Sorry I haven't been updating as much as I'd like. I really will try to finish this up quickly. Maybe 4 more chapters?
Don't own anything in the story, just the idea itself.
Entire thing is from Draco's POV.
Enjoy!
Chapter 4
Hide and Seek
The last few days of the school year was quite literally a blur. After much persuasion from Harry and Hermione, the four of us went to see Dumbledore. He was very pleased to hear my change of heart. He too agreed with Hermione's assessment that I needed to be hidden away from my father, and he even agreed with the hiding place. He told all of us that it would be as good as anyplace else right now. He also said that in a matter of weeks when the 'good' wizards started their retaliation, my father and Voldemort would have much larger things to worry about. After a few moments silence, Dumbledore told me that he would arrange for all of my professors to give me passing grades so that I could be considered an early graduate. I would then be taken by floo from Hogsmeade to the Weasley home. Dumbledore also asked that I take very little with me and to be selective about what I did take. He spoke of an older, less known spell that could be used almost as a 'homing beacon' to find someone who doesn't wish to be found. He said that my father or even Voldemort could have placed anything into any of my belongings without my knowing it. He said that even old parchments from my father could be used. He also asked that we sell my owl, as that could be used to find me.
Satisfied that there was nothing more that we could do, we left so that he could contact Arthur Weasley. None of us spoke for a long time. We ended up in the Gryffindor common room, all sitting around the fire. I knew that the rest of them should be studying for their exams. I got up, telling them that they should be studying, and I had some other things to do. We all knew the absolute secrecy that was needed here.
The other reason that I had to leave was so that I wouldn't see Hermione crying those tears that I knew she was trying not to shed. Knowing she would be comforted by her friends, I went to see what little of my things I would take.
As I was going through my things I received an owl from Dumbledore. In a very short, almost coded message I was told to be at his office immediately following dinner and to bring what I needed.
Into my bag, I packed a few letters and pictures from Hermione, a picture of my mother and me when I was very young, and all the money I had. I was afraid to take anything else. I didn't want to take what I did, but I knew that I would regret not taking those things. I would ask Dumbledore to hold them somewhere, so that maybe when everything was over and done with, I could return to Hogwarts and retrieve them. That was, if my father and Voldemort were defeated. I left my bed and my trunk looking like I would be returning later in the evening to sleep in my bed. I knew that there could be spies anywhere, even in my dorm. I really wanted to just drop off the face of the earth. Without a backward glance, I left and headed towards the Gryffindor common room. I needed to spend my last few hours with her. I knew it would be a while before we saw each other again.
The time quickly flew by. Before anyone knew it, it was dinnertime. Hermione and I picked at our food and Harry and Ron were unusually quiet. The rest of the school was a buzz with talk of exams and what people were going to do on vacation, and others talked about what they would do after graduation. I looked at Hermione who was sitting next to me. I reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She gave me a weak smile and squeezed back. I glanced up at the teachers table, and saw Dumbledore return my look. His head nodded ever so slightly and he turned his gaze elsewhere. When I knew that I wouldn't eat anymore, I turned at looked at Hermione. She knew exactly what I was thinking and went to stand up with me. Harry and Ron both gave me weak smiles.
Harry, in a voice loud enough for others to hear, said "We'll see you two later. We're going to head up to the Library in a bit."
I took Hermione's hand and we both walked out of the Great Hall. We both walked the maze of halls until we found the door to Dumbledore's office. Professor Snape was waiting for both of us. After looking around to make sure that no one had followed us, he ushered us up the winding staircase to Dumbledore's main office. We were only standing there for a few seconds when Dumbledore appeared. He looked at both of us, and then said to Hermione "You will have to stay here, Miss Granger. If we are to make this trip without attracting attention, it needs to be made with as few people as possible. Severus will escort him into Hogsmeade."
Hermione looked up at him, the tears streaming down her face. "I understand professor." She turned and looked at me, not bothering to hide it anymore. Seeing her cry made me cry and I pulled her close. I heard Dumbledore mumble something to Snape and all of a sudden they were not there. I smoothed her hair and told her "shhhhh. It'll be ok Herm. We'll be together again in few days."
"I know that." She sobbed. "I'm just so scared. What if your dad finds you?"
"He won't Herms. He won't find me. You heard Dumbledore. You still have four more days of school left. My dad won't notice until our last day of school, when I don't come home on the train. He's not going to know where to look first. And even if he starts to think of people I might be with, it's honestly the last place he's going to look. I'm gonna be fine. We're going to be fine." I calmed her and shushed her and held her as tight as I could. Her crying finally stopped and became hiccups after a while. I looked down at her face. She hadn't bothered to brush away the tears. I leaned down and kissed the corner of each eye, and then kissed her lips. The kiss was so gentle at first, but grew into something much more passionate. I took both of her hands and held them against my chest. I smiled at her, and she smiled back.
"I love you Hermione Granger."
The tears started again, as she replied "I love you too, Draco Malfoy." I stepped backwards, still holding her hands together.
I spoke into the room. "Okay professor, I'm ready." An instant later, both of them reappeared. Professor Dumbledore walked over until he was behind Hermione and placed and arm around her shoulder. She let go of my hands, and looked up the man. I looked into the old wizards face, and told him "Thank you sir. For everything. Please, make sure she's ok."
"Take care of yourself, young Draco. The next few years will be a trying time for all of us, but we all will survive."
I smiled one last time at Hermione and then turned to Professor Snape. He handed me a cloak and touched a brick on the wall behind him. A passage opened up, and I followed him inside. It wound for quite a while in the dark before we came to an incline, and then he stopped. He told me to put the cloak on, which I did. He explained to me that he often went to Hogsmeade, and would not be out of the ordinary, and the Headmaster might have attracted attention. He told me to stay close to him and not to make a sound, no matter what. We went through a trapdoor, and came out of a building I had never seen. Professor Snape made many twists and turns, taking me down what, at first glance appeared to be a dead end. He stopped at the end, tapped a brick with his wand and went the opening. I followed him inside.
The only thing in the room was a small bed, a table, and a fireplace. He told me I could take the cloak off, which I did. He handed me a small bag, which I knew was floo powder. I took it from him before handing him back the cloak. Without thinking, I reached into my bag and handed him my wand, knowing that it too could be traced back to me.
"Good Luck Draco. Be careful, and trust no one."
I reached into the bag, took out a pinch and threw it into the fire. "The Burrows" I said, before walking into the flame.
The next four days weren't nearly as boring as I thought they would be. It was uncomfortable at first, but we all seemed to adjust at about the same time. Percy, Fred and George had all moved out into their own places, so there was plenty of room for me. Molly gave me Percy's old room. She said it was the cleanest of them all. She showed me where she had put some of the old robes and other clothes that they had managed to gather up for me. I thanked her, and she left me there, to put my things away and get situated. It only took me a few minutes.
For the first time in my life, I was absolutely alone, and it frightened me. I had always had someone there to take care of me in some way or another. If it wasn't my parents, it was my nanny, or one of the maids. And if there wasn't anyone to do the things that I wanted done, I would use my name to fear them into doing whatever I asked. I wouldn't be able to do that anymore. I was no longer a Malfoy. I had the meager savings in my bag, no clothes and a few meager possessions.
Did I have any idea what I had just done? Yes. I had given it all up for the one thing that was more precious to me than life.
I went downstairs to see if Molly needed any help getting dinner ready. Not that I had any clue how to make dinner.
A/N - Hey, did I forget to tell you guys? I'm trying for a new record. So whatever you do, don't send feedback. J It makes me feel all warm and squishy and confident too.