Chapter 8 - Reflections

Hermione stirred the potion in the cauldron. "Alright," she said. "Just add in the last ingredient and we are all set."

Harry dropped it in and they all stepped back as a puff of smoke was emitted into the air.

"I remember when we did it in sixth year..." Harry muttered, looking puzzled. "Was it supposed to be like this?"

Hermione frowned and was looking over the recipe their former Professor gave them. "Well, we added all the ingredients in..."

"I thought you added too much boomslang," Draco drawled.

Hermione bit her bottom lip. "But we don't have time to make another potion," she worried. "My mother-" Draco noticed the desperate look on her face. Before she could say another word, Draco poured himself a glass and drunk it. He grimaced and his face contorted in disgust. Then he straightened up and said, "Your turn, Potter. Unless you are scared."

This, of course, meant as an insult to Harry. He grabbed the glass from Draco and downed it. He made a face, actually several faces, and announced he was fine. Harry turned and glared at Draco.

"What do you mean, 'Potter's such a crybaby'?" he asked furiously.

Hermione blinked. "I didn't hear a thing."

A smirk spread across Draco's face. "It worked. I hear Potter grumbling in his mind that he had to miss a date with his girl."

Harry pulled back his thoughts and let go, hitting Draco full force. Draco stumbled.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. "Great!" she said. "So, Harry, if you get lost or anything-"

"I'll contact Malfoy via my mind," Harry said dully, as though he had been repeating this for fifty times.

The two men gave each other Avada Kedavra glares and turned away, each not believing that they had to tolerate each other for at least another three hours. What a bore.

Hermione kissed Harry's cheek. "Be careful," she whispered. She then walked over to Draco. And said nothing. An uncomfortable silence settled around them.

"Erm," she said awkwardly. "Thank you for helping me out. I... I really appreciate this."

Draco fixed a stare at Hermione. "You know I would do anything for you." He spotted Hermione flinch and pretended not to. "Come on, let's go," he called to Harry.

Hermione watched them fly on their broomsticks until the two of them became tiny dots, too difficult to be seen. She turned and started to leave for Seasons Mansion when a shadow stepped forward and blocked her way.

Wormtail.

"My Master finds you meddling and he wants his Deatheater back," he hissed, and before Hermione had time to react- "Oblivate!"

"Did I mention how I simply love your Manor?" Harry asked as they walked down the dark hallway. Portraits glared and hissed at them as Harry and Draco passed them.

Draco rolled his eyes but it was too difficult to see in this situation. "Only about a hundred times, Potter."

"I still don't get why we can't use Lumos," Harry complained.

Draco sighed exasperatedly. "Because," he started to explain slowly, as if talking to a child. "It can be sensed. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"Only about a hundred times," Harry mimicked Draco under his breath.

They stopped in front of the huge wooden door, which they knew by now that it led to the dungeons. However, something - a very big thing - blocked them.

A gust of wind blew them in. It felt like a Whirlwind Charm, but the charm was supposed to be very powerful and it did not felt like a whirlwind. The door shut behind them with a loud bang and they faced tall walls.

"What the-" Draco started, stepping forward carefully.

"It's a maze," Harry said, amazed.

"I know," Draco snapped. Both of them looked around, surveying carefully, looking for a shortcut.

"There are none," Harry said in defeat. "We have to enter the maze."

Just when they walked in, hooded creatures floated towards them. Creatures called... Dementors.

Draco panicked as he searched for a happy memory in his mind. There was the time when Lucius went to St. Mungo's to ask for the release of Narcissa but it would not work. The memory was scarred that Lucius tried to lie to Draco about his mother being dead. Then there was when he was with Hermione... that one could not be used either. The fact that Hermione broke up with him just could not make him overjoyed. Potter! Draco told Harry hurriedly in his mind. Potter, you do the spell.

Harry barely had time to give Draco a backward glance before the Dementors advanced on them. He pointed his wand at the Dementors and yelled out, "Expecto Patronum!". The Dementors withered back before the light pouring from Harry's wand, almost seeming to evaporate. After they were gone, Harry turned to Draco.

"What was that about?" he practically shouted. To his surprise, Draco blanched.

"I-I haven't got a happy memory," Draco admitted quietly. Harry looked like he wanted to say more but stopped himself abruptly and continued walking, silently accepting his answer.

They walked in silence for a couple of minutes when suddenly a giant spider dropped in front of them. They jumped back in surprise. Draco waved his wand at it, without hesitation. "Avada Kedavra!" There was a blinding green light and then it was all over. The spider was unmistakably dead.

Harry glanced at Draco. "How can you do all that and not be spooked?"

Draco looked over calmly. "You forgot I was born and raised to learn Dark Magic."

Silence once again reigned as Harry shivered and broke the stare.

Hermione blinked and covered her eyes with her hand as sunlight blinded her. Funny. She did not recall lying on the grass. Hermione looked around. Well... she came to beg Harry to save her mother from... from... was it from the Malfoys or from the Dark Lord? She came here with... with a man...

Hermione shook away her thoughts. What man? She came here alone, didn't she?

Draco stopped and sank to the floor. Harry did not realise so at first and continued to stride. He stopped when he saw that Draco was nowhere near him.

What's the matter, Malfoy? Harry asked silently.

Draco let out a strangled sound before replying. My mother's in danger. He seemed lost in his own thoughts.

Harry stared. You can sense what she's doing? He realised, when Draco did not reply, that it was true. Draco stood up at last and reached Harry, offering no explanation. A curious Harry tried not to invade his privacy and ask him questions, but failed. "Is she okay now?" he asked.

Draco walked briskly. "No," he said. "But at least Father is there and he's trying to save her."

Harry nodded, trying to look wise. Draco sank into his thoughts again.

I guess Father is finally serious about Mother. That's good. At least he won't be affected anymore when there are veelas around. Draco paused to think and to reflect on himself. Whereas me and Hermione... Hermione's still mad at me and I doubt she would forgive me after seeing me and Ginny in the same room. I have to control my emotions. I've been hurting her too much. He suddenly felt inspired. When I get to her, he decided. I promise to make Hermione love me again. I promise that she would agree when I ask for her hand again... or I'll die trying.

][ A u t h o r 's N o t e ][

In the next chapter... Hermione meets Ginny and the redhead is surprised to find her acting normal, as if she hasn't seen Ginny alone with Draco in the mansion the brunette shares with her fiancé, or rather, ex-fiancé. Lucky Draco and Harry gets to meet the Dark Lord again. Can they get to Pulcheria in time?

* Okay, so I haven't really said what will happen to Hermione. But there is a *clue* in there...

** It's my fault that I didn't explain. SARS stands for Severe Acute Respiratory System and so far, it has killed two people on this island. As far as I know. Tight security around here, thus school is cancelled. Oh, well.