouldn't say it if it were not. Why do you ask?'
'Because you need to be a gifted wizard to create a Horcrux.' Hermione said, her mind spinning. 'If he isn't capable of creating the Horcrux, who did?'
That got the attention of the two boys. Both broke eye contact to look at Hermione with wide eyes.
'I don't know.' Draco said, sounding nervous. 'I'm not even sure where he got the damn collar.'
'How are we going to find out?' Hermione mused, her heart fluttering with worry. She looked to Harry. He was better at thinking on his feet than she was.
'We find out from Zabini.' Harry said resolutely.
'You really think he's just going to tell us?' Draco scoffed.
'No, Draco. He'll tell you.' Harry said, taking a deep breath. 'I have an idea.'
Hermione watched as the two boys' eyes met again. They seemed to have a silent conversation between one another before Harry's eyebrows knit in a silent plead, and Draco's shoulders slumped.
'Whatever it is, you'll owe me big time, Potter.' Draco grumbled.
