Note: Wow!!! I got way more reviews than I expected!! Thanks! All of you. Well, the next chapter is finally done! It feels like I took forever on this one. Here it is. Venus Aeternus I will try to make one like that. In fact I have wanted one like that from the beginning, but I'm taking it slow. Don't worry; I expect to have quite a few of those!! Starfire I promise, Liam will have a BIGGER part. He is on his verge of coming back. I'm just trying to get the whole mystery solved and Draco and Hermione together. Silver Masamune I am SO sorry about that !! I watched The Ring recently and it's stuck in my head. Sorry! Ash I would love to know some of the quotes that you have. In fact, I would really appreciate it. Nicole Even though this is getting to you a little late. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!! Snow purple rose no it wasn't any of the unforgivables. I just haven't named it yet. It will be named though! Iris Yes, in future chapters the curse will be explained. Possibly the next one. Tom Felton's Babe Liam is coming back. Lol.
On with the story…
Chapter Eighteen:
Whispers to be heard
It's funny how we set qualifications for the right person to love, while at the back of our minds we know that the person we truly love... will always be an exception.
Dumbledore eyed him with that all-knowing gaze, "I was wondering when you would come to see me."
"You knew," he exclaimed.
"Little, but you are here only but to tell me the rest," Dumbledore smiled. "I am very glad you came."
"Well, I have my reasons," Draco shrugged. "My dad he came to the common room and threatened me-"
"About what?" Dumbledore interrupted. His face was serious as he watched Draco tell his story.
"At the time I was, well, I still am if Hermione forgives me, but I was working with her on a… project. He came to me and threatened me about that, working with a… non pure-blood. I didn't listen. He came back and cursed me. Well, before that he had hit me," Draco reached up to touch the rapidly healing bruise.
"What to you want me to do about this?" Dumbledore questioned. His smile slowly began to appear at the corner of his mouth as if he knew Draco's request already.
"You see, when I was cursed I hurt someone. I didn't mean to hurt her and I was sorry. I didn't want to hurt her and I didn't mean… I just want you to protect me from my father."
"This must have cost you a lot, Mr. Malfoy. You have too much pride for you to come here out of your own self. I knew you had a greater reason. A woman can make a man do things he would never have dreamed he would ever do. I will ask you to do me a favor. In order to protect you I am going to separate you from your house. Do you mind?"
"What are the… surroundings going to be like?" Draco questioned, not able to come up with a better word.
"I need you to choose one person. The person you trust the most. This person will be almost like a bodyguard. Depending on the sex we will decide how big a room you need. Male only one room with two beds; female, obviously there will be to rooms. So, I purpose you think about this. I will also provide you will spells to use incase of emergencies and whatnot." Dumbledore smiled. "I wish you a wonderful day," he said as he reached into his desk. "Lemon drop?" and he offered Draco some round, yellow balls.
Draco took one and thanked his headmaster. "When do you want a reply on this?"
"I want you to have a partner/roommate by Friday. Two days," Dumbledore said.
Draco nodded, "Two days," and he was gone.
~
Hermione sat in her common room, surrounded by Lavender and Parvati. "So," Lavender began. "When you get married what are the qualification for the would-be husband?"
"I would want a tall, handsome blonde with… deep blue eyes pr maybe grey," Parvati smiled as she explained her dream guy.
"Oh, we all know who you want for a husband," Lavender laughed. "You are in love with Draco Malfoy!"
"Me!" Parvati exclaimed. "Not in a million years," she smiled as she said it. Lavender gave her an accusing look. "Okay, I might like him a little bit. But, he is oh-so-cute! You have to admit!... What about you, Hermione?"
Hermione, who had been listening to their conversation with interest, looked shocked. She wasn't ready to be called on for this question, "Oh, umm, I suppose I would want a kind, loving husband. He doesn't have to be too tall, taller than me of course. I want him to be smart and take me for what I am. Maybe black hair or brown and green or blue eyes," Hermione smiled. Through the whole thing she had not once thought of Malfoy as she was describing her dream guy. She didn't want her husband to remind her of her childhood rival.
"How sweet," Lavender sighed. "I truly hope you find him."
"I do too," Hermione whispered. "Well, what about you?" She asked completely changing the subject.
"Me!" Lavender burst out. "I just want somebody who is cute or handsome. Maybe an Italian."
Hermione laughed. "Well, only time will tell girls. Only time will tell."
~
Hermione met Harry and Ron out on the Quidditch field that evening. It was going to be the first time they had truly been alone for a month. "So," Hermione said as she walked around Harry, who was getting ready to get on his broom to practice with Ron.
"How have you been doing lately?" Ron questioned.
"Fine," she fingered her hair as she watched them. It had been so long since they had talked that it seemed like they didn't know each other.
"Why are you hanging around Malfoy more this year?"
"Because he asked me to help him," she stated simply.
"Really, but that was at the beginning of the year. You both aren't done doing whatever?"
"Nope, not nearly close."
"Well," Ron mounted his broom. "We have to practice. See you around. It was nice talking for these few seconds, Hermione. Don't forget that we are always there. You just seem to look over us this year. Harry and I just want you to know that we will always be your friends and that you can always seek comfort in us." Ron glanced briefly back at Harry, who gave him a thumbs up.
Hermione wondered if it was all planned, but she smiled anyway. It was a nice thought even if it was planned. "Thank you, Ron. I really appreciate that. It feels good to know that someone is there for you."
Harry and Ron smiled. "I'll see you later, 'Mione," Harry said as he kicked off into the air.
"Yes, yes you will." Hermione turned and walked away, glancing back momentarily. It was amazing how much they had grown. They went from scared and nervous first years to this, what they are now. People old enough and ready to take on the world. Ready to live life and experience the pain and the magic.
Hermione sighed, they had all grown up so very fast.
~
Draco walked down the stone steps leading out to the school ground. He scanned the whole ground, from the tree to the cabin… and the lake. And beside the lake was where a specific brown haired Gryffindor sat.
He began walking towards her and as he neared he decided that she looked almost lost. Her knees pulled up to her chin and eyes staring out into the misty depths of the lake. "So, what imaginative land are you exploring?" Draco asked as he sat down.
Hermione smiled and looked over at him, "the fairy tales. I've always loved them. How the princesses are always so beautiful and they always get the handsome prince. It's just never been fair…"
Draco nodded, "life isn't fair. It never is, but I have a proposition to make. I need a "guard", we are working together on this project and I'm not really making the greatest friends this year in Slytherin. If you know what I mean, so do you want to dorm up with me?"
"Just yesterday you were making the biggest commotion about me just touching you and now you want me to dorm up with you?"
"Yea," he answered like it was obvious.
"Sure, why not." Hermione smiled and looked back out at the lake.
~
Hermione and Draco were on there way to the library, when Hermione questioned, "So, did you ever get the list and the picture?"
"Yes! I did. It's in my room. Will you come with me to get it?"
"Sure, why not." They walked in companionable silence until they reached the entrance to the common room.
"Do you want to come in with me or wait out here?" Draco asked softly.
"Is anyone in there?"
"That is a risk…"
"Sure, I'll come in with you."
Draco eyed her and then said the pass word. Both of them entered…
~
Draco walked over to his dresser where he pulled two pieces of paper out of the drawer. He turned around and handed them to her as she glanced around. "I've never been in here," she commented.
"Most Gryffindors haven't."
"I know but… I was just saying. It's very interesting." She then glanced down at the list of the people who stayed….
Tom Brackal
Marie Verheu
Jon McLeary
Kimberly Shores
Ivan Foisy
Jasper Byrne
Draco Malfoy
Erika Clark
Hermione Granger
Jason Davis
Demi Bradley
Marcus Flint
Pansy Parkinson
Gregory Goyle
Vincent Crabbe
Liam
"Well, we know it isn't these two." She marked off his and her names. "I could swear more people stayed though. I wonder why Liam doesn't have a last name?" she looked up. "But have you noticed none of the teachers call Liam by his last name."
Draco shrugged, "I figured he requested it or something."
Hermione shrugged also, "Maybe." She placed the list behind the other piece of paper. "This picture looks very familiar… It looks…" she trailed off. Where had she seen a picture that looked like this? She couldn't place a face with which she had seen drawing it. She could faintly remember the hands, slowly placing each careful line on the paper.
"I'm going to get Malfoy. He might want to come," Liam's voice echoed up the stairs.
Hermione glanced at Draco, then the door. She tossed the paper on the bed and then moved to hide behind it. "I'm going to go with him, Hermione. Just leave after I'm gone." Hermione nodded, silently.
"Hey, Malf, you want to go with us to Honeydukes?" Liam questioned.
"Sure, why not." Draco shrugged and followed him out the door.
After she heard the door close behind Draco, Hermione stood up. In her haste to remove herself from the room, she grabbed only the list of people and completely forgot the picture.
The picture lay on Draco's bed, a beautiful sketch of the mountains. Trees, lush and green embraced the mountains base and the sky was swirled with pink, light purple and a tinge of orange. It appeared almost lonely in all its glory. The mountains sad in their loneliness. They wanted their whispers to be heard, to be seen went deeper than one could image…
~
Neva's purring was the only thing that could be heard. "Well, that was… different." The night air hummed with the sound of crickets. The girls had long since gotten their drinks and had been sipping them as the story continued.
"That was sweet and…" Chloe drifted off, unsure what to say.
"Well, I went with Liam. I had fun with the whole group of guys even though they were all Slytherins. But when I got back, there was just more of the mystery to solve…"
Sometimes the greatest love is right in front of your face, but you're just too blind to notice.
Note: Well, what do you think? Was it long enough? I know it wasn't as good as the last chapter, but please forgive me. Writer's block! I hate it.
Anyway, I would like to ask for 400. 410 if you are all nice. : )
So, HAVE A NICE DAY EVERYONE!!!!