Author's Note: :::cackles::: Hmm...there's a spy roaming freely about in Hogwarts...reporting Draco & Hermione's every movement to Lucius :::grins devilishly::: I wonder who that poor soul is...well, duh! Of course I do know who that person is...and you lovely reviewers seem to be throwing only two names of the possible informer--Ron & Pansy-- and...whoa! :::pulled away from the computer, tied & bound by the door::: Ron: what? you all think I'm going to betray Hermione?! I love her to death! And although I hate Draco Malfoy, I wouldn't hurt Hermione that way. For all you people know it could be Harry! After all, he is very friendly with Malfoy lately...ow! :::got hit at the back of the head by Harry::: Harry: shut-up, Ron! Now why would I do that?! :::managed to free myself from Ron's puny excuse of bounding and gagging me to the corner of my room and shoved them both aside::: Will you two please shut up and let me write?! Now Ronald Weasley, go back to your sulking and Harry, just continue on practicing your Quidditch moves. I've got a story to write and readers to please...I'm sure they'll find out in time who the blasted informer is that is ruining Draco & Hermione's chance at happiness! :::Harry & Ron walked away from me and out of my room pouting, only to be bull-dozed by an irritated Pansy who just caught wind that fingers were being pointed at her as a possible informant to Lucius Malfoy::: Pansy: How dare you imply that I'm betraying my Draco?! Hell, I didn't even know Draco & that Mudblood are together :::breaks down and wails as the truth finally sink in to her thick head that Draco doesn't really like her::: Oh brother... :::rolls my eyes skywards and shook my head::: I'm sorry about that, my lovely readers. I think some of the characters here are going on strike...seems like they don't want to be blamed for betraying our star-crossed lovers--but actually one of the millions (okay, okay, thousands since 'millions' sounds like an exaggeration) of Hogwarts students is secretly feeding information to Lucius so just read on and tell me what you think, aight? THANKS!
Disclaimer: Alas, if I owned the rights to HP then I would be a rich gal now! *lol*
Summary: Draco & Hermione were suppose to start their 7th year at Hogwarts as a couple, but due to a misunderstanding the previous year that dream soon crumbled and now they are to start their 7th year picking up the pieces of their tattered lives...
Setting: 7th Year
~*~*~*~*~
XIII. Dark Clouds Looming
Draco and Hermione had been secretly together for almost two months now, and no one, with the exception of Harry and Ginny whom Hermione shared this secret about since she was also best friends one way or the other with the youngest Weasley offspring, knew they were very much together. However, nearing the middle of February Draco received a very disturbing owl from his father before he left the school to go to Hogsmeade.
I warned you, lad. I warned you and you never took heed. Now watch me unleash my power and let all those dear to you suffer the wrath of Lucius Malfoy!
Draco shuddered after reading the menacing letter. He quickly threw it into the roaring fire and picked up his cloak. He headed straight to the Entrance Hall where every student was being called out by Filch. He quickly spotted Hermione standing beside Potter and the Weasley girl. Making his way through the throng of excited students, he finally reached his destination and placed a hand on the small of Hermione's back, making her jump in surprise and look over her shoulder. She flashed him her rare dazzling smile and his heart couldn't help but skip a beat. She was indeed the most precious, most beautiful girl he has ever seen.
And he was going to lose her.
Harry noticed the ominous look crossing Draco's pale face. He moved away from between Hermione and Ginny and dragged Draco away from the girls.
"What's wrong?" he asked once they were out of earshot from everybody.
Draco's gray eyes kept on moving from Hermione to Harry then back at Hermione. He was fearing the worse. He have no idea when his father will attack, but after receiving that owl from his father this morning he started to dread going to Hogsmeade.
"Malfoy!" Harry hissed.
Draco looked back at him and answered, "He's after her now."
"What?" Harry's face paled, almost looking as pale as Draco's right now. "What do you mean he's after her now? How did he find out about the two of you?!"
"I don't know. I don't fucking know." Draco hissed through gritted teeth, "I just received a threatening owl from him this morning and now I fear for her damn safety!"
~*~
Hermione sensed that something wasn't right as soon as the students stepped out of the castle headed to Hogsmeade. Since Draco and Harry rejoined her and Ginny she noticed something wasn't right between Harry and Draco. They were both wearing long faces and hiding something from her. She tried cajoling the truth from Harry, but her friend was tightlipped. She tried to work her charm on Draco, but he too was tightlipped about what was bothering them.
Seated inside The Three Broomsticks nursing their own mugs of butterbeer, Draco and Harry's moods were still not lifted. They kept on glaring at their drinks, making Hermione and Ginny frown. The two of them tried unsuccessfully to lift the moods of their so-called dates for today, but seems like whatever they do none of it worked! Harry was still looking very worried while Draco kept on glaring at everyone and anyone who dared come within eye-level with him.
"Oi! Now isn't this a cozy little scene." came Ron's sneering remark when he was able to join his two friends, his sister, and his loathed enemy at The Three Broomsticks. "What's with all the long faces, people?" he asked, frowning at Harry then to Hermione then to his sister. He openly ignored Malfoy since he didn't want to be around him in the first place. Harry managed to cajole him to at least join them for butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks if he didn't want to tag along with their foursome while strolling about at Hogsmeade.
"Harry and Malfoy aren't telling us something, and their sour moods's dampening our fun." Ginny answered on behalf of her three other companion.
Ron raised an eyebrow and looked Harry then at Hermione before looking back at his sister, "Got a clue as to why these two aren't in the mood?"
"Beats me." Ginny shrugged, "All I know is that since we left school these two have been wearing long faces!"
Just then one of the Slytherin girls waltzed in to The Three Broomsticks and surprised everyone by heading towards the table occupied mostly by Gryffindor students, with the exception of Draco of course. Pansy Parkinson smiled at her other housemates she passed by and stopped beside Ron, looping her arm over the red haired seventh year to the surprise of the four occupants of the table he was at.
"So here you are, Ronnie. Been looking everywhere for you, sweet." Pansy smiled charmingly at him, batting her eye lashes before turning her attention the four awestruck students watching them. "Oh, hi there! Didn't notice who Ron was chatting with."
Draco finally said something since leaving Hogwarts, and it was all thanks to the surprise he received seeing his betrothed getting all chummy with Weasley.
"Pansy, I didn't know you're friends with a Gryffindor." he muttered, his shock soon ebbing away.
Pansy raised an eyebrow and shrugged, "There's lots about me, Draco, that you don't know about." she flashed another smile at Ron and added, while staring dreamy-eyed at the redhead, "Besides, Ron's not a bad company." she tore her gaze from Ron's face and addressed her audience once again, "Well, we better be off! Ron said he's just stopping by here to say hi to you people. Now I think that he has said his greetings and now we have to go." hooking her arm with Ron's she dragged the red haired Gryffindor away from the table occupied by the foursome and waved at them.
"Pinch me now if I'm dreaming." Ginny managed to say after she watched her brother walk out of The Three Broomsticks arm in arm with a Slytherin girl nevertheless!
"If you're dreaming, Gin, then I believe I am too." Harry answered, lifting his jaw back up after it fell on the table.
Draco and Hermione remained quiet. Something fishy was going on. Why in the world would Pansy Parkinson and Ronald Weasley be so chummily-sweet towards each other?
~*~
Lucius hid himself behind one of the tall buildings nearing the end of the street when he saw his informant approaching. He had been waiting almost an hour for the young git to appear and had almost given up when he saw his trusted informer approaching their designated meeting place.
"What news do you have for me?" Lucius demanded as soon as the young informant stopped by the large dumpster that separated them.
"As predicted they are together again. Your son is still friends with Potter and they are with that Weasley girl getting chummy at The Three Broomsticks."
"And the Mudblood?" he inquired.
"She was never without Draco by her side. Seems like your son is acting like her knight in shining armour."
"So my prat of a son is guarding his ladylove." Lucius snarled, "He's bound to leave her side one way or the other. Once he does, you know what to do." he snapped at his apprentice.
"Yes, Master." nodded the young informant.
~*~
Draco kept his senses on alert at all times. As soon as the four of them stepped out of The Three Broomsticks he kept his hand possessively entwined with Hermione's. Of course they received quite a few questioning stares from fellow Hogwarts students they passed by, but Draco gave no care to that. Something untoward was waiting to happen to Hermione and he'd be damned if he didn't watch over Hermione carefully. Lucius was a sneaky bastard; he was just waiting for an opening then he'll make his move.
Hermione noticed that Draco never once left her side. Even when she was going to the loo he insisted Ginny accompany her. He even told Ginny to notify him at once if there was anything unusual happening inside the girls' loo.
"Draco, is everything alright?" she asked when, to her surprise, Draco insisted on accompanying her inside one of the numerous bookstore at Hogsmeade.
"Of course everything's alright, why shouldn't it be?" Draco replied.
"Because you've been acting strange ever since we left school. Are you sure you're not keeping something from me?"
Draco pretended to look hurt, "Me, keep something from you? Now why would I do that?"
"You tell me." she shrugged, "Even Harry's acting a bit strange since we left school." her eyes traveled towards her two friends, Ginny and Harry were both enjoying their popsicles to follow them in to the bookstore.
Still Draco remained mum. He didn't want to alert her even though it was killing him inside that when he least expected it Lucius would just snap Hermione from him and do her in. Draco shuddered inside as that thought passed him. He swore he'd be willing to forget Lucius was even his father if something untoward happened to Hermione and he found out his father was to blame.
~*~*~*~*~
to be continued...
A/N: okay, I think I'm running out of things to write here, and some of my characters are still on strike! :::pouts and looks over where Harry, Ron & Pansy are holding up signs walking around my room calling me unfair::: but we'll find out soon enough who is Lucius's informer, right? :::carefully looks over my shoulder as I feel chilly glares being hurtled my way::: hehehehe, well, it better be unveiled soon before those three smack me at the back of the head! *winks*
candlelot: thanks for leaving your mark, and hopefully you get to read 'em all soon because there's quite a few chapters for you to read
Sighhhhhh: of course parts with romance is always good! hehehe, I'm a romance freak hence why I often write about it :p
Angela: well I need to throw in another wrench to make Draco & Hermione's life miserable, hehehehe, but don't worry, the informer's identity will soon be revealed
Draco's one and only: hehehe, you're not the only one who's been pointing their fingers at Ron...
Slytherin's Angel: hehehe...well I think it's a toss-up between Ron & Pansy then since...well, since most people thinks it's either one of them that is Lucius's informant
Nysa: *lol* I didn't mean to make you gag so much with Draco & Hermione's mushiness in chapter 11. I was just in the mood to write fluff when I was making that chapter hence why I ended up having to make them say I love you one too many times
RiarAllie: hehehe, well keep on pondering who is the culprit then...
Queen Li: thanks for loving it *grins*
Dizzy2381: thanks for loving it too, hehehehe
Brookie: *lol* you're darn right it is! Well, I just made it more complicated for me to write! :-/
CrystallineLily: hahaha, don't be looking so worried and scared, I was wondering when I'll see your name grace the reviewer's list
Indiviualists: Okay, you lost me! *lol* Why would you be killing your little bro?!?!?!
Loki: You'll find out along with everybody else...let's build up the suspense first, hehehehe
Laney: sure, I'd love to help ya out
Quistis88: I love the word "bloke" too...it makes me giggle and I just love saying it! hehehehe, btw, how far south from the capital are you? not that I'll stalk you or anything once I receive a bad review from you! *lol*
super rookie: hehehe, well here's the next chapter--hope this ain't a disappointment *smiles*
nessa-girl: well at least you're going to get to go some place else this December...I think I need to go on a holiday too far away from home! *lol* And don't worry, the spy's identity will be revealed...I just don't know when ;p
Rebecca: I wondered when I'll see you again! hehehe, thought you dropped off the face of the earth or something, but don't feel stupid because you know what? That happens to some of us too, I mean, forgetting something and ignoring it or something...anyways, now that you're updated, just keep on reading! *lol*
Starrynights13: I'll check that fic of yours ASAP! *grins* and you wanna be a character here? Hmm...maybe in my next fic you can be...just email me and tell me stuff about you that will be useful to use YOU as a character, hehehehe