Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything in his really cool world.
Summary (Chps. 1-15) A two-week sailing trip has been planned in April. To prepare, the students are taking a sailing class taught by Dr. Branefeld and a regular Hogwarts teacher. Fifth year Slytherins and Gryffindors are paired, with Professor Sinistra as their instructor. Draco and Hermione are to be partners and navigators for their class. They each begin to experience feelings for each other, but fight it. During a moment of unguarded passion at the Astronomy Tower, Ron and Harry burst in. Harry and Ron hex Draco. Draco performs the Cruciatus Curse on Ron.
Chapter 16: Aftermath
Hermione pushed open the door, as Draco pulled it open. The two froze when they saw each other. For the briefest moment, they gazed into each other's eyes, both desperate to turn the clock back thirty minutes; back before they were interrupted by Harry and Ron.
Draco desperately wanted to apologize - apologize? - yes, apologize for what had he'd done. He wanted to take her back into his arms; he wanted to run his fingers through her hair; he wanted to finally feel her lips on his. He opened his mouth to say so, ready to acquiesce to the voice.
"Hermione-"
"Shut up, Malfoy. Or did you not understand when I said I didn't want you to talk to me?" She pushed her way past Draco and stormed across the platform to grab her bag, as well as Harry's and Ron's. When she reached them, she paused. She wanted to turn around to see if Draco was still in the doorway, but her brain wouldn't allow her limbs to move. With effort, she scooped up the bags and turned around.
Draco was gone.
Taking a deep breath, she headed across the empty stones and back into the stairwell. Quickly, she made her way back down the spiraling stairs and turned the corner. As she did, she heard the distant voices of her fellow classmates; she'd made it down just in time.
Her heart was aching; she had experienced so many emotions in such a short time that she was unsure what to think or do. With her head down, she quickly moved through the hallways back to the Gryffindor common room, looping around the long way.
"Duffer doofer," she muttered at the Fat Lady.
"Aren't you supposed to be with the rest of your year up in class?" questioned the Fat Lady.
Hermione stood looking at the Fat Lady with exasperation written all over her face. "Just open up!" She waited for a moment longer before the Fat Lady, indignation stamped on her features, finally moved her large frame. Hermione stepped past her and moved into the empty common room.
Flames were still leaping joyfully in the fireplace. She moved over to the red couch, dropped her heavy load, sat down, and stared into the fire until her eyelids drooped.
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Draco watched as Hermione strode across the length of the stonework floor. He saw her pause and hoped she'd turn around; she didn't. He turned and descended the staircase. Dejectedly, he trudged through the hallways, ending up at the door of the empty classroom. He pushed it open and walked through.
Moving to the familiar window seat, he collapsed and stared out on the ever-peaceful Hogwarts' grounds. He replayed the evening in his head unwillingly. He could recall every curve and line on Hermione's face; closing his eyes, he could smell the intoxicating scent of her hair. He could feel the softness of her hands as he had held them. His stomach flip- flopped when he remembered how she had wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest. He let a noisy breath exhale from his lungs, and shook his head.
The voice had tried; the voice had lost. He knew this was his last night in the safety of Hogwarts. Once Dumbledore learned what he'd done to Ron, he'd be expelled. Fortunately, he didn't have to worry about Azkaban, not yet anyway; being an under-age wizard had some benefits. Once his father had finished 'molding' him, however, the fear of Azkaban would become an ever-present worry.
A violent shiver ran up his spine as the events of the summer invaded his mind. Screams of tortured muggles echoed in his brain. Revulsion spread across his face as he remembered the joy with which his father continued to recite incantations. With pride, his father had pointed out the subtle differences of the effects of the curse, depending on how long you held the curse in place. He demanded that Draco practice again and again. He could remember the way that the muggles' voices turned from loud screams to harsh, hoarse pleas as the torture was continued for long, uninterrupted periods of time.
His father taught him the intricacies of knowing when the victim needed a break, in order to keep the victim alive, and when to finish off a victim. He had learned curses that were known only amongst those in league with the Dark Lord, and had not only performed them on others, but had been the victim of them as well. His father reasoned that it was important to know what each curse felt like; it created a stronger feeling of joy performing a curse when you knew the effects.
Suddenly, Draco was aware that he was shaking; sweat ran in rivulets down his ivory skin. His eyes snapped open, and he forced himself to gain control of his nerves. It took great effort, but he finally managed to calm down. Standing, he paced the length of the room. He almost chuckled out loud when he remembered the last time he'd been in here; the night he made his decision to forget about Hermione. A lot of good that decision did.
Moving back to the window, he resumed his former position and stared out of the window until his eyelids drooped.
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Sunlight streamed through the windows early on Wednesday morning, gently kissing Hermione awake. Slowly she opened her eyes. She was stretched out across the couch, and someone had covered her with a blanket. Sighing, she pushed herself up, folded the blanket and stumbled up the stairs to her dorm room.
"Hermione!" Lavender shrieked as she entered the room. "Why weren't you in class last night?"
"I wasn't feeling too well," she answered. It wasn't exactly a lie.
Brushing past the excitable Lavender, Hermione headed to their bathroom, took a quick shower, and got prepared for the day. She headed to the Great Hall, ate a quick breakfast, and made a bee-line for the Hospital Wing.
"Madam Pomfrey?"
Madam Pomfrey popped out of her office when she heard the student's voice. "Ah, Ms. Granger. I am guessing you are here to inquire about the condition of you friends?" She waited for Hermione's acquiescence. "Well, Harry should be up at any moment, he'll be joining the rest of the school today, however, Ron will be here for a while, still. I'm not sure why, but he's still feeling poorly. What happened with your little 'wand problems'?"
"Oh, I.I don't know. That's why I brought them here." Hermione hated lying, but she wanted to wait until Ron was feeling better before she made a decision about whether to tell on Draco or not.
Madam Pomfrey looked suspiciously at Hermione. "Well, okay.you may go see them." She watched Hermione maneuver her way around hospital equipment as she made her way to Harry's bed. 'If there is not something going on with that girl, I'll eat my apron,' she thought, before returning to her office.
"Harry?" Hermione gently shook him. "You awake yet?"
Harry mumbled something unintelligible.
"Harry, come on, wake up."
Harry slowly opened his eyes. "Huh?"
A smile spread across Hermione's face. "Good morning, Harry. How are you feeling?"
"What time is it?" he asked, groggily.
"Eight in the morning. Madam Pomfrey said you could leave, if you want."
Harry pushed himself into a sitting position and turned to look at Hermione. "Yeah, I want to get out of here. What about Ron?"
"He needs to stay a little longer." Guilt crossed her features. "She's not sure what happened to him, so she's keeping him for observation."
"Look, Herm, we have to go to Dumbledore about this." Hermione looked away from him. "I don't understand why you are so reluctant. I mean, this is Malfoy we're talking about. If it had been, oh, let's say, Lee Jordan, who had done this, I'd be willing to find out why, but we know why Malfoy did this. He did it because he's going to be a Death Eater; because he is evil."
She stood looking at Harry, knowing that what he was saying made all the sense in the world. She took a quick breath. "You're right. Will you go with me to see Dumbledore?"
A smile of relief appeared on Harry's face. "Yes, I will." He looked over at the sleeping Ron. "Should we wake him?"
"No, let him sleep. I'd rather get the whole telling on Malfoy thing out of the way, first."
Harry nodded and stood up. Grabbing his cloak from a nearby hook, he draped it over his arm and left the Hospital Wing with Hermione in tow.
"Do you want to get something to eat, first, Harry?"
"Nah, I'd rather go talk with Dumbledore, first."
"Okay."
They walked in silence, each wrapped in their own thoughts until they reached the stone gargoyle standing guard in front of the entrance to Dumbledore's. After a few tries, Harry stumbled upon the correct password and the two students ascended the narrow staircase.
Harry reached up and knocked on the door. A muffled 'come in' was heard, and he pushed the door open.
"Ah, Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger! Something I can help you with?" He motioned them to sit in two comfortable chairs.
"Yes, sir. There is," Harry replied.
"Well, then, no time like the present." His blue eyes twinkled behind his half moon glasses.
"Well, sir, the thing is-"
"We have sort of a hypothetical question," Hermione interrupted, receiving a glare from Harry. "Let's say that some students are having a duel, and one of them, without meaning to, casts an Unforgivable Curse?"
Dumbledore silently looked at Hermione for a long moment. "Well, to begin with, a duel is punishable by detention. But, for a student who casts an Unforgivable Curse, he or she faces much more serious action. Fortunately, for a student, being put in Azkaban is extremely unlikely, however, other repercussions are unavoidable. Now, did you two come here to ask me about hypothetical problems?"
Harry looked over at Hermione and gave her a look that told her to stay quiet.
"Draco put the Cruciatus Curse on Ron last night." Harry said quickly, before Hermione could stop him again.
Dumbledore sat back in his chair, closed his eyes for a brief moment, and looked back over at his students.
"Continue." For the next half-hour, the two told Dumbledore what had occurred in the Astronomy Tower; Hermione being careful to not include any of the more private moments she's had with Draco before the interruption. They finally reached the end of their story and both looked over at Dumbledore.
"Thank you for informing me. I will take care of it. I would ask that you two keep your knowledge to yourselves; you two may leave now. If I am in need of further information, I will let you know."
The two stood and prepared to leave Dumbledore's office. But he stopped them with his next sentence.
"Oh, and Mr. Potter, when Mr. Weasley is feeling better I will inform the two of you of the nature of your detentions." Harry grimaced and followed Hermione down the stairwell.
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Draco slowly entered the Great Hall and slid into an empty spot at the Slytherin tables. He reached for a plate of pancakes, and stacked a few on his plate before drowning them with pumpkin syrup.
"Draco, hey man, where were you last night?" Crabbe asked, slipping onto the bench next to Draco while Goyle sat down on the other side of Draco.
"None of your business." Draco violently attacked his stack of pancakes with his fork.
"Well, I was just wondering." Crabbe turned to look at the variety of food on the table and quickly piled up his plate. Goyle quickly copied the actions of his counterpart, and the three boys ate in silence.
A flutter of wings announced the arrival of owl post, and students looked up eagerly awaiting packages and letters. A large barn owl swooped down and dropped a small note in Draco's lap. He opened it, curious.
Mr. Malfoy,
I request your presence in my office after your Care of Magical Creatures class to discuss a matter of some importance.
Thank you,
Dumbledore (password: chocolate ice cream)
Draco folded up the letter and shoved it in his robe pocket, a sinking feeling settling on his stomach. Well, tomorrow he would be back at home for good. Tomorrow he'd have to begin his forced training in earnest. He suddenly felt extremely ill. He jumped up from the table and raced out of the Great Hall, leaving a confused Crabbe and Goyle behind.
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The morning passed quickly; too quickly. Before he knew how it had happened, Care of Magical Creatures was over. Slowly, he made his way to Dumbledore's. He reached the gargoyle quicker than he wanted to, and muttered the password.
The gargoyle slid open, and Draco ascended the stairway with a heavy heart. He knocked on the door, and entered when Dumbledore's voice instructed him to.
"Mr. Malfoy, please, take a seat."
With mounting fear, he took quick strides to the chair, and collapsed in the chair. He kept his head down, and studied the contours of his black robe. Excuses for his actions were racing through his head; he didn't want to go home.
"I have heard some disturbing news, and I would like to hear your take on what occurred."
Draco, his mouth dry with fear, tired to speak, but couldn't. He could feel pressure behind his eyes.
"Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore stood and moved over to an adjacent chair, "I cannot assist you if you to not tell me what happened. As it stands, I may have to dismiss you from this school." Dumbledore carefully gauged Draco's reaction to his words. He nodded to himself when he saw the young man imperceptibly stiffen. "However, if I determine that you were not acting in malice, but for another reason, dismissal will not be considered." He watched the young man's shoulders relax a little.
For a time, the two sat in silence. Draco finally lifted his head. "I didn't mean to do it, sir." He flinched as he recalled saying those words to Hermione, and the cold look he'd received from her. "It was an accident."
"An accident? Mr. Malfoy, casting a curse of that magnitude is not something that any fifth year student can do. It's not even something that seventh years are likely to know. I do not want to pry into your personal business, but I must know two things: one, how you learned this curse, and two, why you deem it an accident." He watched as Draco leaned forward in his chair, and dropped his head into his hands. "I know that it may be difficult, but the alternative is dismissal. Therefore, Mr. Malfoy, I believe you are left with no choice but to give me the information I require. I promise you, what you say in here will not go beyond the door."
Staring at the floor, Draco try to figure out how to tell the Headmaster all that had happened to him over the summer. "Sir, I-I can't tell you everything, without harming-others." He thought about the threat his father had thrown, so casually, at Draco at the end of a muggle torture session. 'My son, I sense your reluctance to join us. Please, take care that you do not do anything that would ultimately cause considerable pain to your mother.'
"Again, Mr. Malfoy-I give you my word that I will keep all that you tell me private. I understand that some secrets have dire consequences if they are divulged."
Taking a deep breath, Draco began. "My father is a Death Eater-," he looked up, "but I believe you know that already, according to Potter." He waited for acknowledgement from the Headmaster, before continuing. "He has great plans for me in the future ranks of You-Know-Who-"
"Please, Mr. Malfoy, let's not show fear of Voldemort's name."
Draco gave a reluctant nod. "Since I was young, my father has been teaching me the Dark Arts-makes my Defense class a piece of cake-" He laughed derisively. "But this past summer, things changed. He has been pushing me harder than before; almost desperately. This summer, he forced me to participate in the-in the-" He buried his head in his hands. "In the torture and death of muggles." His voice broke, and a sob wracked his body. He'd never said that out loud before. As he did, the screams of those he'd tortured and killed came back, this time louder. Taking a deep, steadying breath, he forced himself to get control.
Dumbledore watched as Draco regathered his strength, and continued, in a gentle voice, "Mr. Malfoy, I am certain that what you have experienced is beyond imagination. For your sake, you need not go on. Just tell me why you performed the Cruciatus Curse on Mr. Weasley."
Looking up, he gave the Headmaster a grateful smile, before his face resumed it's typical exterior. "I didn't mean to do it. It was reflex. He attacked me from behind, and-and it was the first curse to pop into my head." He dropped his head again, in defeat, as Hermione's stony face flooded his mind. In a hoarse whisper he said, "If I could take it back, I would."
"That's what I hoped you'd say, Mr. Malfoy. I will get back to you later with your punishment, as I must give it some thought. Also, I will be asking Professor Snape to speak with you. You are dismissed."
Draco gave Dumbledore a strange look at the mention of Snape, but the Headmaster did not appear inclined to go into details. Slowly, Draco stood, and departed from the office.
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Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. I am in the beginnings of starting my Master's thesis, and have very little time on my hands right now. I will try to get a chapter out at least every two weeks. Again, if you would like to be e-mailed when I update--let me know. If I do e-mail you, and you would like to be removed from my list--let me know.
-Chikata: Geez, I don't know if anyone deserves that! Hope you liked this latest chapter.
-Sage of Darkness: Draco is really going through the wringer. I agree with your synopsis. If Draco and Hermione are going to "get together" it won't be easy.
-f0xyness39: Geez, another person mad at Ron.
-SophieBabe: Thank you! It was difficult to write this chapter. Draco and Hermione were glaring at me! (And Ron was definitely not too happy.)
-Fiery-chan: Aw, but are all chances lost?
-courtney: Glad you liked the necklace and the whole scene between Draco and Hermione.
-Misty: I like that "forbidden fruit"! It has a nice ring to it. Be patient. The romance is coming. I just want to keep this realistic. And I hope you don't continue to hate me. =(
-Queen of the Roses: Thank you! Hope you had a good night's sleep. And I hope I adequately answered your question about the whole curse/Azkaban thing. Draco is a really tough character to write-much tougher than I at first thought. Thank you for your words on encouragement.
-Akuma Kanada no Tenchi: I'm glad you have recovered. Hope this chapter was worth waiting for.
-QiNg: I'm glad you don't think it's going too slow. And no need to fear, it will not turn into some unrealistic they-suddenly-fall-madly-in-love-and- make-out story. This will take time to build. There will be lots of angst for a bit, but your patience will be worth it. I promise.
-Jenie: Hey! Thank you so much for your wonderful review. Reviews like yours really keep me going.
-blueberry girl: Hope you figured it all out. If you send me your e-mail, then I will be able to e-mail you when I update.
-Snow White: I don't know how you missed so much. You didn't tell me. =) Anyway, hope you liked this chapter. Oh, and I hope you did okay on your tests)
-Glenda the Owl: I hope this chapter came along soon enough.
-Rebecca: Hope you got my e-mail. (Of course, I probably know already.) Anyway, I am glad you realize that Draco is desperately needing Hermione. I hope to be able to play with that for quite abit.
-CrazyCat: Thank you. I hope you liked this new chapter.
-MidnightSun: I'm grateful for your comments. I hope that this chapter was worth the wait.
-CatalinaRose: I actually got online and found a chess site to get those moves.I'm not too good at chess.Harry could probably beat me in a couple of moves. Thanks for your great review, again.you're the best.
Summary (Chps. 1-15) A two-week sailing trip has been planned in April. To prepare, the students are taking a sailing class taught by Dr. Branefeld and a regular Hogwarts teacher. Fifth year Slytherins and Gryffindors are paired, with Professor Sinistra as their instructor. Draco and Hermione are to be partners and navigators for their class. They each begin to experience feelings for each other, but fight it. During a moment of unguarded passion at the Astronomy Tower, Ron and Harry burst in. Harry and Ron hex Draco. Draco performs the Cruciatus Curse on Ron.
Chapter 16: Aftermath
Hermione pushed open the door, as Draco pulled it open. The two froze when they saw each other. For the briefest moment, they gazed into each other's eyes, both desperate to turn the clock back thirty minutes; back before they were interrupted by Harry and Ron.
Draco desperately wanted to apologize - apologize? - yes, apologize for what had he'd done. He wanted to take her back into his arms; he wanted to run his fingers through her hair; he wanted to finally feel her lips on his. He opened his mouth to say so, ready to acquiesce to the voice.
"Hermione-"
"Shut up, Malfoy. Or did you not understand when I said I didn't want you to talk to me?" She pushed her way past Draco and stormed across the platform to grab her bag, as well as Harry's and Ron's. When she reached them, she paused. She wanted to turn around to see if Draco was still in the doorway, but her brain wouldn't allow her limbs to move. With effort, she scooped up the bags and turned around.
Draco was gone.
Taking a deep breath, she headed across the empty stones and back into the stairwell. Quickly, she made her way back down the spiraling stairs and turned the corner. As she did, she heard the distant voices of her fellow classmates; she'd made it down just in time.
Her heart was aching; she had experienced so many emotions in such a short time that she was unsure what to think or do. With her head down, she quickly moved through the hallways back to the Gryffindor common room, looping around the long way.
"Duffer doofer," she muttered at the Fat Lady.
"Aren't you supposed to be with the rest of your year up in class?" questioned the Fat Lady.
Hermione stood looking at the Fat Lady with exasperation written all over her face. "Just open up!" She waited for a moment longer before the Fat Lady, indignation stamped on her features, finally moved her large frame. Hermione stepped past her and moved into the empty common room.
Flames were still leaping joyfully in the fireplace. She moved over to the red couch, dropped her heavy load, sat down, and stared into the fire until her eyelids drooped.
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Draco watched as Hermione strode across the length of the stonework floor. He saw her pause and hoped she'd turn around; she didn't. He turned and descended the staircase. Dejectedly, he trudged through the hallways, ending up at the door of the empty classroom. He pushed it open and walked through.
Moving to the familiar window seat, he collapsed and stared out on the ever-peaceful Hogwarts' grounds. He replayed the evening in his head unwillingly. He could recall every curve and line on Hermione's face; closing his eyes, he could smell the intoxicating scent of her hair. He could feel the softness of her hands as he had held them. His stomach flip- flopped when he remembered how she had wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest. He let a noisy breath exhale from his lungs, and shook his head.
The voice had tried; the voice had lost. He knew this was his last night in the safety of Hogwarts. Once Dumbledore learned what he'd done to Ron, he'd be expelled. Fortunately, he didn't have to worry about Azkaban, not yet anyway; being an under-age wizard had some benefits. Once his father had finished 'molding' him, however, the fear of Azkaban would become an ever-present worry.
A violent shiver ran up his spine as the events of the summer invaded his mind. Screams of tortured muggles echoed in his brain. Revulsion spread across his face as he remembered the joy with which his father continued to recite incantations. With pride, his father had pointed out the subtle differences of the effects of the curse, depending on how long you held the curse in place. He demanded that Draco practice again and again. He could remember the way that the muggles' voices turned from loud screams to harsh, hoarse pleas as the torture was continued for long, uninterrupted periods of time.
His father taught him the intricacies of knowing when the victim needed a break, in order to keep the victim alive, and when to finish off a victim. He had learned curses that were known only amongst those in league with the Dark Lord, and had not only performed them on others, but had been the victim of them as well. His father reasoned that it was important to know what each curse felt like; it created a stronger feeling of joy performing a curse when you knew the effects.
Suddenly, Draco was aware that he was shaking; sweat ran in rivulets down his ivory skin. His eyes snapped open, and he forced himself to gain control of his nerves. It took great effort, but he finally managed to calm down. Standing, he paced the length of the room. He almost chuckled out loud when he remembered the last time he'd been in here; the night he made his decision to forget about Hermione. A lot of good that decision did.
Moving back to the window, he resumed his former position and stared out of the window until his eyelids drooped.
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Sunlight streamed through the windows early on Wednesday morning, gently kissing Hermione awake. Slowly she opened her eyes. She was stretched out across the couch, and someone had covered her with a blanket. Sighing, she pushed herself up, folded the blanket and stumbled up the stairs to her dorm room.
"Hermione!" Lavender shrieked as she entered the room. "Why weren't you in class last night?"
"I wasn't feeling too well," she answered. It wasn't exactly a lie.
Brushing past the excitable Lavender, Hermione headed to their bathroom, took a quick shower, and got prepared for the day. She headed to the Great Hall, ate a quick breakfast, and made a bee-line for the Hospital Wing.
"Madam Pomfrey?"
Madam Pomfrey popped out of her office when she heard the student's voice. "Ah, Ms. Granger. I am guessing you are here to inquire about the condition of you friends?" She waited for Hermione's acquiescence. "Well, Harry should be up at any moment, he'll be joining the rest of the school today, however, Ron will be here for a while, still. I'm not sure why, but he's still feeling poorly. What happened with your little 'wand problems'?"
"Oh, I.I don't know. That's why I brought them here." Hermione hated lying, but she wanted to wait until Ron was feeling better before she made a decision about whether to tell on Draco or not.
Madam Pomfrey looked suspiciously at Hermione. "Well, okay.you may go see them." She watched Hermione maneuver her way around hospital equipment as she made her way to Harry's bed. 'If there is not something going on with that girl, I'll eat my apron,' she thought, before returning to her office.
"Harry?" Hermione gently shook him. "You awake yet?"
Harry mumbled something unintelligible.
"Harry, come on, wake up."
Harry slowly opened his eyes. "Huh?"
A smile spread across Hermione's face. "Good morning, Harry. How are you feeling?"
"What time is it?" he asked, groggily.
"Eight in the morning. Madam Pomfrey said you could leave, if you want."
Harry pushed himself into a sitting position and turned to look at Hermione. "Yeah, I want to get out of here. What about Ron?"
"He needs to stay a little longer." Guilt crossed her features. "She's not sure what happened to him, so she's keeping him for observation."
"Look, Herm, we have to go to Dumbledore about this." Hermione looked away from him. "I don't understand why you are so reluctant. I mean, this is Malfoy we're talking about. If it had been, oh, let's say, Lee Jordan, who had done this, I'd be willing to find out why, but we know why Malfoy did this. He did it because he's going to be a Death Eater; because he is evil."
She stood looking at Harry, knowing that what he was saying made all the sense in the world. She took a quick breath. "You're right. Will you go with me to see Dumbledore?"
A smile of relief appeared on Harry's face. "Yes, I will." He looked over at the sleeping Ron. "Should we wake him?"
"No, let him sleep. I'd rather get the whole telling on Malfoy thing out of the way, first."
Harry nodded and stood up. Grabbing his cloak from a nearby hook, he draped it over his arm and left the Hospital Wing with Hermione in tow.
"Do you want to get something to eat, first, Harry?"
"Nah, I'd rather go talk with Dumbledore, first."
"Okay."
They walked in silence, each wrapped in their own thoughts until they reached the stone gargoyle standing guard in front of the entrance to Dumbledore's. After a few tries, Harry stumbled upon the correct password and the two students ascended the narrow staircase.
Harry reached up and knocked on the door. A muffled 'come in' was heard, and he pushed the door open.
"Ah, Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger! Something I can help you with?" He motioned them to sit in two comfortable chairs.
"Yes, sir. There is," Harry replied.
"Well, then, no time like the present." His blue eyes twinkled behind his half moon glasses.
"Well, sir, the thing is-"
"We have sort of a hypothetical question," Hermione interrupted, receiving a glare from Harry. "Let's say that some students are having a duel, and one of them, without meaning to, casts an Unforgivable Curse?"
Dumbledore silently looked at Hermione for a long moment. "Well, to begin with, a duel is punishable by detention. But, for a student who casts an Unforgivable Curse, he or she faces much more serious action. Fortunately, for a student, being put in Azkaban is extremely unlikely, however, other repercussions are unavoidable. Now, did you two come here to ask me about hypothetical problems?"
Harry looked over at Hermione and gave her a look that told her to stay quiet.
"Draco put the Cruciatus Curse on Ron last night." Harry said quickly, before Hermione could stop him again.
Dumbledore sat back in his chair, closed his eyes for a brief moment, and looked back over at his students.
"Continue." For the next half-hour, the two told Dumbledore what had occurred in the Astronomy Tower; Hermione being careful to not include any of the more private moments she's had with Draco before the interruption. They finally reached the end of their story and both looked over at Dumbledore.
"Thank you for informing me. I will take care of it. I would ask that you two keep your knowledge to yourselves; you two may leave now. If I am in need of further information, I will let you know."
The two stood and prepared to leave Dumbledore's office. But he stopped them with his next sentence.
"Oh, and Mr. Potter, when Mr. Weasley is feeling better I will inform the two of you of the nature of your detentions." Harry grimaced and followed Hermione down the stairwell.
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Draco slowly entered the Great Hall and slid into an empty spot at the Slytherin tables. He reached for a plate of pancakes, and stacked a few on his plate before drowning them with pumpkin syrup.
"Draco, hey man, where were you last night?" Crabbe asked, slipping onto the bench next to Draco while Goyle sat down on the other side of Draco.
"None of your business." Draco violently attacked his stack of pancakes with his fork.
"Well, I was just wondering." Crabbe turned to look at the variety of food on the table and quickly piled up his plate. Goyle quickly copied the actions of his counterpart, and the three boys ate in silence.
A flutter of wings announced the arrival of owl post, and students looked up eagerly awaiting packages and letters. A large barn owl swooped down and dropped a small note in Draco's lap. He opened it, curious.
Mr. Malfoy,
I request your presence in my office after your Care of Magical Creatures class to discuss a matter of some importance.
Thank you,
Dumbledore (password: chocolate ice cream)
Draco folded up the letter and shoved it in his robe pocket, a sinking feeling settling on his stomach. Well, tomorrow he would be back at home for good. Tomorrow he'd have to begin his forced training in earnest. He suddenly felt extremely ill. He jumped up from the table and raced out of the Great Hall, leaving a confused Crabbe and Goyle behind.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
The morning passed quickly; too quickly. Before he knew how it had happened, Care of Magical Creatures was over. Slowly, he made his way to Dumbledore's. He reached the gargoyle quicker than he wanted to, and muttered the password.
The gargoyle slid open, and Draco ascended the stairway with a heavy heart. He knocked on the door, and entered when Dumbledore's voice instructed him to.
"Mr. Malfoy, please, take a seat."
With mounting fear, he took quick strides to the chair, and collapsed in the chair. He kept his head down, and studied the contours of his black robe. Excuses for his actions were racing through his head; he didn't want to go home.
"I have heard some disturbing news, and I would like to hear your take on what occurred."
Draco, his mouth dry with fear, tired to speak, but couldn't. He could feel pressure behind his eyes.
"Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore stood and moved over to an adjacent chair, "I cannot assist you if you to not tell me what happened. As it stands, I may have to dismiss you from this school." Dumbledore carefully gauged Draco's reaction to his words. He nodded to himself when he saw the young man imperceptibly stiffen. "However, if I determine that you were not acting in malice, but for another reason, dismissal will not be considered." He watched the young man's shoulders relax a little.
For a time, the two sat in silence. Draco finally lifted his head. "I didn't mean to do it, sir." He flinched as he recalled saying those words to Hermione, and the cold look he'd received from her. "It was an accident."
"An accident? Mr. Malfoy, casting a curse of that magnitude is not something that any fifth year student can do. It's not even something that seventh years are likely to know. I do not want to pry into your personal business, but I must know two things: one, how you learned this curse, and two, why you deem it an accident." He watched as Draco leaned forward in his chair, and dropped his head into his hands. "I know that it may be difficult, but the alternative is dismissal. Therefore, Mr. Malfoy, I believe you are left with no choice but to give me the information I require. I promise you, what you say in here will not go beyond the door."
Staring at the floor, Draco try to figure out how to tell the Headmaster all that had happened to him over the summer. "Sir, I-I can't tell you everything, without harming-others." He thought about the threat his father had thrown, so casually, at Draco at the end of a muggle torture session. 'My son, I sense your reluctance to join us. Please, take care that you do not do anything that would ultimately cause considerable pain to your mother.'
"Again, Mr. Malfoy-I give you my word that I will keep all that you tell me private. I understand that some secrets have dire consequences if they are divulged."
Taking a deep breath, Draco began. "My father is a Death Eater-," he looked up, "but I believe you know that already, according to Potter." He waited for acknowledgement from the Headmaster, before continuing. "He has great plans for me in the future ranks of You-Know-Who-"
"Please, Mr. Malfoy, let's not show fear of Voldemort's name."
Draco gave a reluctant nod. "Since I was young, my father has been teaching me the Dark Arts-makes my Defense class a piece of cake-" He laughed derisively. "But this past summer, things changed. He has been pushing me harder than before; almost desperately. This summer, he forced me to participate in the-in the-" He buried his head in his hands. "In the torture and death of muggles." His voice broke, and a sob wracked his body. He'd never said that out loud before. As he did, the screams of those he'd tortured and killed came back, this time louder. Taking a deep, steadying breath, he forced himself to get control.
Dumbledore watched as Draco regathered his strength, and continued, in a gentle voice, "Mr. Malfoy, I am certain that what you have experienced is beyond imagination. For your sake, you need not go on. Just tell me why you performed the Cruciatus Curse on Mr. Weasley."
Looking up, he gave the Headmaster a grateful smile, before his face resumed it's typical exterior. "I didn't mean to do it. It was reflex. He attacked me from behind, and-and it was the first curse to pop into my head." He dropped his head again, in defeat, as Hermione's stony face flooded his mind. In a hoarse whisper he said, "If I could take it back, I would."
"That's what I hoped you'd say, Mr. Malfoy. I will get back to you later with your punishment, as I must give it some thought. Also, I will be asking Professor Snape to speak with you. You are dismissed."
Draco gave Dumbledore a strange look at the mention of Snape, but the Headmaster did not appear inclined to go into details. Slowly, Draco stood, and departed from the office.
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Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. I am in the beginnings of starting my Master's thesis, and have very little time on my hands right now. I will try to get a chapter out at least every two weeks. Again, if you would like to be e-mailed when I update--let me know. If I do e-mail you, and you would like to be removed from my list--let me know.
-Chikata: Geez, I don't know if anyone deserves that! Hope you liked this latest chapter.
-Sage of Darkness: Draco is really going through the wringer. I agree with your synopsis. If Draco and Hermione are going to "get together" it won't be easy.
-f0xyness39: Geez, another person mad at Ron.
-SophieBabe: Thank you! It was difficult to write this chapter. Draco and Hermione were glaring at me! (And Ron was definitely not too happy.)
-Fiery-chan: Aw, but are all chances lost?
-courtney: Glad you liked the necklace and the whole scene between Draco and Hermione.
-Misty: I like that "forbidden fruit"! It has a nice ring to it. Be patient. The romance is coming. I just want to keep this realistic. And I hope you don't continue to hate me. =(
-Queen of the Roses: Thank you! Hope you had a good night's sleep. And I hope I adequately answered your question about the whole curse/Azkaban thing. Draco is a really tough character to write-much tougher than I at first thought. Thank you for your words on encouragement.
-Akuma Kanada no Tenchi: I'm glad you have recovered. Hope this chapter was worth waiting for.
-QiNg: I'm glad you don't think it's going too slow. And no need to fear, it will not turn into some unrealistic they-suddenly-fall-madly-in-love-and- make-out story. This will take time to build. There will be lots of angst for a bit, but your patience will be worth it. I promise.
-Jenie: Hey! Thank you so much for your wonderful review. Reviews like yours really keep me going.
-blueberry girl: Hope you figured it all out. If you send me your e-mail, then I will be able to e-mail you when I update.
-Snow White: I don't know how you missed so much. You didn't tell me. =) Anyway, hope you liked this chapter. Oh, and I hope you did okay on your tests)
-Glenda the Owl: I hope this chapter came along soon enough.
-Rebecca: Hope you got my e-mail. (Of course, I probably know already.) Anyway, I am glad you realize that Draco is desperately needing Hermione. I hope to be able to play with that for quite abit.
-CrazyCat: Thank you. I hope you liked this new chapter.
-MidnightSun: I'm grateful for your comments. I hope that this chapter was worth the wait.
-CatalinaRose: I actually got online and found a chess site to get those moves.I'm not too good at chess.Harry could probably beat me in a couple of moves. Thanks for your great review, again.you're the best.