Bound
By: Angel Of Music

Author's note and disclaimer: I apologize for the time it took to get this chapter out. I've been having some emotional difficulties that have slowed the process. But all is well now, so enjoy! On a happier note, my chapter title needs a disclaimer, because if you haven't already noticed, it is lyrics from a Greenday song entitled "Good Riddance." It fits with this chapter very well, and I give my thanks too Greenday whose lyrics (unfortunately) aren't mine. Thanks again for your patience.

Chapter Four: Tattoos of Memories


Silence. The feared item of devastation since the beginning of time. If two shared no contact, no salutations, no words, it was considered tense. It is ever so difficult to break silence peacefully, because it is so raw. Yet without silence, the world would not be the world. Mindful thought occurred in silence, as well as feelings that one would never project otherwise. Hermione thought it best to keep silent about Malfoy. But within her silence, so much more than a promise lingered.

She spun the dagger between her fingers, running a knuckle down it's blade. It pierced her flesh slightly, and she hissed as a bit of blood drooled out of her skin. She put it aside and nourished her wound with a flick of her wand. She sighed as she gazed thoughtfully at the attractive object, wondering why Malfoy had ever wanted to kill himself. His life seemed so...good. It was rumored, or course, that his father didn't treat him splendidly, but Hermione doubted this. That was to say, Lucius always got Draco what he wanted, didn't he? Then again, she contradicted, material possessions weren't everything. She exhaled thoughtfully, not able to take her eyes off of the dagger. For once, Malfoy had been right. She shouldn't have meddled in his affairs. She should have just let him die.

She stood and placed the dagger back in her pocket. If only she hadn't gone to the library that fateful night. It had been what bound her. On the other hand, however, Malfoy did owe her something. She'd never pictured Malfoy as being someone who was in debt to her. It was slightly humorous, actually, to think that she had something over him. Not quite knowing why, Hermione Granger smiled to herself.
* * *
Blaise hurried down the winding, spiral stairs from her dormitory and leaped into a squashy armchair next to Draco. Her hair was moist, and her cheeks were flushed. She grinned at his placid face and shook him awake. He grunted, then rubbed his eyes.

"I was sleeping, Blaise. God-" He focused his vision on her expression. Her chesnut hair was tangled about her face, making her look wild and mysterious. It stuck to her shoulders and neck in it's dampness, and wound down her back in an awkward, yet attractive tangle. Her eyes were wide and dark, and her lips were turned upward in the slightest smirk.

"You'll never guess who just turned up in my shower stall." Draco's face morphed into a questioning glare at this remark. Noticing his uplifted eyebrows, Blaise chuckled and exclaimed, "No, here- take a look." She reached into her robe pockets and slowly pulled out-

"Nagini!" Draco hissed, throwing an emerald pillow on top of the snake. "Blaise, if anyone should see..."

"You have become really paranoid." Blaise replied, pulling the pillow off of Nagini. "Remember what house you're in? Slytherin?" Draco shook his head.

"How did she get here?"

"Well, she really surprised me, you can imagine. Just taking an innocent shower, and when I open my eyes there's a snake curling out of the drain." She laughed. "I didn't know whether to be honoured or to shove her back down." Blaise looked up at Malfoy.

"She had a note attached to her. Addressed to you, actually." Draco, who was gazing down at his feet, snapped his head up.

"To me?" She handed the soggy letter to him.

"Sorry, it's a little...wet." Draco, prentending to laugh, took the letter from her. "I'll leave you to it." She gave him a limp, worrisome smile and left, slowly climbing back up the stairs to her dorm. Draco paused, took a deep breath, and opened the note.

Draco,
I sent this letter with Nagini, special permission for Lord Voldemort. I couldn't send it by owl, just in case it was intercepted. You know how I feel about security. Anyway, the first meeting is to be on December the Twenty-Fourth, and we are to dicuss the assasination of The Minister of Magic. We need you there, not only for the initiation, but to include your ideas and thoughts. I will meet you again on the highest astronomy tower at 7:00 pm, where we will take brooms into the forbidden forest, right on the boundary where Hogwarts's property ends. I will guide you. You must bring your broom and your wand. It is of the ut-most importance that you come. You know that I'll have to deal with you. Just get there, and I don't care how. Please send Nagini back down the pipe from which she came when you are through with her- I just hope she turned out in the right one. Be there, Draco, on December the Twenty-Fourth. Good day to you.
-Lucius.

Draco shuttered and sealed the letter back up, pocketing it. He massaged the bridge of his nose sparsely, waiting for Blaise to come back down. Nagini was slithering up his leg slowly, displaying to Draco her black and red skin. He had never seen a snake that had such a dark black and such a vibrant red on it. He idolized Nagini quickly, then tore her from his calve.

Blaise retreated down the stairs after about 3 or four minutes. She gave him a solemn gaze and shook her head. "Is everything alright, Draco?"

"Yeah." He lied, thrusting Nagini in Blaise's arms. "Put Nagini back down the drain. She'll find her way back, I suppose." Blaise nodded and took the snake, who tangled it's way up her forearm.

"Stoppit, Nagini." Blaise commanded, pulling down her sleeve as Nagini thrust it upward. "Damned snake." As she fought with the energetic reptile, trying desperately to pull it off of her arm, Draco caught a glimpse of something dark and resounding inscribed on her arm.

"Blaise, what is that?" He questioned shakily.

"N-nothing." She stuttered, throwing Nagini onto the ground and pulling her sleeve back down. He eyes darted to her shoes where the snake was winding happily. "It's nothing." She bent over quickly and hurled Nagini over her shoulder, making it hard for it to reach her arm. She coughed shortly, then turned to go back up the stairs. Draco, looking somber and curious, stepped up behind her and ripped her sleeve upward. She gasped and turned around. The dark mark. She gazed, wide eyed and speechless at him, as he placed a curled finger over his lips.

"Blaise-" But nothing came out. He just stared at her as she stood motionless and without words, with her beautiful auburn locks and deep red eyes, and held his breath. She bit her nail quickly, then threw her hand back down again. Draco, in awe and sheer disbelief, leaned over and kissed her.
* * *
"Christmas break!" Ron yelled happily, throwing his bag onto his shoulder. No more potions for three weeks!" Hermione nodded in agreement and ran a hand through her knotty hair.

"That doesn't mean no work, though." Harry replied sadly, pouting. "Snape piled loads of homework on us."

"I know." Ron droned. "I can't believe that we have to write a paper on the 101 uses for Toad Warts."

"It won't be so hard..." Hermione reassured them, although she knew that this was a downright lie. "I mean, I already know 84 of them. All I have to do is find 17 more, don't I? Now you two better get to the library soon."

"84, Hermione?" Ron said disbelievingly. "I don't even know 3."

"Well most of them are in '1000 Magical Herbs and Fungi.' Haven't you read it?"

"Yeah," Began Ron sarcastically. "Every last page." Hermione frowned and adjusted her bag.

"So," Said Harry, breaking the tension. "Can you wait until the feast?" Both Ron and Hermione shook their heads. "That's the spirit." Harry smiled. "Godric" He demanded as they approached the fat lady. She scoffed and swung open. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stepped inside, chucking their bags to the side as they entered. The common room was alive with lively conversation and laughter, displaying the perfect start-of-winter-break mood. The trio all shared a smile as Neville ran up to them and offered them a chocolate frog. Each accepted, and opened the package.

"Alright!" Screamed Ron. "I finally got Agrippa!" He smiled and shoved the card into his pocket, attempting to thrust the whole frog into his mouth. He dashed over to Neville and hugged him, showing him the card. Neville awkwardly grinned and gave Ron the 'thumbs up.'

The rest of the night went well, as Harry, Ron, and Hermione had anticipated. It almost made Hermione forget about Draco for a while. It almost freed her from worry. It almost diminished her dreads. Almost.
* * *
"When I was a child, maybe only two months of age, my parents taught me to be cruel. They brought me to Voldemort. They said that they wanted me to grow to be a death eater. Now as you know, when I was two months, Voldemort was still in power. He was stronger than ever. He gave me the initiation, and I became one of them. When he fell, my parents decided not to return to him, and they advised me to do the same. I hid from him in fear. I did not want to be part of his cult. No, I don't oppose it, because yes, Mudbloods don't deserve to be here, but I do not want to ruin my life because of a promise I never made. I never asked to be a death eater. But my mark still remains. Draco, you must understand."

Draco cupped his hands and placed his face in them. Blaise, his everlasting companion, had the dark mark, and he was sure to get it next. He had the same views as her, but there was no way to prevent himself from becoming a death eater. It was his fate. His destiny. His life. Her words ran through his mind. 'I do not want to ruin my life because of a promise I never made.' It was sort of funny that Blaise didn't know how much alike she and Draco were. It was almost as if THEY shared the bond. Malfoy wished that they did, instead of Granger. It was coming so soon, the day that Voldemort would find out that he was bound. A promise he'd never made. Draco shook his head. Without a word, he thrust the note into Blaise's palm. She opened it cautiously.

After a moment, she closed the letter and stared up at Draco. "So you agreed to become one." She whispered, as if already knowing this.

"Yeah." He replied curtly. "My father-"

"I know." She said, rubbing her eyes. "Your father." She stood and gently handed the letter back to him, her hands trembling slightly. Draco wanted to retort, but found no words. She turned around and pulled her sleeve back down, hiding the cursed mark. "Don't worry." She exclaimed quietly, heading back up the stairs.
* * *