Dedications: This chapter is dedicated to anyone who has ever been stuck between a rock and a hard place. Good times, good times.
Authors Note: I would kill to be Hermione in this chapter ;)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters, though I wish I owned Draco. They are respectfully copyrighted to J.K. Rowling. The plot of my fanfic is copyrighted to me. But you knew that.
Chapter Two: Good News?
Hermione made it to Dumbledore's Office a few minutes before six, but decided to go inside anyway. What she saw scared the living daylights out of her.
One of the seats in Dumbledore's Office was occupied by, none other than, Draco Malfoy.
"What are you doing here?" asked Hermione.
"You're a bit early, you know," Draco muttered.
"Tell me, Malfoy, what exactly is going on here?" Hermione demanded.
"I think it would be best if I did the explaing, Miss Granger." It was Dumbledore.
"Yes, sir," Hermione said sheepishly.
"Please, have a seat, Miss Granger. This may take a bit longer than I had planned."
Hermione wondered what all of this meant. What did Dumbledore mean by 'this may take a bit longer than I had planned'? At last, Hermione sat down next to Draco, who flashed a...smile.
"As you may or may not know, Miss Granger, The Dark Lord and his Death Eaters are active yet again," Dumbledore explained.
"I read about it in The Daily Prophet, sir," Hermione replied. "Vold---He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is searching for someone to inherit the throne when the time finally comes."
"Very good, Miss Granger," said Dumbledore. "I see you have been reading up." He grinned.
Hermione just sat there, not knowing what to say. She forced a laugh.
"Now comes the important part. Listen carefully, Hermione," Dumbledore said softly. "The Death Eaters are hunting young Mister Malfoy. Ever since Lucius was sent to Azkaban, the Death Eaters and The Dark Lord himself have been searching for Draco to assume his father's role as a Death Eater."
Hermione's eyes widened. Draco hung his head.
"That is why Draco and yourself will spend this summer in the United States of America. There you will live as Muggles, without the use of any magic unless it is an emergency. We can't cause any major commotion."
Hermione just stared at the wall. 'This is all a bad dream,' she reassured herself. 'I am going to wake up now.' But another voice in her head told her it wasn't a dream. It was as real as real could get.
"Are you sure this is the right thing to do, Professor?" asked Hermione.
"I'm afraid it is the only option we have, Miss Granger. Don't worry about your parents. They have been notified and have agreed to it all. It is all taken care of."
"Oh."
"Professor, where will we be living? Father has taught me that America is larger than than England," inquired Draco.
"That it is, Mister Malfoy. You shall live in a very small portion of the states called Ha-wa-ii. It is quite a long trip by plane, but I shall have you two Apparated there as soon as finals are over," Dumbledore responded, as Hermione's face lit up with excitement.
"You mean Hawaii? I've read about it in Muggle travel books! They say Hawaii is the opportune place for any coup---person, or people, to go for a vacation. It looks beautiful in the pictures," Hermione added. She almost let the word 'couple' slip out of her mouth. She and Draco were NOT a couple.
"Right you are, Miss Granger," Dumbledore confirmed.
"When will we be leaving, Professor?" asked Draco.
"Your finals will be over next week Wednesday. You will be out of England by Thursday morning. Rise early," informed Dumbledore. "You will be Apparated back to Hogwarts on August 31 by either Professor McGonagall or Hagrid. You may go to dinner. And remember, you two will be sharing a house together. And NO MAGIC unless it is an emergency. Send me an owl if you need anything."
"Yes Professor," Draco and Hermione answered in unison. They both got up and left.
To Hermione's surprise, Draco held the door open for her.
"Erm, thanks." Hermione smiled and looked down.
"You're welcome, H-Hermione."
He cupped Hermione's chin in his palm, causing her to look into his eyes.
Hermione had long been taken captive by his soft, grey eyes, which now seemed to be telling her something. Something...good.
"Hermione," Draco began. "I've been meaning to tell you something, ever since we came back from Christmas break."
"Go on," Hermione whispered, still seduced by his eyes. She didn't quite notice the fact that Draco had called her by her first name instead of 'Granger' or even worse, 'Mudblood'.
"Well, before my father died, I know I was...well, evil, toward you and your friends. I admit it, I wasn't very nice. But now that my father is dead, I don't have to worry about what he will do to punish me for no reason anymore. I can be who I want to be, without his consent. Hermione, I...I love you."
Authors Note: I would kill to be Hermione in this chapter ;)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters, though I wish I owned Draco. They are respectfully copyrighted to J.K. Rowling. The plot of my fanfic is copyrighted to me. But you knew that.
Chapter Two: Good News?
Hermione made it to Dumbledore's Office a few minutes before six, but decided to go inside anyway. What she saw scared the living daylights out of her.
One of the seats in Dumbledore's Office was occupied by, none other than, Draco Malfoy.
"What are you doing here?" asked Hermione.
"You're a bit early, you know," Draco muttered.
"Tell me, Malfoy, what exactly is going on here?" Hermione demanded.
"I think it would be best if I did the explaing, Miss Granger." It was Dumbledore.
"Yes, sir," Hermione said sheepishly.
"Please, have a seat, Miss Granger. This may take a bit longer than I had planned."
Hermione wondered what all of this meant. What did Dumbledore mean by 'this may take a bit longer than I had planned'? At last, Hermione sat down next to Draco, who flashed a...smile.
"As you may or may not know, Miss Granger, The Dark Lord and his Death Eaters are active yet again," Dumbledore explained.
"I read about it in The Daily Prophet, sir," Hermione replied. "Vold---He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is searching for someone to inherit the throne when the time finally comes."
"Very good, Miss Granger," said Dumbledore. "I see you have been reading up." He grinned.
Hermione just sat there, not knowing what to say. She forced a laugh.
"Now comes the important part. Listen carefully, Hermione," Dumbledore said softly. "The Death Eaters are hunting young Mister Malfoy. Ever since Lucius was sent to Azkaban, the Death Eaters and The Dark Lord himself have been searching for Draco to assume his father's role as a Death Eater."
Hermione's eyes widened. Draco hung his head.
"That is why Draco and yourself will spend this summer in the United States of America. There you will live as Muggles, without the use of any magic unless it is an emergency. We can't cause any major commotion."
Hermione just stared at the wall. 'This is all a bad dream,' she reassured herself. 'I am going to wake up now.' But another voice in her head told her it wasn't a dream. It was as real as real could get.
"Are you sure this is the right thing to do, Professor?" asked Hermione.
"I'm afraid it is the only option we have, Miss Granger. Don't worry about your parents. They have been notified and have agreed to it all. It is all taken care of."
"Oh."
"Professor, where will we be living? Father has taught me that America is larger than than England," inquired Draco.
"That it is, Mister Malfoy. You shall live in a very small portion of the states called Ha-wa-ii. It is quite a long trip by plane, but I shall have you two Apparated there as soon as finals are over," Dumbledore responded, as Hermione's face lit up with excitement.
"You mean Hawaii? I've read about it in Muggle travel books! They say Hawaii is the opportune place for any coup---person, or people, to go for a vacation. It looks beautiful in the pictures," Hermione added. She almost let the word 'couple' slip out of her mouth. She and Draco were NOT a couple.
"Right you are, Miss Granger," Dumbledore confirmed.
"When will we be leaving, Professor?" asked Draco.
"Your finals will be over next week Wednesday. You will be out of England by Thursday morning. Rise early," informed Dumbledore. "You will be Apparated back to Hogwarts on August 31 by either Professor McGonagall or Hagrid. You may go to dinner. And remember, you two will be sharing a house together. And NO MAGIC unless it is an emergency. Send me an owl if you need anything."
"Yes Professor," Draco and Hermione answered in unison. They both got up and left.
To Hermione's surprise, Draco held the door open for her.
"Erm, thanks." Hermione smiled and looked down.
"You're welcome, H-Hermione."
He cupped Hermione's chin in his palm, causing her to look into his eyes.
Hermione had long been taken captive by his soft, grey eyes, which now seemed to be telling her something. Something...good.
"Hermione," Draco began. "I've been meaning to tell you something, ever since we came back from Christmas break."
"Go on," Hermione whispered, still seduced by his eyes. She didn't quite notice the fact that Draco had called her by her first name instead of 'Granger' or even worse, 'Mudblood'.
"Well, before my father died, I know I was...well, evil, toward you and your friends. I admit it, I wasn't very nice. But now that my father is dead, I don't have to worry about what he will do to punish me for no reason anymore. I can be who I want to be, without his consent. Hermione, I...I love you."
