DISCLAIMER: I own only the plot. Everything else is owned by JKRowling.
***
The Dark Lord had returned.
Father was beside himself with glee. Back in his old role as a Death Eater he was in his element. But he suspected something was up with me.
"You are not happy? Lord Voldemort has returned! Soon the Muggles and the Mudbloods will be cowering in fear! But you sit quietly as if you do not care." Father looked worried. As if something might be seriously wrong with me. "I hope that fool, Snape, hasn't been putting you off. Spies like him will be dealt with most harshly."
"No one's said anything, Father. There's nothing wrong with me."
"Yes there is. And what's more, I know what it is. You want a more active role, don't you, Draco?"
"I... I... Erm..."
"You are, of course, too young to be a Death Eater." he continued, ignoring my stammerings, "But Lord Voldemort and I have a highly prized job for you. Draco, the Dark Lord needs to have an assisstant. An apprentice, if you will. And he wants you."
I blanched. I couldn't be the Dark Lord's apprentice! I wasn't evil! What's more, I loved Hermione. I was pretty sure that the Dark Lord would not want an apprentice who's in love with a Muggle-born. Yet what could I say?
In my room that night I decided to send an owl to Hermione. I wanted her to know the truth about me before I was forced to work for Vol- for You Know Who.
Hermione, (I wrote)
You and I have never seen eye to eye. Well, that's an understatement. You hate me. But I don't feel the same way. At the Yule Ball, when I asked you to dance, I wasn't joking, it wasn't a wind-up. I love you. I know I've been a total git to you and your friends but my reputation meant more to me than anything else. Now I'm paying the price.
As you know, my father was (and still is) a Death Eater. He has decided that I should be You Know Who's apprentice - I should join the Dark Side. I don't want to, Hermione, but what can I do? If I don't do as my father and You Know Who say then I'll be killed. If they find out about my feelings for you, I'll be killed.
I want to run away but all the people who I know are Slytherins. They'd turn me in to my father or, worse, to You Know Who as soon as they saw me.
I don't expect you to believe me. I don't really know why I'm writing this. You made your feelings pretty clear at the Yule Ball and, since then, my behaviour has been terrible. But, if you do, if you can help, please reply by return owl.
Draco Malfoy.
I sent the letter with my eagle owl, Aphrodite, and waited... and waited... and waited...
At two in the morning I was woken up by Aphrodite nibbling my earlobe. She had a letter tied to her leg!
Malfoy, (it said)
You can't possibly expect me to forgive you for everything you've put me, Harry, Ron, Neville and everyone through. If, in reality, you are terrified of You Know Who and your father then send an owl to Professor Dumbledore. He'll help.
Hermione.
I looked at the letter, dumbfounded, and then replied. I apologised for burdening her with my problems and sent it. Then, while I waited for Aphrodite to return, I wrote to Dumbledore, explaining my problem and entreating his help.
Aphrodite came and then went again. But then I realised I didn't know where Dumbledore would be and so I could have no idea of how long it would be before I heard from him.
Suddenly I felt a tug in my stomach, as if I'd touched a Portkey, and I was being pulled through the darkness. I landed on a chair in what could only be Dumbledore's office in Hogwarts. He sat behind his desk, gazing at me with those twinkling blue eyes.
"How did I...? What happened? I..."
"Calm yourself, Draco, calm yourself. I summoned you here. I received an owl from Miss Granger. She was most worried about you."
"Hermione? Then you didn't get my owl?" I was completely stunned.
"Your owl arrived shortly after Miss Granger's did. I must say that what I read in both of them worried me excedingly. That is why I am going to allow you to stay at Hogwarts during the holidays. Myself, Professors Snape and McGonagall, and Hagrid will also be here. Mr Potter will be joining us soon as it is no longer safe for him elsewhere. Your things have also arrived here and are in the Slytherin boys' dormitory."
"Thank you, Professor. I... er... I'd like to..."
Dumbledore seemed to read my mind. "If you should wish to write to Miss Granger then, of course, you may. But do use the school owls and a different one each time. Your father will be able to trace your owl too easily."
I blushed so deeply I thought my head would explode. "Thank you." Dumbledore just smiled.
lone in the Slytherin common room, I wrote a note to Hermione:
Hermione,
I should be saying thank you but that doesn't even begin to cover the way I'm feeling right now. What made you write to Dumbledore for me? I thought you hated me. You saved my life.
Draco.
I went up to the owlery to send it and then went back to the common room to await her reply. It came within a few hours:
Draco,
No sooner had I replied to your owl than I realised how cruel I was being. So I wrote to Dumbledore since I didn't know if you would or not. I can't say all I want to in a letter. I'm coming to Hogwarts with Harry tomorrow. Ron is joining us a few days later. When I get there we can talk. Is that OK with you? I'll see you tomorrow.
Love,
Hermione.
I couldn't believe it! She'd written "love"! Despite all my fears, I felt a warm glow. I was perfectly willing to be friends with Harry and Ron. Anything! As long as I could be with Hermione.
As far as I was concerned, tomorrow couldn't come soon enough!
***
The Dark Lord had returned.
Father was beside himself with glee. Back in his old role as a Death Eater he was in his element. But he suspected something was up with me.
"You are not happy? Lord Voldemort has returned! Soon the Muggles and the Mudbloods will be cowering in fear! But you sit quietly as if you do not care." Father looked worried. As if something might be seriously wrong with me. "I hope that fool, Snape, hasn't been putting you off. Spies like him will be dealt with most harshly."
"No one's said anything, Father. There's nothing wrong with me."
"Yes there is. And what's more, I know what it is. You want a more active role, don't you, Draco?"
"I... I... Erm..."
"You are, of course, too young to be a Death Eater." he continued, ignoring my stammerings, "But Lord Voldemort and I have a highly prized job for you. Draco, the Dark Lord needs to have an assisstant. An apprentice, if you will. And he wants you."
I blanched. I couldn't be the Dark Lord's apprentice! I wasn't evil! What's more, I loved Hermione. I was pretty sure that the Dark Lord would not want an apprentice who's in love with a Muggle-born. Yet what could I say?
In my room that night I decided to send an owl to Hermione. I wanted her to know the truth about me before I was forced to work for Vol- for You Know Who.
Hermione, (I wrote)
You and I have never seen eye to eye. Well, that's an understatement. You hate me. But I don't feel the same way. At the Yule Ball, when I asked you to dance, I wasn't joking, it wasn't a wind-up. I love you. I know I've been a total git to you and your friends but my reputation meant more to me than anything else. Now I'm paying the price.
As you know, my father was (and still is) a Death Eater. He has decided that I should be You Know Who's apprentice - I should join the Dark Side. I don't want to, Hermione, but what can I do? If I don't do as my father and You Know Who say then I'll be killed. If they find out about my feelings for you, I'll be killed.
I want to run away but all the people who I know are Slytherins. They'd turn me in to my father or, worse, to You Know Who as soon as they saw me.
I don't expect you to believe me. I don't really know why I'm writing this. You made your feelings pretty clear at the Yule Ball and, since then, my behaviour has been terrible. But, if you do, if you can help, please reply by return owl.
Draco Malfoy.
I sent the letter with my eagle owl, Aphrodite, and waited... and waited... and waited...
At two in the morning I was woken up by Aphrodite nibbling my earlobe. She had a letter tied to her leg!
Malfoy, (it said)
You can't possibly expect me to forgive you for everything you've put me, Harry, Ron, Neville and everyone through. If, in reality, you are terrified of You Know Who and your father then send an owl to Professor Dumbledore. He'll help.
Hermione.
I looked at the letter, dumbfounded, and then replied. I apologised for burdening her with my problems and sent it. Then, while I waited for Aphrodite to return, I wrote to Dumbledore, explaining my problem and entreating his help.
Aphrodite came and then went again. But then I realised I didn't know where Dumbledore would be and so I could have no idea of how long it would be before I heard from him.
Suddenly I felt a tug in my stomach, as if I'd touched a Portkey, and I was being pulled through the darkness. I landed on a chair in what could only be Dumbledore's office in Hogwarts. He sat behind his desk, gazing at me with those twinkling blue eyes.
"How did I...? What happened? I..."
"Calm yourself, Draco, calm yourself. I summoned you here. I received an owl from Miss Granger. She was most worried about you."
"Hermione? Then you didn't get my owl?" I was completely stunned.
"Your owl arrived shortly after Miss Granger's did. I must say that what I read in both of them worried me excedingly. That is why I am going to allow you to stay at Hogwarts during the holidays. Myself, Professors Snape and McGonagall, and Hagrid will also be here. Mr Potter will be joining us soon as it is no longer safe for him elsewhere. Your things have also arrived here and are in the Slytherin boys' dormitory."
"Thank you, Professor. I... er... I'd like to..."
Dumbledore seemed to read my mind. "If you should wish to write to Miss Granger then, of course, you may. But do use the school owls and a different one each time. Your father will be able to trace your owl too easily."
I blushed so deeply I thought my head would explode. "Thank you." Dumbledore just smiled.
lone in the Slytherin common room, I wrote a note to Hermione:
Hermione,
I should be saying thank you but that doesn't even begin to cover the way I'm feeling right now. What made you write to Dumbledore for me? I thought you hated me. You saved my life.
Draco.
I went up to the owlery to send it and then went back to the common room to await her reply. It came within a few hours:
Draco,
No sooner had I replied to your owl than I realised how cruel I was being. So I wrote to Dumbledore since I didn't know if you would or not. I can't say all I want to in a letter. I'm coming to Hogwarts with Harry tomorrow. Ron is joining us a few days later. When I get there we can talk. Is that OK with you? I'll see you tomorrow.
Love,
Hermione.
I couldn't believe it! She'd written "love"! Despite all my fears, I felt a warm glow. I was perfectly willing to be friends with Harry and Ron. Anything! As long as I could be with Hermione.
As far as I was concerned, tomorrow couldn't come soon enough!