Disclaimer: I don't own any character.

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Chapter 31

It had been a while since the Halliwell Manor had been filled with this many magical beings at one time. About half a dozen witches and wizards, a couple of angels, a Slayer complete with her own Watcher and even a vampire now adorned the living room.

It had taken about three hours to get all the introductions and history out of the way. By now it was one o'clock in the morning and sleep was the last thing on anyone's mind. The one collective thought was stopping Voldemort.

"Alright, well what do we know? We know the seal is open and we know Pasty wants to chuck Harry in," Spike was saying.

"Well, thank you Captain Obvious," Xander retorted sarcastically. "But what the rest of us are concentrating on is how to stop that from happening."

"I may be missing something but, can't we just close the seal?" Draco asked.

"It's not that simple. The only way to close it is with the tears of the person who opened it," Buffy explained.

"Hell, I can cry," said Piper. "I'm close to tears right now."

"Yeah but they need to be 'Oh my god, I'm such a horrible person for opening the blood sucking seal, I'm so sorry' tears," Buffy clarified.

"Yeah…that's not gonna happen," said Piper.

"I think our biggest problem is getting past those uber-vamps again. They were so not fun the first time," Dawn said with a slight shiver remembering the last battle.

"Didn't you get rid of them all last time?" Phoebe asked.

"Yeah. I took the bloody buggers out when I exploded but I bet there's plenty more where they came from," Spike said which earned him more than a couple of curious glances.

"We can start working on some potions for that," said Paige. "The problem will be making sure we have enough ingredients. I wish I had figured out how to make that Protection Potion, too" she sighed, "that definitely could have helped."

"There might be another potion," Hermione said excitedly. "It's not exactly a protection potion but it might do just that. It's supposed to be very difficult to brew but I'm sure I could do it with your help," she finished beaming.

Draco marveled at the fact that she could be so excited at the prospect of concocting a new potion despite the circumstances.

"And I can work on some force fields. I've never tried individual ones before, and I'm not sure they'll work, but I like a challenge," Willow said with a smile.

"Okay, well you, Paige and Hermione can start working on that stuff. Buffy, you can start trying to get in touch with some of your slayer friends, we're going to need all the reinforcements we can get. Spike, you can round up any trustworthy demons you can find that are willing to fight. Phoebe and Chris can go to Grimmauld Place and fill in the rest of the Order on what we know. The rest of us will be here trying not to die from exhaustion," Piper finished tiredly.

At once, Hermione disappeared into the kitchen with Paige and Willow, and Phoebe and Chris orbed out.

"I guess we'll go home and start networking then," Buffy said with a slight yawn. "We'll let you know if we hear anything. Good night."

The crowd in the living room had finally dwindled down with just a few hours before sunrise.

Draco was looking at Piper worriedly. It didn't take his empath powers to see that she was exhausted and on the brink of worrying herself into insanity. He was itching to ask her who died and made her boss but thought better of it.

"Why don't you try to get some sleep?" he asked instead.

"Honey, I don't think I could even if I wanted to," she said stifling a yawn.

"Well, you're not going to be any good to us half asleep," he grumbled.

"Lay off, Draco," Harry snapped.

"Make me, Harry," the blonde spat back.

Within seconds they were both on their feet.

"That is enough!" Piper yelled, making Hermione, Paige and Willow run into the living room. "Don't you think we have enough people trying to kill us already without us turning on each other! I can't believe you two right now," she said pushing the two hotheaded teens away from each other.

Draco stalked off into the conservatory visibly fuming but silent and Harry threw himself onto the couch, scowling.

Hermione gave Harry a reproachful look before following Draco.

She found him sitting with his back to her facing the windows. When she sat down next to him she was surprised when he started talking without even looking at her.

He felt her coming and knew she was concerned which is why he didn't bite her head off when she sat next to him.

"So far everyone I have even remotely tolerated has either died or tried to kill me. I don't want Piper to die."

"None of us do."

"Well, if she wears herself ragged she's not going to be able to put up much of a fight, Granger."

"I understand that, but you have to understand that sometimes you come off a bit, well…abrasive," Hermione said, choosing her words carefully.

"We can't all be as prim and proper as you," he smirked.

"Just talk to her and tell her you're concerned. I'm sure she'll understand."

"Why do you have to be so damn logical about everything all the time?" he drawled.

"Why do you have to be so stubborn all the time? Being nice isn't the same as showing weakness. The only reason you and Harry butt heads so often is because you're always determined to prove him wrong. Would it kill you to see things his way every once in a while?"

"Possibly. I really wouldn't want to risk it."

She let out a soft laugh and when he felt his stomach flip he shrugged it off as hunger.

Just then Harry walked in. "I'm sorry I snapped at you," the brunette supplied reluctantly.

However reluctant it was, Draco could tell it was sincere. He nodded in acceptance of the apology and grunted a 'yeah' in response. Harry, figuring the grunt was better than nothing, left the conservatory mumbling something about going to bed.

"It's nearly three. I think I'm going to head home myself," Hermione said more to herself than to her blonde companion as she got up off the floor.

He followed suit and they stood there awkwardly for a few seconds before he surprised himself and her by leaning forward and giving her a soft hug. "Thanks, Granger. Good night."

She walked out of the room slightly dazed and confused and said good-bye to the others before apparating home.

"I saw that," said Paige mockingly, coming out from behind the corner.

Draco looked quite putout as the redhead approached with a smirk on her face to rival his own. The look on his face clearly said, "please, not now," but his effort was fruitless.

"She likes you," Paige said bluntly.

"Absolutely not," Draco said, leaving the room, his tone ending any potential conversation…at least in his mind.

She followed him into the living room where Piper and Harry were flipping through the Book of Shadows.

"I thought you were going to bed?" the blonde asked hoping for a diversion.

"Don't change the subject," Paige snipped. "You can ignore it all you want, but it won't change anything."

"There's nothing to change," Draco said through gritted teeth. "Shut up…please."

"You know I'm right," she challenged, arms crossed. "You can feel it can't you, Mr. Empath?"

He looked as if he wanted nothing more that to punch Paige squarely in the jaw, but at the same time there was that nagging voice in the back of his head. It was the same voice that had told him to hug her. But why had he listened?

His silence couldn't have provided a clearer answer. "Thought so," she said, smiling triumphantly and headed upstairs to her room.

Piper and Harry, who were both looking thoroughly confused yet slightly entertained, were now staring expectedly at Draco for an explanation.

"I hate her," he stated flatly and headed upstairs without another word.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

The sheets weren't itchy. It wasn't too hot or too cold. He was comfortable…but he couldn't sleep.

Paige's words kept ringing in his head with every toss and turn he made in bed. He would deny it to the death if anyone brought it up, especially Paige, but he couldn't ignore the growing emotions he could feel coming from Hermione since the day he saved her. After all, she was around all the time. But what did he care about her childish infatuation? It didn't mean anything; he had saved her and she was grateful. End of story.

He had been trying to fall asleep for a while now and when he finally did, he wished he hadn't.

He found himself back underground in the corridor leading to the room where Hermione had been kept. Hesitating slightly outside the door, he pushed it open to reveal an apparently empty room. The chair she had been tied to lay askew on the ground, restraints still smoking as if they had just been blasted.

A slight ruffle made him turn around and coming out of the shadows were the last two people he expected to see. Hermione was visibly shaking as she stepped forward with Voldemort's wand digging into her neck. He sneered at Draco before hissing, "Imperio."

Instantly, a complacent look came over Hermione's face. She walked towards him slowly and as she did she drew her wand and aimed it squarely at his chest. Doing the only thing he could think of, he rushed forward and wrapped his arms tightly around her, pinning her arms down by her sides.

"Granger, stop. You don't want to do this. Fight it," he whispered.

He had barely gotten the words out before he was blasted backwards off of his feet. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Voldemort lowering his wand. Hermione walked steadily towards the fallen teen, wand poised to attack. Then, without blinking…without hesitation…she uttered the curse she would never have said voluntarily.

Draco barely had time to register how wrong those words sounded coming from her before the green blaze hit him.

He woke so violently that he almost tumbled out of bed. Breathing heavily and covered in sweat, he looked around the room wildly for a second, barely noticing that the sun was shining brightly through the curtains.

He got up sluggishly, headed towards the door and saw that it was already open. Peeking his head out into the hall, he thought he saw a rat disappearing into a closet. He grabbed a shirt from the nightstand, threw it on and headed downstairs. Catching a glimpse of a clock, he saw that it was nearly twelve.

Paige, Leo and Chris were all in the conservatory helping Ron with his orbing. By the size of his yawn, he had gotten up not too long ago. Draco gave him a nod as he passed into the kitchen. The blonde's stomach gave a nasty lurch when he walked in and saw a bushy brown ponytail in front of the stove. She was carefully stirring a potion while she stared at a clock. To Draco's surprise, Snape walked in with Phoebe and Piper.

"How long, Miss Granger?"

"Ten minutes."

"Once you reach twelve, switch to counterclockwise stirring for an additional two minutes."

"What is she making?" Draco finally asked, and noticed that the ponytail twitched as if she wanted to turn around, but didn't.

"Something that will be a really big help if it works," Phoebe said.

"It will work," Hermione said confidently. "I know it will."

Piper brought Draco and Snape a plate of eggs and toast. "Coffee?" she asked Snape.

He shook his head, but Draco on the other hand needed the caffeine. "I'll take some. Black, one sugar."

Piper arched an eyebrow at him. "Please," he added with a charming smile that would have made any girl weak at the knees.

Just then, Harry walked in swearing loudly. "Sorry," he said quickly to everyone. "Spike and Buffy just called and said that nearly every demon in this area is either dead, already on Voldemort's side or in hiding. Can't we get a break?"

"Done!" Hermione announced as if in answer to his question. She stepped away from the stove to reveal a potion unlike any they had ever seen, except Snape of course. Small gold colored, marble sized drops of potion were leaping merrily out of the cauldron, not spilling a drop.

"Well done," said Snape, obviously impressed, and Hermione beamed. Her eyes flickered towards Draco and he averted her gaze and found himself looking at Snape who gave him a disconcerting smirk.

"You've got a rodent problem, you know," he said quickly trying to get the focus off of himself.

"Well, we can't exactly get rid of you, can we," said Piper.

"Funny, but I was taking about a rat, actually."

"Ew. Where?" Phoebe asked.

"It was upstairs. Scruffy looking thing too. I think it was missing a foot…paw…whatever."

The jolt he felt in his stomach after he said this made him want to throw up.

"Where did you see it?" Harry said, nearly pouncing on him.

Sensing the turmoil inside Harry, he answered quickly. "It was heading into the closet next to my room."

The words had barely left his mouth before Harry bounded upstairs. They heard a yell, followed shortly by a small explosion. A few seconds later, Harry walked into the kitchen breathing hard. "It was him. I know it was." Hermione clasped her hand to her mouth. "He escaped through a hole in the closet. It must lead to the outside. I blasted it trying to get to him but…" he broke off.

Draco couldn't believe what he was seeing let alone feeling. Harry looked like he was about to cry and Draco could feel a mixture of anger, hate, sadness and frustration coming from him.

Phoebe and Snape got up and headed into the living room. Following their lead, Hermione gave Draco a significant look and he got up and followed her out of the kitchen, leaving Harry and Piper there alone. They went into the now empty conservatory and sat on the couch.

"What the hell just happened?" Draco blurted out as soon as they were seated.

He could see as well as sense her hesitation and could tell that whatever it was, it was major. "Tell me."

She let out a shaky breath and began. "How much do you know about Sirius Black?"

He thought it was an odd question but he answered anyway. "He murdered a mess of muggles and Peter Pettigrew after he sold out Potter's parents to Voldemort, and in our third year he escaped from Azkaban using his animagus power to try and kill him. Oh and he's dead."

"Ok…what if I told you that most of what you just said was wrong?"