Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, and the characters belong to the
lovely and talented JK Rowling!
A/N: I'll save it for the bottom.
The Question Of The Day
A few weeks had passed, and Ginny hadn't had another dangerous vision. "For all we know, she could have," Hermione had told Draco.
Ginny had kept Hermione and Draco's secret, and the couple remained content. Unfortunately for them, Harry and Ron were VERY suspicious.
"Do you reckon Hermione stayed behind for Malfoy the day of our Hogsmeade visit?" Ron asked Harry that day at breakfast.
"Dunno." Harry watched in fascination as Hermione carefully opened her mail. "Um, 'Mione? Why are you opening the envelope as if it has a blast- ended skrewt in it?"
She sharply glanced up and waved her hand dismissively. "Don't be silly, Harry!"
"Must be from HIM," Ron whispered in his ear.
Harry nodded in agreement.
"Well!" Hermione exclaimed, rising from the table. "I am incredibly full, and I do believe we'll be late for Hagrid's lesson if we don't get a move on," she reminded them sternly.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Sure, 'Mione," he muttered under his breath. "Whatever you say."
"I heard that, Ronald Weasley!" she snapped and stalked out of the Great Hall. Harry noticed Malfoy following suit.
"He's following her!" Ron shouted, pointing to the exit. He began to rush after them, when a firm grip on his shoulder stopped him.
"Later, Ron, later," Harry told him.
That day, Care of Magical Creatures proved to be very uneventful, until -
"Argh!" Ron shouted.
"I TOLD you not to touch it!" Hermione said smugly.
"BLOODY HELL! IT HURTS LIKE A-"
"Ron? Ron, wha' 'appened?" Hagrid called from across the field.
"He provoked the Occamy," Hermione explained primly.
Hagrid frowned. "I'm surprised at ya, Ron! Ya didn' follow the teacher's instructions OR the 'ead Girl's!"
"Professor it HURTS!" Ron screamed in pain.
" 'arry, go an' take 'im up ter Madame Pomfrey."
Harry obeyed and led Ron into the castle.
"Looks like Weasley got himself into a real mess," Draco said with a smirk.
Hermione shook her head. "Honestly! That prat will never learn." She turned to him. "So, erm, how's your Mum and, uh - Snape?"
"Fine, I expect," he said bitterly. Hermione shot him a worried look, and his expression softened. "I-I-I-I just don't want her hurt again, you know? First Lucius, and now him-"
"It'll be fine," she told him in a comforting tone. "What?" she asked as he raised his eyebrows. "The man's half decent - and a genius, mind you," she added.
He snorted. "He also fails to keep up with personal hygiene and-" He stopped as Hermione glared at him.
"Class dismissed!" Hagrid boomed, and they all headed indoors.
"Blimey, I forgot my Herbology notes!" Hermione exclaimed. "Erm - Accio Herbology notes?"
Nothing whizzed into view.
"Bullocks," she muttered as she trudged back to Head Quarters. "Niffler!" she told the flustered knight, and stepped into their common room. As she searched around for the sheaf of parchment, her eyes set upon a dark colored roll. Because of its blackish appearance, she summoned the parchment, cast a levitating charm, and began to read it as it hovered in midair.
Draco Malfoy -
Your time draws near - you and I both know this quite well. Only two more days remain. Now you shall choose your fate, but beware of the consequences.
The Dark Lord
She gasped and immediately hovered the letter back to the table where she had retrieved it. Hermione panicked, but managed to find the original thing she had been looking for, and frantically wondered what to do. Thoughts danced around her head, and she couldn't make up her mind. Suddenly, she ran out the portrait hole and spotted Dean Thomas walked towards the Greenhouse. "Dean!" she called.
He whirled around and faced her. "Hermione?"
"Please tell Professor Sprout that I will not be attending her class today. Tell her that I am feeling ill."
Dean raised an eyebrow. "You don't look all that bad to me."
"Just do it!" she exclaimed, exasperated.
He nodded solemnly, and she raced back into Head Quarters. Without a second thought, she reached into her robes and drew out a small leather pouch. Hurriedly, she muttered "Incendio", threw a pinch of the powder into the flames, and with a yelp of her destination, she was sent whizzing through the fireplace.
"Who's there?" someone called as Hermione had stepped out of the large fireplace.
"Narcissa!" she yelled. The frail woman came into view.
"Hermione! Oh thank goodness!" she cried. "I thought maybe you were one of Lucius' old cronies," she muttered darkly.
She waved her hand. "It's urgent. Draco has received word from HIM!"
"Voldemort?" she asked nervously.
"Yes."
"How do you know?" Narcissa asked suspiciously.
"Well, I was looking for some lost notes of mine, and I stumbled upon a dark roll of parchment. I cast a levitating charm, and while it was floating in the air, I read the letter," Hermione explained.
"Draco didn't mention anything?"
She shook her head. "Not a word."
"His eighteenth birthday is day after tomorrow."
"I know."
The two remained silent.
"What do we do?" Hermione wailed.
Narcissa sighed. "Run to Albus, I imagine."
"Will you come now?"
"Yes, dear, and let's hurry!"
Hermione quickly redrew her pouch and threw Floo Powder into the blazing fire. "Hogwarts Headmaster's office!" they yelled and were sent off in a daze.
Dumbledore curiously stared into his fireplace as the flames turned the familiar emerald green, and was immensely surprised to find Hermione Granger and Narcissa Malfoy tumbling out of it.
"Ah, Miss Granger, Mrs. Malfoy," he began warmly, "to what do I owe this great visit?"
"I'm sorry for not attending my class and for coming unannounced, sir," Hermione said, half between anger and half between tears.
"Quite all right, Miss Granger. I surmised as much."
Hermione smiled weakly at him, and gingerly seated herself next to Narcissa in the set of chairs opposite of the Headmaster's desk.
"As you know, Albus, my son's birthday falls on the Ides of March, which is in two days," Narcissa said.
"I am aware of this."
She nodded and continued. "Voldemort wishes to make Draco a part of his, erm - entourage, if you will, and thanks to lovely Lucius' livid longings, my son is to be branded as a Death Eater when he is of age."
"I believe you are asking me what we shall do about the situation, yes?"
"Yes, sir," Hermione answered.
He smiled at the Head Girl. "May I take this time, Miss Granger, to congratulate you on your achievements with Mister Malfoy?"
Hermione blushed furiously, but nodded nonetheless. "You may."
"Well, then, I congratulate you!" he beamed.
"Thank you, sir," she murmured and turned to a smiling Narcissa.
"Right, then, where were we?" he asked.
"The letter," Narcissa replied.
"Yes, yes, the letter. May I see the letter you speak of?"
Both adults turned to the young girl and stared at her expectantly. "I-I-I, erm - well, I would feel quite uncomfortable if I rummaged around through Draco's private belongings," she answered honestly, a pang of guilt throbbing in her chest.
"Very well, although Miss Granger? How did you stumble upon it in the first place?"
She swallowed. "Well, I was looking for my notes on the lecture Professor Sprout gave us yesterday, mainly because I was on my way to Herbology, and then when I was looking for them, I saw the letter."
"Did you touch it?" he asked suddenly.
"Oh, no, not at all!"
He smiled. "I knew you wouldn't have."
She smiled in return.
"Well, there you have it, Miss Granger!" he exclaimed. "You were not rummaging around in his private belongings after all!"
"But sir, if you would so kindly excuse me from this task, I would greatly appreciate it," Hermione answered quietly. He glanced at Narcissa who was gazing at Hermione. "I-I-I'm just feeling so guilty, and-"
"Hush, dear. We understand completely," Narcissa soothed. "Surely, Albus, you do not need to see the letter!"
She smiled gratefully at the older woman.
The familiar twinkle danced in his eyes. "No, no, I wanted to make sure it contained no dark magic or any hidden spells."
They nodded in unison.
"So what - well, what DO we do?" Hermione asked.
"That, Miss Granger," Dumbledore began, "is the question of the day. Unfortunately, I do not have the answer-" Hermione's face fell. "Although, I do know someone who does.
They watched as he wandered over to his fireplace, and with a touch of powder into the roaring flames, yelled, "Severus!"
Immediately, the head of Severus Snape appeared into the fireplace. "Yes, what is it, Albus?" He stopped when he saw Narcissa, and smiled. "Hello, 'cissa."
"Good afternoon, Severus."
"Ahem."
They both turned to look at the Headmaster. "Right, then. Severus, please come to my office immediately, and bring a specific sixth year student in your class right now."
Severus nodded and his head disappeared instantly.
Within seconds, two familiar people walked through the door. "Ginny!" Hermione cried.
"Hermione!" Ginny responded, and flung herself at the other girl. "Are you alright?"
"Perfectly fine. Although I'm confused as to why such groups of random people are in the same room."
The adults laughed good-naturedly. "Come now, Miss Weasley, Severus. Please, do sit down." They heeded his advice, and Ginny sat herself beside Hermione, Severus beside Narcissa.
"Severus, Draco has received word from the Dark Lord," Dumbledore told the Potions Master.
He nodded curtly, and Ginny began to pale.
"At all costs, Draco must not attend this meeting," Severus said quietly.
"And what is your reasoning behind this?"
"Voldemort has his persuasive ways," he replied shortly, and Hermione noticed Ginny flinching at the name.
"As I thought," Dumbledore muttered. "Very well, then. I thank you all for being here. Miss Weasley, a word if you please." Ginny nodded, and said goodbye to her friend.
"I'll see you later, okay 'Mione?"
Hermione smiled. "Definitely." Hermione's smile grew wider as she saw Severus draw Narcissa into his arms. Shaking her head, she exited the office and headed back to Head Quarters. Suddenly, the guilt came rushing back. She had to tell him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Draco was curled up on the couch, and looked up as the portrait swung open. "You're back late," he told her.
"Meeting with Dumbledore," she explained. "So, how was your day?"
He shrugged. "The usual - nothing terribly exciting."
She nodded.
"And yourself?"
"Same."
"Mmm."
She joined him on the loveseat. His presence was so comforting, so soothing. She couldn't stand to tell him that she had been 'snooping' around in his things. Maybe tomorrow would be a different day. Hermione snuggled into Draco's chest and fell into a dreamless sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione stirred restlessly in his arms. "Hermione?" he asked, his face full of concern. "What is it, love?"
"I'm sorry!" she suddenly screamed, bawling her eyes out.
"About what?" A bewildered expression crossed his face.
"I-I-I." She gulped. "I saw the letter," she managed to choke out.
"What letter?" he asked sharply.
"The l-l-letter from - h-h-him!"
"Voldemort?" he asked in a dangerously low voice.
She nodded and flung her arms around his neck.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" he roared.
He nearly threw her off of him, and she staggered back onto the couch. He stood up from the sofa and stomped into his bedroom. Before he entered through the doorway, he stopped, and without turning around, asked, "How COULD you?"
"I didn't mean to! It was an accident!"
"DON'T STICK YOUR NOSE IN DANGEROUS PLACES IT DOES NOT BELONG, DO YOU HEAR ME?"
He still hadn't turned around, and she was wailing away hysterically. "I-I- I went to your Mum, and together we went to Dumble-"
"YOU WENT TO MY MOTHER?" he yelled, whirling around. His face was bright red and creased with anger.
"Yes."
"AND THEN YOU WENT TO THE HEADMASTER?"
"Yes." Her voice began quivering.
"And, oh wait, let me guess, the only person left to create this happy little meeting must be Snape," he said sardonically.
She stared at him in astonishment and wondered how he could have known. "Yes, and Ginny as well."
"HOW DARE YOU!"
"I love you, Draco Malfoy, and I'd rather die than live to see your death!"
"I wish I could say the same about you," he muttered darkly, and stalked into his bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him.
Hermione's knees gave way, and she huddled into a heap on the ground as a helpless nobody. "Why is he doing this to me is the real question of the day," she thought.
A/N: OKAY! Whooo! Around 70 reviews! This is too cool! I'm terribly sorry, but I don't have the time to name all my wonderful reviewers, but special thanks to Sunshine and Slytherin Girl! I swear I'll mention everybody next chapter. Oh wow, this was a REALLY long chapter!
A/N: I'll save it for the bottom.
The Question Of The Day
A few weeks had passed, and Ginny hadn't had another dangerous vision. "For all we know, she could have," Hermione had told Draco.
Ginny had kept Hermione and Draco's secret, and the couple remained content. Unfortunately for them, Harry and Ron were VERY suspicious.
"Do you reckon Hermione stayed behind for Malfoy the day of our Hogsmeade visit?" Ron asked Harry that day at breakfast.
"Dunno." Harry watched in fascination as Hermione carefully opened her mail. "Um, 'Mione? Why are you opening the envelope as if it has a blast- ended skrewt in it?"
She sharply glanced up and waved her hand dismissively. "Don't be silly, Harry!"
"Must be from HIM," Ron whispered in his ear.
Harry nodded in agreement.
"Well!" Hermione exclaimed, rising from the table. "I am incredibly full, and I do believe we'll be late for Hagrid's lesson if we don't get a move on," she reminded them sternly.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Sure, 'Mione," he muttered under his breath. "Whatever you say."
"I heard that, Ronald Weasley!" she snapped and stalked out of the Great Hall. Harry noticed Malfoy following suit.
"He's following her!" Ron shouted, pointing to the exit. He began to rush after them, when a firm grip on his shoulder stopped him.
"Later, Ron, later," Harry told him.
That day, Care of Magical Creatures proved to be very uneventful, until -
"Argh!" Ron shouted.
"I TOLD you not to touch it!" Hermione said smugly.
"BLOODY HELL! IT HURTS LIKE A-"
"Ron? Ron, wha' 'appened?" Hagrid called from across the field.
"He provoked the Occamy," Hermione explained primly.
Hagrid frowned. "I'm surprised at ya, Ron! Ya didn' follow the teacher's instructions OR the 'ead Girl's!"
"Professor it HURTS!" Ron screamed in pain.
" 'arry, go an' take 'im up ter Madame Pomfrey."
Harry obeyed and led Ron into the castle.
"Looks like Weasley got himself into a real mess," Draco said with a smirk.
Hermione shook her head. "Honestly! That prat will never learn." She turned to him. "So, erm, how's your Mum and, uh - Snape?"
"Fine, I expect," he said bitterly. Hermione shot him a worried look, and his expression softened. "I-I-I-I just don't want her hurt again, you know? First Lucius, and now him-"
"It'll be fine," she told him in a comforting tone. "What?" she asked as he raised his eyebrows. "The man's half decent - and a genius, mind you," she added.
He snorted. "He also fails to keep up with personal hygiene and-" He stopped as Hermione glared at him.
"Class dismissed!" Hagrid boomed, and they all headed indoors.
"Blimey, I forgot my Herbology notes!" Hermione exclaimed. "Erm - Accio Herbology notes?"
Nothing whizzed into view.
"Bullocks," she muttered as she trudged back to Head Quarters. "Niffler!" she told the flustered knight, and stepped into their common room. As she searched around for the sheaf of parchment, her eyes set upon a dark colored roll. Because of its blackish appearance, she summoned the parchment, cast a levitating charm, and began to read it as it hovered in midair.
Draco Malfoy -
Your time draws near - you and I both know this quite well. Only two more days remain. Now you shall choose your fate, but beware of the consequences.
The Dark Lord
She gasped and immediately hovered the letter back to the table where she had retrieved it. Hermione panicked, but managed to find the original thing she had been looking for, and frantically wondered what to do. Thoughts danced around her head, and she couldn't make up her mind. Suddenly, she ran out the portrait hole and spotted Dean Thomas walked towards the Greenhouse. "Dean!" she called.
He whirled around and faced her. "Hermione?"
"Please tell Professor Sprout that I will not be attending her class today. Tell her that I am feeling ill."
Dean raised an eyebrow. "You don't look all that bad to me."
"Just do it!" she exclaimed, exasperated.
He nodded solemnly, and she raced back into Head Quarters. Without a second thought, she reached into her robes and drew out a small leather pouch. Hurriedly, she muttered "Incendio", threw a pinch of the powder into the flames, and with a yelp of her destination, she was sent whizzing through the fireplace.
"Who's there?" someone called as Hermione had stepped out of the large fireplace.
"Narcissa!" she yelled. The frail woman came into view.
"Hermione! Oh thank goodness!" she cried. "I thought maybe you were one of Lucius' old cronies," she muttered darkly.
She waved her hand. "It's urgent. Draco has received word from HIM!"
"Voldemort?" she asked nervously.
"Yes."
"How do you know?" Narcissa asked suspiciously.
"Well, I was looking for some lost notes of mine, and I stumbled upon a dark roll of parchment. I cast a levitating charm, and while it was floating in the air, I read the letter," Hermione explained.
"Draco didn't mention anything?"
She shook her head. "Not a word."
"His eighteenth birthday is day after tomorrow."
"I know."
The two remained silent.
"What do we do?" Hermione wailed.
Narcissa sighed. "Run to Albus, I imagine."
"Will you come now?"
"Yes, dear, and let's hurry!"
Hermione quickly redrew her pouch and threw Floo Powder into the blazing fire. "Hogwarts Headmaster's office!" they yelled and were sent off in a daze.
Dumbledore curiously stared into his fireplace as the flames turned the familiar emerald green, and was immensely surprised to find Hermione Granger and Narcissa Malfoy tumbling out of it.
"Ah, Miss Granger, Mrs. Malfoy," he began warmly, "to what do I owe this great visit?"
"I'm sorry for not attending my class and for coming unannounced, sir," Hermione said, half between anger and half between tears.
"Quite all right, Miss Granger. I surmised as much."
Hermione smiled weakly at him, and gingerly seated herself next to Narcissa in the set of chairs opposite of the Headmaster's desk.
"As you know, Albus, my son's birthday falls on the Ides of March, which is in two days," Narcissa said.
"I am aware of this."
She nodded and continued. "Voldemort wishes to make Draco a part of his, erm - entourage, if you will, and thanks to lovely Lucius' livid longings, my son is to be branded as a Death Eater when he is of age."
"I believe you are asking me what we shall do about the situation, yes?"
"Yes, sir," Hermione answered.
He smiled at the Head Girl. "May I take this time, Miss Granger, to congratulate you on your achievements with Mister Malfoy?"
Hermione blushed furiously, but nodded nonetheless. "You may."
"Well, then, I congratulate you!" he beamed.
"Thank you, sir," she murmured and turned to a smiling Narcissa.
"Right, then, where were we?" he asked.
"The letter," Narcissa replied.
"Yes, yes, the letter. May I see the letter you speak of?"
Both adults turned to the young girl and stared at her expectantly. "I-I-I, erm - well, I would feel quite uncomfortable if I rummaged around through Draco's private belongings," she answered honestly, a pang of guilt throbbing in her chest.
"Very well, although Miss Granger? How did you stumble upon it in the first place?"
She swallowed. "Well, I was looking for my notes on the lecture Professor Sprout gave us yesterday, mainly because I was on my way to Herbology, and then when I was looking for them, I saw the letter."
"Did you touch it?" he asked suddenly.
"Oh, no, not at all!"
He smiled. "I knew you wouldn't have."
She smiled in return.
"Well, there you have it, Miss Granger!" he exclaimed. "You were not rummaging around in his private belongings after all!"
"But sir, if you would so kindly excuse me from this task, I would greatly appreciate it," Hermione answered quietly. He glanced at Narcissa who was gazing at Hermione. "I-I-I'm just feeling so guilty, and-"
"Hush, dear. We understand completely," Narcissa soothed. "Surely, Albus, you do not need to see the letter!"
She smiled gratefully at the older woman.
The familiar twinkle danced in his eyes. "No, no, I wanted to make sure it contained no dark magic or any hidden spells."
They nodded in unison.
"So what - well, what DO we do?" Hermione asked.
"That, Miss Granger," Dumbledore began, "is the question of the day. Unfortunately, I do not have the answer-" Hermione's face fell. "Although, I do know someone who does.
They watched as he wandered over to his fireplace, and with a touch of powder into the roaring flames, yelled, "Severus!"
Immediately, the head of Severus Snape appeared into the fireplace. "Yes, what is it, Albus?" He stopped when he saw Narcissa, and smiled. "Hello, 'cissa."
"Good afternoon, Severus."
"Ahem."
They both turned to look at the Headmaster. "Right, then. Severus, please come to my office immediately, and bring a specific sixth year student in your class right now."
Severus nodded and his head disappeared instantly.
Within seconds, two familiar people walked through the door. "Ginny!" Hermione cried.
"Hermione!" Ginny responded, and flung herself at the other girl. "Are you alright?"
"Perfectly fine. Although I'm confused as to why such groups of random people are in the same room."
The adults laughed good-naturedly. "Come now, Miss Weasley, Severus. Please, do sit down." They heeded his advice, and Ginny sat herself beside Hermione, Severus beside Narcissa.
"Severus, Draco has received word from the Dark Lord," Dumbledore told the Potions Master.
He nodded curtly, and Ginny began to pale.
"At all costs, Draco must not attend this meeting," Severus said quietly.
"And what is your reasoning behind this?"
"Voldemort has his persuasive ways," he replied shortly, and Hermione noticed Ginny flinching at the name.
"As I thought," Dumbledore muttered. "Very well, then. I thank you all for being here. Miss Weasley, a word if you please." Ginny nodded, and said goodbye to her friend.
"I'll see you later, okay 'Mione?"
Hermione smiled. "Definitely." Hermione's smile grew wider as she saw Severus draw Narcissa into his arms. Shaking her head, she exited the office and headed back to Head Quarters. Suddenly, the guilt came rushing back. She had to tell him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Draco was curled up on the couch, and looked up as the portrait swung open. "You're back late," he told her.
"Meeting with Dumbledore," she explained. "So, how was your day?"
He shrugged. "The usual - nothing terribly exciting."
She nodded.
"And yourself?"
"Same."
"Mmm."
She joined him on the loveseat. His presence was so comforting, so soothing. She couldn't stand to tell him that she had been 'snooping' around in his things. Maybe tomorrow would be a different day. Hermione snuggled into Draco's chest and fell into a dreamless sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione stirred restlessly in his arms. "Hermione?" he asked, his face full of concern. "What is it, love?"
"I'm sorry!" she suddenly screamed, bawling her eyes out.
"About what?" A bewildered expression crossed his face.
"I-I-I." She gulped. "I saw the letter," she managed to choke out.
"What letter?" he asked sharply.
"The l-l-letter from - h-h-him!"
"Voldemort?" he asked in a dangerously low voice.
She nodded and flung her arms around his neck.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" he roared.
He nearly threw her off of him, and she staggered back onto the couch. He stood up from the sofa and stomped into his bedroom. Before he entered through the doorway, he stopped, and without turning around, asked, "How COULD you?"
"I didn't mean to! It was an accident!"
"DON'T STICK YOUR NOSE IN DANGEROUS PLACES IT DOES NOT BELONG, DO YOU HEAR ME?"
He still hadn't turned around, and she was wailing away hysterically. "I-I- I went to your Mum, and together we went to Dumble-"
"YOU WENT TO MY MOTHER?" he yelled, whirling around. His face was bright red and creased with anger.
"Yes."
"AND THEN YOU WENT TO THE HEADMASTER?"
"Yes." Her voice began quivering.
"And, oh wait, let me guess, the only person left to create this happy little meeting must be Snape," he said sardonically.
She stared at him in astonishment and wondered how he could have known. "Yes, and Ginny as well."
"HOW DARE YOU!"
"I love you, Draco Malfoy, and I'd rather die than live to see your death!"
"I wish I could say the same about you," he muttered darkly, and stalked into his bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him.
Hermione's knees gave way, and she huddled into a heap on the ground as a helpless nobody. "Why is he doing this to me is the real question of the day," she thought.
A/N: OKAY! Whooo! Around 70 reviews! This is too cool! I'm terribly sorry, but I don't have the time to name all my wonderful reviewers, but special thanks to Sunshine and Slytherin Girl! I swear I'll mention everybody next chapter. Oh wow, this was a REALLY long chapter!