Disclaimer: They're not mine! I want 'em though. Anyone think Santa Clause will give'em to me for Christmas?
A/N: Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOO much everyone for the reviews, I've read all of them, and I'm trying to incorporate suggestions that people have given me, so if you have comments or ideas, let me know and I'll see what I can do about using them!
Chapter 7
The Forbidden Forest
Running out of the hall with Draco, leaving Harry and Ron, Hermione had a million ideas running through her head as to why Dumbledore wanted them.
"Mal-Malfoy, d-did Dumble-dore, say anything about why he w-wanted to t-talk to us?" asked Hermione, panting from having to walk extremely fast in order to keep up with Draco, who being 6'3", had much longer legs than Hermione did.
"Just that he needed to see us, and right away, okay?"
"Okay! I was just wondering," said Hermione, her breathing back to normal, since by now they were standing at the top of the stairs in front of Dumbledore's office. Without any hesitation, Draco knocked, and after hearing a voice tell him to come in, he quickly opened the door and strode in, leaving Hermione to follow behind.
"Ah, Mister Malfoy and Miss Granger, thank you for coming so quickly. You're probably wondering why I have asked you to come, and if you take a seat, I'll tell you," said Dumbledore, as two chairs magically moved themselves to the opposite side of the desk from Dumbledore.
Draco and Hermione didn't need to be told twice. They quickly took their seats, sitting their expectantly, waiting to hear why they were there. They both assumed it had something to do with Voldemort. But before Dumbledore had a chance to explain, Hermione suddenly shrieked in pain, grasping her arm.
"Granger, wh-?" was all Draco managed to get out before he too, doubled over in pain.
Ten minutes later, the pain had lessened, and Dumbledore took this opportunity to speak.
"An hour or so before you came, Professor Snape came to my office in pain, much like you are in. He was being summoned. This is how Voldemort will call you to let you know he requests your presence. I called you here, since I assumed you would also be summoned, and I thought it might be better if you were away from your classmates when it happened for the first time. Now that you know what to expect, you will be better prepared for next time. Now, in response to the summons, you two will have to apparate. When you apparate, you will automatically arrive at Voldemort's meeting place. Since you both know how to apparate, I suggest that you go now, and hurry. Don't be afraid, remember what I said the other night, you have nothing to fear, you will not be killed because Voldermort wants you, and you are both under a life-protection charm. Should you find yourself in a situation where your life is about to be taken, perhaps by one of the three unforgivable curses, you will automatically be magicked here. I can't tell you who your life-protector is, but it will be revealed in time. Now go, and above all, be careful not to give away Severus' true identity. And one more thing," said Dumbledore as the two students absorbed this information and stood up to go. They looked at him expectantly.
"Take care of each other and be safe."
The two looked at each other before turning back to Dumbledore and nodding. With one last glance at each other, they quickly stepped into a magic area Dumbledore conjured up that allows you to apparate on Hogwart's grounds, and disappeared.
A few moments later, they reappeared, in some dark, fire-lit clearing, somewhere in the middle of the forbidden forest. They just stood on the edge, observing everything they could, before a cold voice, like ice, interrupted their thoughts.
"Welcome, my newest Death Eaters. Would you like to swear allegiance to me? It would be most appreciated." Said none other than Voldemort, in a mocking tone.
"First of all, just because you gave me the dark mark, that doesn't make me a Death Eater, and second of all, I'd rather die than swear allegiance to you," said Hermione, her voice icy and cold, causing some of the Death Eaters to shiver in awe of the power and anger she was radiating. Most of them however, were just staring in shock, waiting to see what Voldemort would do, to this mudblood, who dared to speak against him.
"Miss Granger, you would do well to hold your tounge. True, I will not harm you, I know about the spell on you, but I don't know who cast it, so I won't kill you. Not now anyways. I'll leave that till later. And I can not force you to pledge allegiance to me, although that will make your life easier, and you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams."
"Sorry, but we'll pass," said Draco, speaking for the first time. He had been shocked into silence at Hermione's words, since no one EVER spoke back to Voldemort, and lived.
"Very well, have it your way. You may leave, that was all you were needed to for. You will be summoned in the future, so be prepared," said Voldemort, just as he and the other Death Eaters disappeared, leaving Hermione and Draco alone in the forest.
"Well, that was fun. I hope you don't make a habit of that!" yelled Draco.
"What? Talking back? We're under the life protection spell, and even if we weren't, I'd still do it, even if it meant being killed. At least I would've died knowing I stood up to that bloody ass-hole who worth less than the dirt on the bottom of my shoe! I didn't see you doing anything!" Screamed Hermione in reply.
The two of them continued their shouting match, unaware of the attention they were drawing from some creatures in the forest.
"What the hell am I doing standing around here for? I'm leaving." Said Hermione defiantly.
"Good riddance!" said Draco as he moved farther away from her.
On that last note, both of them started to disapparate, only to find, they couldn't.
"What the hell? Why can't we leave?" asked Hermione, who was still very angry looking.
"Voldemort probably placed wards on the forest so we can't disapparate. He wants us to have to walk home. It's probably only a few miles, so let's hurry up and go. And whether you want to or not, we're going together, we promised Dumbledore, and second of all, it's too dangerous for you to go by yourself, you couldn't handle everything in here."
"Whatever Malfoy, but I'll stay. But only because I promised Dumbledore."
And with that, the pair set off after doing a four point spell to see which direction East was. It was quickly found, and they continued on their way. Several hours later, they were still walking, and they were also silent. They knew that they wouldn't be able to stop fighting if they started, so they agreed to just 'keep their mouths shut.'
"How much farther do you think it is?" asked Hermione, who's feet were extremely tired from all the walking.
"Maybe a mile or so left, I think," replied Draco.
Only a few minutes passed when they paused at hearing a rustling in the undergrowth. They looked around, hoping it wouldn't be one of the horrible creatures they had learned so much about it Care of Magical Creatures. However, Lady Luck did not appear to be with them that day, as one of the most dreadful creatures imaginable suddenly appeared from under the brush.
Hermione took one look, her mouth opened in a silent scream, and froze, stiffer than if she had been petrified.
A/N: So, hee hee, I'm in an evil mood, I left a cliff-hanger for y'all. Don't ya just love me? Anyways, this chapter was 1,331 words long, yea! I know, it's not so long as the good writer's chapters are, but I'm working on it, so keep reading, and review if you want, and if ya don't that's cool too!
