A/N: I'm back! Sorry for the long update… school and all that. Anyway, same as always, this chapters contains Wiccan elements, which have been altered to fit the storyline. What I say about Wicca here isn't exactly true… Well, hope you have fun reading… Here it is! More nonsense blabbering below! Take care now!
Chapter 6
Reunion with the Dementors
Hermione's eyes slowly fluttered open. Sunlight had gained access inside the room through the windows and it shined upon her naked body. She was still lying on the bed, one hand on the turquoise pendant which rested on her breast. She had a peaceful sleep, although it was only more or less a couple of hours. No nightmares and no dreams.
"Good morning, angel," A deep voice entered her ears and she smiled. She looked at Draco who had summoned a chair from somewhere and sat himself beside the bed, watching Hermione intently as she awoke from her deep slumber. He was already dressed, and his mouth curved into a smirk. "Finally, you're awake."
Hermione slowly got up and settled herself on Draco's lap, her naked body rubbing against his soft clothes. He brushed her brown locks away and kissed her softly on the neck, which made Hermione cuddle closer to him.
They remained like that for a while, words unexchanged as they held each other in their arms. Finally, Hermione spoke. "We have to get going," she said, and released herself from Draco's arms and started to get her black dress from last night.
"You're right." Draco nodded, getting up from the chair to help Hermione dress. "We still have to figure out a way to get to my sister and stop her before it's too late."
"Well, I already have an idea," Hermione said. She grabbed hold of her hair and held it up while Draco was slowly zipping up her black dress. "We're gonna need Harry and Ron's help."
The zipper stopped midway on Hermione's body. She looked up to see Draco looking at her with an eyebrow raised. "I don't need Potthead and Weasel's help. I don't need anything from them."
Hermione sighed exasperatedly. "Why do you think it's always about you?" she asked as she zipped herself up. She walked on the other side of the room where her shoes were and started putting them on. "This is far beyond the fights we've always had with each other. The whole Wizarding world is at stake unless we make amends!"
Draco shook his head in disbelief. There was no way he was going to tell the Dynamic Duo any of his secrets. And the thought of them working together! This is all Hermione's fault… If she hadn't been so damned beautiful and smart and funny…
His thoughts ceased as Hermione went up to him fully dressed. She stood on her toes and planted a soft kiss on Draco's lips. "Come on, Draco, for me?" she said, filling his ears with the sweetest voice he's ever heard. "Please?"
Draco looked at her puppy eyes and the pouting mouth. He gave up. "If I find out you put a spell on me to make me so crazy about you, you're dead." He told her as a smile escaped from Hermione's lips.
* * *
Ron awoke from his bed, a mass of sheets and pillows tangled in his legs. It was still pretty early, but the sun was up. He had a feeling he was the first one to rise in Gryffindor. They probably still had their hang over. He slipped on his slippers and decided to take a brisk cold shower to make him fully awake. Besides, he couldn't go back to sleep anyway. He had entered the Gryffindor common room when he was startled to see Harry, still in his flannel pants with big dark circles around both of his eyes, which were wide open.
Ron took a few steps back. "Jesus, Harry, you look like shit."
Harry turned around to look at his friend. "I thought you were just gonna change?"
Ron blinked. He forgot about that. A few hours ago, after Goyle's dramatic exit and a bunch of unanswered questions, Ron had told Harry that he was just going to change to his pajamas, but he was too damned tired. "Oh. Sorry… I kinda fell asleep."
"It's okay. I took guard while you were sleeping. She still hasn't come back yet."
You took guard the whole night, Ron thought as he looked at his poor friend. Harry looked like he hadn't changed his position. He was still sitting on the couch, arms relaxing upon the armrest, although they must have grown numb already. His eyes were fixated on the doors of the Common Room. It was as if nothing was stopping him from being that way even if a Hungarian Horntail managed to fit itself inside the Gryffindor Dormitories.
But then he slowly stood up. The door of the Gryffindor Tower creaked open, revealing Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy staring right back at them, who were both still wearing the same clothes from last night. Hermione immediately ran to fling her arms around Ron's neck while Draco simply smirked as he caught sight of Harry. "Jesus, Potter, you look like shit."
Harry fully got up and shoved Malfoy hard in the chest and the Ferret Boy lost his balance. "You shut the fuck up, asshole!" He didn't understand it. His pride had sunk the moment he saw Hermione and Malfoy together, holding hands outside the common room. He went up to Hermione and forcefully grabbed her wrists.
"Ow! Harry!"
"Where were you last night?" Harry asked, voice filled with anger and jealousy. "Where were you?" he repeated louder this time.
"I-I was with Draco…" Hermione slightly winced in pain. "Please, let me explain—"
"And you didn't even bother to owl us?" Harry shook Hermione violently, and she whimpered. Tears were welling up in her eyes, but for the first time, he felt no sympathy towards her. "We were worried sick about you!"
"Harry, what the hell's gotten into you?" Ron was alarmed at the sudden change of his best friend.
"Did you know I freakin' waited for you the whole night?" He continued to grip Hermione tighter than ever, blocking the blood from going in her hands. Hermione swore there were bruises already.
"Harry, you're hurting me!" she cried out, just in time for Malfoy to regain his balance and pushed Potter to the wall. His arms pinned Harry on his bare chest. Ron had caught Hermione and was comforting her while each boy glared at each other, gray versus green. "You touch Hermione like that again, I swear I'm going to kill you," Draco threatened.
"Who the hell do you think you are, talking like that," Harry spat at him. "She's not yours."
"And neither is she yours," Draco returned, gritting his teeth.
"Break it up, you two!" Ron suddenly pushed himself between his enemy and his friend. He was towering above them both, and he was trying to hold them back. "Hermione has something to say, alright? Harry, you know I want to punch Draco in the nose as much as you do, but now is not the right time. So you guys, just cool it." He let go of them both when their hearts began to beat normally again.
When Ron had released him, all the realizations flooded into Harry's mind. He was still panting heavily. From the edge of his eyes he could see Hermione trembling. What has he done to her? He turned around and stepped towards her. "Hermione… I…" Harry began. He couldn't believe at himself for acting like such a bastard. This isn't me, he thought.
"I-I-It's okay, Harry, you don't have to." Hermione brushed a tear from her cheek and smiled at her friend. She was slightly shaking, but she reached out to hug him, despite the pain on her wrists. Harry had never felt so guilty before. "I understand. Friends?"
He gently pulled away from her and kissed her on the forehead. "Friends."
Draco observed all this with his eyes clouding with hatred. The four of them sat down on the biggest couch with Draco and Harry on either end.
After rubbing her wrists gingerly, Hermione began her story, from the beginning when Goyle had put the charmed stone inside Malfoy's robes and how he had mistakenly brought them back to Covencraft instead of somewhere else. She also told them of Draco's sister, Phoenix, and her evil plots during which Draco kept silent. Both Harry and Ron nodded their heads at the right times, and asked questions that were important, not insignificant. Draco observed the Golden Trio, realizing this was how they looked like when they were on the verge of solving on of Hogwarts' mysteries. It was after this that Ron began telling their encounter with Goyle, how he had disguised himself to look like Harry and how he had vanished right in front of their noses. After Hermione's sudden screech at the revelation, they were silent, putting together the pieces of the puzzle. It was extremely quiet and you could practically hear the wheels inside their foreheads turning. One by one, the lightbulbs over each of their heads turned on.
"So Malfoy has an evil twin…" Ron.
"Who's gonna gill him and raise Voldemort from the dead…" Hermione.
"Crabbe and Phoenix are working together…" Draco.
"And probably trigger another war…" Harry.
"So we've got to stop it before it's too late!" Hermione exclaimed, jumping up from the couch.
All three boys looked up at her. "And how are we supposed to do that?" Harry asked her.
Her eyes twinkled and she gasped. "Dumbledore…" (A/N: sort of like Elle Woods' "… a law student…" in Legally Blonde… hehe)
"Wait a minute." Ron said, holding his palms up. "Are you telling saying we're gonna risk our asses to get to Azkaban?"
"Whoa! Wait a second." Draco raised his voice. "Dumbledore's in Azkaban?"
"He got in there because he killed Voldemort and fired an Unforgivable to another wizard. Some stupid law by that Cornelius Fudge son a bitch." Harry explained, not really answering Draco but talking to himself.
"Well, yeah!" Hermione couldn't believe it. Another adventure. "Dumbledore's quarters have no dementors, right?"
"But Hermione, you're just talking about Dumbledore's place." Harry argued. "Everywhere else, it's filled with those life sucking bastards."
"Yeah! Children under eighteen are not aloud to enter, plus, we don't know where it is!" Ron agreed.
"I do," Draco pointed out, showing no traces of emotions in his face. Children under eighteen were allowed, as long as another guardian was there, and it was a one to one ratio. He had less that frequently visited his father with his most trustworthy butler, Grendlow, , mostly for business matters, and Merlin knows what state he had to go through everytime he was inside Azkaban.
Hermione turned to give her a comforting smile. "So that's it then. We're going to Dumbledore for help, and see what happens next!"
"Ooh…" Ron teased, playfully tugging Hermione's hair. "Our dear sweet Hermione's breaking school rules again… I wonder how long this transformation's going to last?"
She hit him in the head. "Not long, I promise you. We're just going to change, get everything we need, and meet you out on the Quidditch Field—"
"I'm not coming." A dead voice interrupted Hermione.
Both of his friends sharply turned their head around. "What?" Ron and Hermione exclaimed, not sure if they heard right. Draco eyes quickly moved to look at Harry. This should be interesting.
"I said I'm not coming." Harry rose from the couch and walked up to the other side of the room. "I'm not going to save the world with you this time… Especially with him around," he was referring to Draco, who was smirking at him. He feigned a reassuring wink at his best friend. "I'm sure you'll do fine without me."
"Harry, come off it!" Ron was beginning to get annoyed by his best friends' immature antics. Harry Potter isn't supposed to be like this. "We can't do this without you!"
"Don't be stupid." Harry replied, nodding his head towards Malfoy. "I'm sure he's got your back covered."
"You're overreacting, Pothead!" Draco rolled his eyes at him. "Don't get so dramatic with us. Do you want us to beg you to grace us with your presence and bravery all the time?"
"Be quiet Draco!" Hermione hissed, nudging Draco in the ribs. She turned to look at Harry straight in the eyes. "Harry, come on, we need you." She tried to read is expression, trying to find any clue as to what was going on to her friend.
But Harry knows a thing or two about acting. About hiding his feelings. Now she's calling him Draco, he thought. "No you don't," he told Hermione, and looked at them for the last time. "I just can't." Bear to see you with him, he finished to himself, before disappearing to the comforts of the boys' dormitories.
The three of them were left open-mouthed. While they stood there, disbelieving what had just happened, they didn't notice a wild haired Gryffindor with glasses bigger than her head furiously scribbling on her parchment, trying to listen to every word they said…
* * *
After an incredibly fast shower and the hastiest packing anyone has ever done, Hermione went down the Quidditch field, surprised to see Draco and Ron not talking each other. Both were wearing simple jeans, with Ron sporting a white shirt. Draco went for dark jeans and a black Armani. They each carried their bags on their backs, with Draco holding his Polaris S Type and Ron, his Nimbus 2000. (He had gotten it on sale after six years and bought it with all the money has saved.)
Hermione grinned at them. "Glad to see you're not insulting each other's asses."
Draco smirked at her. That's because you just missed it, Draco thought. Around twenty minutes ago, Draco had walked up to Weasley when the fire-haired boy asked irritably why he needed to put gel in his hair everyday. "You already look ugly either way," Ron had said. Draco retorted by saying that he was just jealous that he looked prettier than him, which resulted to a brief throw off of different insults and condescending words, filled with such rich imagination. They had shut up the moment they saw Hermione's figure emerge on the field.
She was breathtaking. She too was wearing jeans which was low waist with sneakers, but she was wearing a red spaghetti tank top. Her hair hung loosely on her back and she was a casual goddess.
"Is Harry going to come with us?" She asked both of them. She didn't really want to leave without him.
Draco shrugged while Ron spoke. "I think his mind's pretty made up."
"Well, why don't we stay a bit longer?" Hermione offered. "We could wait for him."
"You know we're just going to waste our time," Draco replied, patting her hair. If truth be told he really didn't want Potter to be there. He didn't understand why Hermione was making such a fuss about it. He could save her. He could be her hero if she wanted to. "If Potter doesn't want to come, then let him."
She craned her neck to look at the high windows of the Gryffindor Tower and sighed. Somewhere inside, Harry was contemplating on his actions. Maybe Draco was right. It's his decision after all, she thought.
"So you're sure you know the way to Azkaban," Ron looked at Malfoy.
"Yes, Weasley, just as I had said for the hundredth time," Draco replied, mounting on his broomstick. The Polaris glistened with the newly polished stalk. "Fly northward of here then when we get close to Lake Maleficas we turn left. It's pretty easy, just follow me."
Ron raised his eyebrows. "Lake Maleficas?"
Draco imaginarily slapped him in the face. "The lake that looks like the horns of a bull? Hello?" Any pureblooded wizard should know about, even for ones at the bottom of the class chain.
"Oh, that lake," Ron replied, smiling to himself. "My brothers call it the Lake Bitch."
It was Draco's turn to raise his eyebrow.
"Well, coz it looked more like a woman's uterus!" Ron explained, before falling into fits of laughter. Even Hermione was stifling a giggle.
Draco's facial expression was blank. "Wow. You're so funny Weasley. You crack me up. Honestly."
He pushed his feet on the ground and immediately he was above the earth, succumbing to the broom's offer of release. After wiping away a tear of joy, Ron followed suit. Both boys were gliding in the air, with Draco's grace and Ron's swiftness, with the ground below them gone unnoticed. Each boy was in his own world when Hermione cleared her throat.
"Ahem."
Both boys stopped in mid-air, opened their eyes and looked down, where Hermione had put her hands on her hips and was tapping her left foot like crazy. "I can't fly, remember?"
Ron stared at his friend. "Don't be silly Hermione," he said. "No one can."
"I meant on broom," she said flatly.
Draco chuckled softly and smirked at Hermione before tilting his broom lower. He hovered about the ground low enough for Hermione to climb aboard. "Come on," he said, and helped her as she threw her leg on the other side and sat in front of Draco. "Now relax…" he said softly as he gently pushed Hermione to lean on her back on Draco's chest. "And let me do the rest…" She shrieked a little as they soared once more in the air.
* * *
Gregory Goyle had been avoiding Gryffindor Tower all day long. The meeting with Phoenix last night ended longer than he had expected. Luckily, she had enough kindness in her heart to transport Goyle back to the Slytherin Dungeons, right inside his room with Malfoy and Crabbe, although the rich stuck-up blonde prick was nowhere to be found. He had enjoyed a good couple of hours of sleep when his hunger kicked in and decided to go upstairs and eat some English muffins up at the Great Hall. Crabbe was still snoring wretchedly in his sleep.
He walked briskly, once in a while looking at his back to check if anyone of the Golden Trio was sneaking up behind him and strangle him to death. He ignored the little first years who eyed him cautiously, and kept a great distance from him. He reached his destination, which was usually packed with students from all four houses and ran for the Slytherin Table. He was surprised to see a copy of the Hogwarts Forum on his place with the most dreaded picture on the front page.
GRYFFINDOR THREE & SLYHTERIN TRY TO SAVE THE WORLD… BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE AND WE ALL DIE! By: Magda Skeeter.
Goyle stared at the four moving figures, which were walking around what seemed to be the Gryffindor Common Room, closing and opening their mouths in argument. He didn't need to see the rest of the article to know what was going on. All he needed to do was to look at the word AZKABAN in the first sentence before cautiously lifting his head to look at the Gryffindor side of the Hall. His goddess wasn't there, Poorman Weasley wasn't there as well, and the Amazing Scarhead was gone. He had heard a rumor last time that the old man Dumbledore was sent in that prison, but he didn't know it was true.
"Well, it's all thanks to my glasses, you see," He heard Skeeter's croaky voice somewhere. "It doubles as a camera. Too bad my ears aren't well. I just heard enough to finish the story. Everything else is made up."
"No, no no! It's impossible!" Pansy. "Draco, with that Granger filth… WAAAHH!!"
Goyle's head was spinning in circles. They found out. They've gone to Dumbledore for help. I've got to do something. But what? I know… I'll talk to Phoenix! That's right! I've got to tell Phoenix, tell her what happened… I've got to… got to… to…But Goyle's mind ceased to work as the fresh aroma of the breakfast table entered his nose, filling his stomach, and making him weak and vulnerable. Well, maybe after a dozen pancakes first… and a pound of bacon, at least…
* * *
Hermione was in cloud nine. She was wrapped around a silver haired fallen angel, and they were a thousand feet in the air. Hermione had never known such freedom and liberty in all her life. The warm cold air pierced her skin gently, and her hair blew in the wind (much to Draco's annoyance. He couldn't see because it kept hitting him in the face.) A little while back, Ron and Draco had resorted to yet another egotistic-testosterone contest to see who was the better flyer. Ron had gained much of the advantage until Draco pulled off a neat somersault, followed by a swift drop and another 360 degrees in the air. It had looked pretty darn wicked but unfortunately, Hermione, who was new with flying, was there too. So after her disgraceful event of 'discarding her undigested food' a hundred feet above England (of which they had sworn their soul not tell anyone except Harry when they got back), they had turned quiet and civil again.
Both boys were flying side by side when Ron suddenly pointed at a huge lake beneath them, sparkling like a thousand diamonds floated on it. "Hey! I can see the Uterus already!"
Hermione looked down on it, not realizing her grip had tightened on Draco's arm which was wrapped around her. "It's big…" And probably deep, she thought. She didn't want to fall down there.
"It's a bull Weasley," Draco called out to Ron, who was flying a little ahead of them. "It's a fuckin' bull."
Ron laughed, seeing Malfoy's annoyance. "Whatever. We must be getting closer, right?"
"Duh," Draco muttered under his breath. "Just follow me and fly low."
"Why?" Ron asked. "There are trees down there, we could get hurt!"
"Well go ahead then, if you want the Dementors to spot you with their telescopic windows. I'm flyin' low." Draco replied.
He held Hermione tighter in the waist as he plummeted down into the thick forest which surrounded the lake. Weasley was behind him, following his every move. It was a lot darker, since the sun's light could not penetrate through the thick branches which seem to connect the trees, making them one. Malfoy avoided them with such precision and accuracy Hermione wondered why he kept loosing to Harry in Quidditch. Ron on the other hand had made the mistake of tailing him. He wasn't as graceful as Draco, and he kept getting hit by the twigs. "Ow… Ow! Damnit… Shit… Fuck! Aurgh…"
"Tell me again why we need to go through this and not just fly above." Hermione called out to Draco amidst Ron's shouts.
Draco whispered in her ear, his hot breath tickling Hermione. "Oh, no reason. I made up those telescoping windows. Just wanted to torture the poor Weasel."
She rolled her eyes. These two boys were hopeless. Hermione's heart was beating rapidly. This was it. No turning back now. Hopefully, Dumbledore will know what to do about their dilemma, assuming they can get past the dementor's kiss. So in short we're dead, Hermione thought to herself.
Almost immediately a dark castle appeared through the clearing of the forest. Despite the sun's radiance, the castle stood out, as if a huge forcefield was blocking out the rays, as if one touch on the castle wall was enough to make it crumble to the ground. Dark clouds were forming above it, and a huge gate was engraved with the words AZKABAN PRISON in big brass letters. Somewhere inside, someone was screaming an unearthly scream.
"Well, here we are, folks," Draco said, slowly halting his Polaris in mid air. They were situated a few hundred feet away from it. "Azkaban."
Hermione looked up at the old castle, fear reaching the back of her neck. Ron, who hovered beside them with little scratches on his arms took a deep breath. "How are we going to find Dumbledore here?"
Draco had been waiting for that question. "We go around it," he said, eyes not letting go of the prison. "I heard something about "an extra room" at the other side of the prison last time I visited my… father. But we have to fly high this time. Dementors can't fly, but their ears and their minds are pretty strong. They can sense happiness immediately, especially here when we're surround by fear and sorrow. I've read about it in Azkaban: A History."
Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrow at Draco. "Really?" She eyed him suspiciously.
Draco sneered at her, reading her mind. "Really." He paused, brushing his hair away from his eyes, which was fallen once more. "Guess we'll have to get rid of our Happy Thoughts for a while."
Hermione's mouth spread into a thin smile as Draco's words registered in her brain. "You're absolutely right!" She said and suddenly made a gesture to her fire-haired friend. "Ron, come close… Here… right there… Okay… Hold on a sec…"
"Hermione? What the—"
"Trust me… there…"
"Ow! Not there… Wait… What the…"
"Whoops… got it... there... Ah… Got it!" Hermione breathed triumphantly. With as much effort as she can, she managed to ride on Ron's Nimbus 2000 alone, while her friend and Draco shared on his Polaris. She could clearly see that no Happy Thoughts were inside the boys' head. She made Ron reach out to have a better hold of his broom, to guide Hermione to fly.
"I hate you." Draco pouted at Hermione.
"Me too." Ron said. He looked behind him, at Draco. "You're lucky that Skeeter bitch isn't here to take a picture of your homosexual ass!"
"Shut up Weasley." Draco spat back. "You're the one who's lucky, you get to brush your filthy skin on a Malfoy Body. You should be worshipping me by now."
"Guys, give it a break already!" Hermione hissed at them. "We're wasting time! You're obviously pissed off right now, and I'm scaring the shit out of myself for putting my ass on a stick with straw hair! No dementors can track us now, so could we please just go?"
"It's called a broom… hello?" Ron said, rolling his eyes before all of them bolted up in the sky.
* * *
Goyle glanced around once more before entering the deserted Potions classroom. Since it was the weekend, students were either outside on the school grounds or inside their dormitories, enjoying the freedom ahead of them. The teachers were probably still in their quarters, catching up on their sleep, except for dear old Professor Lickorpuss, who was out on the fields wearing a red bikini getting himself a tan. (Seriously.) Goyle got inside, stepped on the cold stony floor and locked the door behind him. "Silencio," he muttered before puling out a tiny silver gadget out of his robes. It was a gift, given to him by Phoenix, and what was it called again? A cellphone, as he had remembered. It worked like a fellytone which muggles use to communicate to each other in real time, although this one could be gained access anywhere. With his finger, he pressed the number one on the keypad long enough to see Phoenix name appear on the tiny blue screen, which was on speed dial. That was his cue to put the interesting contraption over his ear.
"Mmf.. Goyle?"
"Yes, it's me. Something's up."
"What? Why? What's wrong?"
"It's Malfoy, I mean Draco. I think he's coming to get you."
A pause. "Mmm… I see."
Goyle could tell she was smirking on the other line. "He's not alone. He's got three other friends with him." If you can call them friends, he thought.
Phoenix laughed out loud. "You seriously think I'm afraid of that? A bunch of wizards with a stupid stick to use magic with," she snickered.
Goyle kept silent. She obviously didn't know what the Golden Trio were capable of doing. Now that they were with Draco's stubbornness and knowledge in the dark arts, he wasn't sure they'd stand a chance. Goyle, you dingbat, he shook his head. You're with the Dark Lord, remember? "So what are we going to do about it?" he finally asked.
"They are going to make this easier for us," she replied. "Let them come. Save us the trouble of looking for them. We'll hit them when they're close enough."
Goyle nodded his head. His stomach had started to grumble and was telling him to feed himself again. "Okay," he said. Since Phoenix wasn't making such a fuss about it, there was no reason for him to be nervous. "Then I'll just call you again when something comes up," he told her before pressing the tiny red button, ending the conversation. "Time to eat again," he said to himself. After just eating half an hour earlier, his conscience told him, only landing in deaf ears.
* * *
Albus Dumbledore fed his phoenix, Fawkes, his last lemon square. Its red silky feathers glistened, contrasting with his quarter's all-white design. Fawkes gave his master a little appreciative bow, and Dumbledore returned the courtesy. It was sad to see an evil young woman named after such a great being. He gathered his white robes that was gliding along the floor and made his way to his study-table. It was white as well, with beautifully carved designs at the edges and legs of the table. His long aged finger ran across a series of books that were stocked on a shelf above him and took a heavily covered book called Radiesthesia. It was a book on a certain Divination methodology, which uses a pendulum to learn the secrets of our fates. His blue eyes gazed upon the diagrams and spells of the book through his half-moon spectacles, but his all-knowing mind wasn't really there. His thoughts seemed to have gotten into him. He knew for a fact that the war was definitely not over yet. There were still things to come, and it was uncertain of how it would all end.
He sighed and placed the book back on the shelf. He was wondering how Hogwarts has been since he had appointed his brother as the new Headmaster. He felt bad about lying about his absence, but he had to do it for the children. So more of them could study well without having their parents worry about having a criminal for a Headmaster. He chuckled to himself as he remembered how his brother had pushed him into hiring Professor Moby Lickorpuss. The Hogwarts Faculty was diverse, all right, but he had said that what Moby taught was useful.
There was a bigger danger awaiting one of his students, he knew that. He was glad that the student had finally seen the light. No. Draco Malfoy had always known the light, but he has, at last, surrendered to it. The four of them will achieve greater things together, if only they know. Wisdom, Courage, Compassion and Will… Yes, they will accomplish a lot together, as one. A gentle breeze swayed into his quarter, as his big window was open to let the sunshine in. It had a certain smell of mind, strength and passion, and although it was lacking one more scent, he was almost sure who had decided to pay him a visit. After a thump, a bang and swoosh, voices began to bark at each other.
"Shh! Be quiet!"
"Now if this is some sort of trap…"
"Be careful, I don't want to fall…"
"I swear I'm gonna kill you…"
"I said be quiet!"
"Hush, children. Come inside."
The voice suddenly stopped as Dumbledore's own boomed across his quarter, with his back facing the three surprised young adults. He slowly turned around and extended his arms as Ron and Hermione jumped off their brooms and rushed forward to give a big embrace to the man who had done so much to them, and vice versa.
"Mr. Weasley! Ms. Granger!"
"Professor!"
Draco Malfoy unhurriedly climbed off his broom, and let it lean on the massive window pane. He let the little family love show continue in front of him, unintentionally filling himself with envy. Why had he gotten himself into this? He stood by the window, hands inside his pocket, letting his silver blonde bangs fall into his eyes, not letting anyone see how his eyes showed his real emotion. He was blocking the sun's light, and it sent different shadows in Dumbledore's room.
Albus felt the shadows and soon released himself from the embrace which he had been dying to receive. His eyes turned to Draco, who was standing with a scowl on his face. "Mr. Malfoy," he greeted with a smile.
"Professor, sir," Malfoy replied, nodding his head in his direction.
"Come here, sit with us, we have no time to lose." He made a gesture with his hand for Draco to move towards him, and Draco obeyed him. Soon all three of them sat on a couch, eating toasts and drinking coffee (they forgot they haven't eaten yet) and listened to every word Dumbledore told them.
"The Temple of the Dragon is becoming very strong indeed, and who knows what things they are capable of doing. Our magic is not enough to stop them, so we must play by their rules as well." He paused as he took another book out of his shelf.
Hermione marveled at the old man who stood in front of them. It was not a surprise to her anymore how Dumbledore knew things. He had his ways of acquiring necessary information, and she would let whatever that method is to be a secret. "I know what they are practicing," she told the original Headmaster. "Wicca. I remember some teenagers in our neighborhood who practice them. It's dark. It's some occult, new age stuff, and they use magic without wands. It takes a lot of practice and some say that they are guided by gods and goddesses."
Dumbledore nodded his head. "That's correct, Ms. Granger." He showed the three of them a large book, almost crumbling in age, and handed it to them. "That is a Wiccan book. Phoenix is going to resurrect Voldemort, and she could go on raising other dark lords from the dead. It is up to you stop her and get rid of her powers."
"But how are we going to do that?" Ron asked between bites.
"It's all in there. You'll know what to do. I believe in you." Dumbledore smiled at each of them. "Just remember. You have to know exactly who you are, and only then will you be able to attain your gifts."
Draco looked down on the book which was now in his hand and looked at the cover. It was plain black, with the book's title embroidered in fine golden threads. The Craft Underground: The Laws of Ardeynes. He ran his fingers over it. A book that can increase his Wizarding level. Soon, his wand wouldn't be valuable anymore. Imagine what a wizard could do with it.
"Where is Mr. Potter?"
Draco's head shot up as Dumbledore's voice awakened him from his greedy dreams, which of course, he hasn't realized.
"I'm afraid he's decided not to come with us." Hermione answered him, eyes cast upon the white marble floor of his quarter.
"Ah…" Dumbledore replied. "He'll be back."
But then the doors suddenly sprang open as two figures, differently dressed compared to one another, ran forward. "Professor Dumbledore! The children! They've all gone! They're coming here, they could be in danger!"
Professors Lickorpuss and Snape had paid him a visit as well. Ron immediately looked paler than the usual.
"Relax, Moby, they're safe with me," Dumbledore told him. "For the time being, that is."
Snape stepped towards Draco. "Mr. Malfoy, what has come into your mind and made you break a dozen school rules with these… these Gryffindors?"
Dumbledore answered for him. He was certain Draco could not answer that question for himself. "He's with them to do an errand for me, as well as for the whole Wizarding world."
The two professors looked at the Headmaster questioningly. "I'll explain everything to you later." Dumbledore said. "Right now, I'm afraid Ron, Hermione and Mr. Malfoy here have to eat and fly."
Snape shook his head. "Impossible. The dementors have started their usual sky-checking. The children wont stand a chance against them."
"There is a little office below where they could use the Floo Network," Lickorpuss offered. "Mr. Fudge uses it when he pays Azkaban a visit. We could hide the children until we reach that room."
Dumbledore smiled. "Good thinking, Moby. But how exactly are we going to hide the children."
Draco's eyebrows curved upward. He was sick of being called one of the children. "My invisibility cloak."
* * *
After packing food inside their bags and saying their goodbyes and expressing their gratitude to Professor Dumbledore, the five of them had so far, successfully climbed down to the fourth floor. Three more flights to go and they were free, but they were having a hard time. Since they only had a single cloak to conceal the three students, not to mention a couple of brooms, everything had to be perfect. They stepped simultaneously, trying not to make any sudden movements and sounds. It wasn't until they reached a certain cell when things started to go wrong.
A fancy letter "M" was magically embedded on the walls around the bars, and the person behind it was laughing.
" I smell the blood of my heir…" he laughed and evil laugh that seemed to bounce back and forth to the stone walls and floor. "And with a mudblood! A disgrace! A disgrace to the Malfoy Pride!"
Draco stopped dead in his tracks. His blood was boiling inside and his chest was heaving up and down. Hermione tried to calm him. "Don't let it get to you, Draco. We're almost out of here. Don't listen to him."
But the sinister man behind the bars continued to speak. "My son, the Dragon, a disgrace! I have no son! He is dead to me now!"
"Malfoy, come on, just keep walking, he doesn't see us." Ron was tugging Draco's shirt. At this, Draco continued walking, putting one foot in front of the other when Professor Lickorpuss pink high heels got in the way. He accidentally stepped on the Invisibility cloak and a loud RRRIIIIIP echoed through the walls, sending Ron, Hermione and Draco seen with the naked eye once more. Snape and Lickorpuss stood in shock.
Lucius Malfoy's lips turned into a sneer as his son appeared in front of his eyes. "Draco." He muttered the name slowly as if teasing his son. "You are not supposed to be here…"
Draco stared into his father's eyes. Both Malfoys stood there, killing each other with their gazes. "You scream, father, and I will personally make sure your stay in Azkaban will double in lifetime."
Lucius glared at his once pride and glory. "A threat, I see. It's good to know you still inherited some of the Malfoy Traditions in you." He looked at him, with that mudblood Granger holding his left arm. "You're a disgrace, Draco, you're not my son anymore."
Draco's face remained blank and emotionless. "I had no father to begin with."
Lucius scorned at this. His lips formed into an evil grin once more as he opened his mouth and screamed with all his might. "DEMENTORS! THERE ARE CHILDREN HERE! DEMENTORS! GET THEM QUICK! GET THEM!"
Snape immediately pushed Draco towards the nearest exit. "Run, you fools!"
And all hell went lose. Lickorpuss screamed a high pitched scream as Dementors suddenly appeared out of nowhere, their tall dark frame enveloping the walls of the castle in a black sea. They left the two professors alone, who had embraced each other, and went for the children. The three of them were running towards the biggest window, running as fast as their feet could carry them.
"We're not going to make it!" Hermione yelled, her chest screaming in pain, and she was panting heavily.
"Yes we are!" Draco persisted and grabbed Hermione's hand to make her run faster, while Ron's longer legs gave him an advantage of being ahead of them. "Come on!" he shouted at them.
But they almost made it. A dementor had already closed the few feet gap between them and was now closing in on the three. Another was right behind him.
"Oh shit!" Hermione gasped. She remembered fifth year as Harry tried to teach her and her friends the Patronus. Okay, happy thoughts, happy thoughts… She closed her eyes shut as she tried to visualize all the fun times she had with Harry and Ron at the Burrow. "Expecto Patronum!" she managed to croak, but it left her defenseless. Draco and Ron were down on their knees, going crazy from the overwhelming sorrow that reached their hearts. It was tearing them apart. Hermione started to feel weak as a dementor's cold bony had cupped her face and tilted in, close enough to gain access of her lips. The Dementor's Kiss… This is it… I'm gonna die…
"Expecto Patronum!"
Somebody with such a familiar voice yelled, and a silver white stag suddenly appeared. It threw the dementor on the other side of the hall with his horns, and galloped towards Ron and Draco's Dementor, and did the same to him. He knocked over a few dementor's who were getting close to them, and it gave them a few precious seconds. The boy who had cast the Patronus went to the boys and shoved a chocolate frog into their mouths and soon regained some of their strength. Hermione couldn't see quite clearly. She was carried off in the boy's arms and she realized that she was mounted on a broom, with the boy wrapping his arms around her. She saw a vague outline of a messy hair, and the most brilliant green eyes anyone can ever lay eyes on. The dementors were once again on their feet and they began to move faster. All four of them were on their brooms as they went nearer to the window, and Hermione braced herself as they crashed into it, breaking the glass into a tiny thousand pieces, and they were once again in the air. Somehow, the broom Hermione was riding on had a magical rope connected to the Polaris and the Nimbus, and they managed to outfly the Dementors on their brooms who had been sky-checking in full speed. They were free again.
"Harry?" was all Hermione could ask as she was regaining her strength.
The brilliant green eyes glimmered as the boy who saved her from the dementor's kiss smiled at her. "Thought I'd let you have all the fun, didn't you? Yeah, it's me."
TBC
Author's notes: Well, what do you think?!
Serpent du Feu: Well, I wish I can make them shag more often, but I want a story as well.. hehehe
KittyKat: It's great that you're a Filipino too! Yay to Pinoy Pride!
To the others: thank you sooooooo much…
Please continue reviewing!