Sorry for such a long wait. Been terribly busy here. Just to let you all know the FINISHED PICTURE is up!!! YAY!!! You can find it by clicking on my name up there (RikuNghts) and clicking on the website it gives you. Once there, click on Draco and Hermione: CG. I hope you all like it. If you have a DevArt account please comment there if not, comment on it here. I want to know what you all think. And now, the chapter that inspired that picture!!
Draco and Hermione ran down the halls heading towards the Headmasters office when they ran into him. "Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione started frantically. Dumbledore held a hand out.
"No running in the halls." He said slowly.
"Sir, this is important. Listen, my father's back. I can feel it. And there's a storm out there." Dumbledore looked out the window.
"Indeed there is." He started. "But how can you be sure it's your father."
"BECAUSE I FEEL IT!" Draco yelled. Hermione squeezed his hand and held him tightly. Dumbledore paused for a moment and closed his eyes, seemingly falling into a trance or sleep. The two kids waited impatiently before his eyes burst open.
"Hermione, get everyone out of the Gryffindor dorms at once and tell them to meet in the Great Hall. Draco, get Blaise and meet them there. I'll alert the staff immediately. We have to get you all out of here." He said and spun away, walking quickly down the hall. They stood there stunned for a moment before he turned to them once more. "GO!" They nodded and ran down the hall, splitting up and heading towards their own dormitories.
Hermione burst into the Gryffindor common room and looked at the people who had stayed behind. Harry and Ron sat by the fire playing Wizard's Chess while Stariss and two other younger students, Gideon and Maxwell sat by the window's watching the snow fall. They all turned to look at her.
"Hey there
Hermione. Fancy a game of-
"We have to leave. NOW!" She yelled. Harry and Ron stood up.
"Hermione, what's-"
"NOW!" She cried again, frightening the younger three. "Please, let's just go!" Hermione urged. "Dumbledore said we have to meet in the Great Hall immediately." They nodded and ran, getting their heavier cloaks just in case and then rushed out the portrait hole behind Hermione.
The six of them ran down the stairs and met up with the other's trying to get to the Great Hall, none of them having any idea what was going on. The Professor's urged them in and the quieted immediately once everyone was inside.
"Please remain calm. There is no need for alarm. We must evacuate the building and head towards Hogsmeade. The carriages are waiting outside, if you will please follow me." Dumbledore said and motioned for them all to follow. Hermione headed towards the door and spotted Draco.
"I hope everyone was found." He muttered. Hermione nodded.
"The other professor's took care of that." She said and followed Harry out the door. Once outside she froze. "Oh no! Crookshanks!" She turned and ran back in, Draco stopping dead and looking around before running in after her. He grabbed her arm.
"Hermione, let's go! We don't have time for the cat!"
"I have to get him! He'll attack them if he sees them and then he'll die!" She jerked her arm away from him and ran through the hall and out the door towards the stairway. He sighed and followed after her, skipping steps to keep up. The two of them entered the Gryffindor common room, much to Draco's amazement, and she turned to him.
"You realize you shouldn't be here. But check the boys rooms. Touch nothing. Just call his name. If you here a hiss call me." She ran in the direction of the girl's stairs and ran up them, calling out to Crookshanks. Draco turned towards the other stairs, took a deep breath and headed towards them.
"Crookshanks!" There was no answer in the first room. He tried the other six. Nothing.
Hermione met him in the common room again. "Where is he!" She screamed, frustrated.
"Chasing mice? Look, Hermione, he'll be fine. We, on the other hand, won't be." There was a clap of thunder and Hermione raced to the window. The carriages were pulling away quickly.
"Oh no." Draco looked.
"Oh shit." He cursed. "Look, Harry has an ivisibility robe, right?"
"Yes."
"Get it. We can sneak out and head towards Hogsmeade."
"In the snow?"
"We can go down to the broom shed and grab my broom."
"Alright." Hermione ran up the stairs towards Harry's room and Draco waited, taking in the room. He had never thought he would be in here. He knew he shouldn't be, no matter what the circumstances, but for some reason the Fat Lady portrait didn't protest at all. One of the portraits stirred and stared at him.
"You are not a Gryffindor."
"No kidding."
"What are you doing in here! HOW did you get in here!"
"Shut up." Draco spat, his temper flaring. Hermione ran down the stairs at that moment looking worried.
"It's not in his trunk. I looked everywhere for it. It's not there."
"Great. Well we're going to have to get to my room then. Let's go."
The two of them ran out the room, ignoring the protest from the portrait and headed down the staircase when a gust of wind blew the doors that led to the outside open. Hermione screeched and pulled Draco around a corner as a hooded figure entered the hallway. Draco swore under his breath and peered out. The figure moved off towards the Slytherin dorms.
"Well, I guess that idea's out."
"What are we supposed to do?" Hermione whimpered nervously.
"I don't know. I don't know." He pulled her close and held her against his chest wishing he knew what to do. (A/N: picture not from here.)
Harry turned around and stared at the castle. "Hermione! She's still in there!" He started running towards the castle.
"Harry! What are you doing?"
"Hermione didn't come out. I have to go get her."
"I'll come with you."
"No. It's too dangerous. I can move quicker without you. Watch the other Gryffindors."
"You might get caught Harry." Harry grinned and pulled out his Invisibility cloak and pulled it over his shoulders.
"Now get going. I'll get my broom and go get her."
"Wait. Draco was with her too."
"What?!"
"I swear. He'll be with her. She was walking out with him behind us and I haven't seen him since then."
"Great. Get going now." Ron watched as footprints ran around the castle until he couldn't see them anymore. Hagrid's voice called for them to all get in the carriages quickly.
"Good luck Harry." Ron whispered before ripping open to door to one and climbing in with the three younger Gryffindors.
Harry ran towards the broom shed and grabbed his Firebolt and looked for Draco's grabbing that as well. Mounting his broom he raced for the castle and flew in, hovering above the heads of a few Deatheaters. He held his breath and slowed, trying not to panic or draw their attention. One of them looked up and he flew towards the closest open room. Inside he landed and looked around, making sure both brooms were concealed.
"Slytherin." He whispered, realizing the open wall he had flown through was the Slytherin dorms. Instead of cursing himself he realized what luck it was. Draco had an Invisibility cloak. Harry just had to get it and find them and they would be all set! Now where to start looking. He quietly ran down the first flight of stairs and luckily found it was the boys. Now to find the sixth years rooms. He kept running until he reached the second from the bottom and crept in to find a Deatheater staring at one of the beds. Harry froze and held his breath, tempted to close his eyes. He hand tightened its grip on his wand and he watched as the hooded figured turned and looked in his direction, smelling the air. Harry didn't move as the figure went back to rummaging through one of the drawers.
A familiar glint of silver shone on the floor and Harry crept towards it, reaching slowly. As his hand got closer he snatched it up and tucked it under his robe with him, slipping out of the room. The figure turned again and looked at the spot on the floor where the cloak had been.
Draco peered out once more and looked back at Hermione. "Don't be scared, alright? Just trust me. We have to make a run for it. Down this hall. We can't make it to the front, but if we get to the end of this hall we can get out through the courtyard. Hold onto me tight, okay?" Hermione nodded.
"I trust you." He smiled briefly and kissed her a little roughly.
"Alright. On my count. One. . . two. . . three! Go!" He yelled and pushed her out in front of him, running behind her. If anyone was to come out of the Slytherin dorms they would see him, and at least Hermione would have a chance to escape. With that thought floating through his head he heard footsteps behind him. "Shit." He muttered and turned to look briefly.
"DRACO!" A voice yelled. Hermione held the scream in her chest and kept running until Draco's strong arms turned her and shover her down another hallway. The person kept walking at his slow pace, sure of himself. "YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM ME BOY!"
"It's my father." Draco paled. He grabbed Hermione once more and pulled her into a small area that seemed to be a very short hallway but was not. Instead it was only a four foot cubby-hole. Draco flattened himself against the wall and pulled Hermione to him, his hand resting on her shoulder briefly before pulling her into a fierce hug. She closed her eyes against his chest, the footsteps drawing closer every second, louder, louder ever second. Hermione jumped when Lucius yelled again. (A/N: See it now? ^_~)
"I KNOW YOU'RE HERE BOY!" Draco pulled her as close as she could possibly get and wrapped his arms around her head, blinding her. Lucius was right outside their hiding spot.
'Why didn't I just keep going?' Draco raged, angry that he could not protect Hermione better. He bit his lower lip and the footsteps stopped. 'This is it. We're going to die, and it's my fault.' Just then, a hand reached out and covered his mouth, pulling him back against the back wall, into the farthest corner. Something silver was tossed over them and they were pulled onto the floor. Draco pushed his hand over Hermione's mouth when she opened it and he looked around. Next to him, under the cover of two Invisibility cloaks was Harry Potter's face looking very serious. He put his finger to his lips and disappeared. Hermione looked instantly relieved and held her breath while Lucius appeared in front of them. He looked into the cubby and stepped in, touching the far wall and then lowering his hand to a few feet above the ground. Draco and Hermione were practically laying on the ground when Lucius withdrew, Hermione finally able to breath again. They waited as the footsteps continued down the hall and turned very faint. Draco crawled forward and peered out to see his father turning a corner.
"DRACO! I KNOW YOU'RE HERE!" He yelled again. Draco slid in as Harry pulled his cloak off. Draco took his off of himself and Hermione.
"I owe you one." Draco whispered.
"I did it for Hermione." Draco frowned, as did Hermione.
"Harry, now's not the time for petty arguments."
"You're right, now lets get out of here." He stood up and pulled Hermione to her feet.
"Man, if I had my br-" Draco started when Harry thrust the broom at him. Draco was almost beaming." I could kiss you Potter." Harry made a face of disgust.
"Save it for Hermione." Hermione smiled and hugged Harry tightly before climbing on the back of Draco's broom.
"We can't fly with the Invisibility cloak on. Too much for it to cover." Draco frowned and handed it to Hermione. The two boys lifted into the air.
"Safest to go this way. Come on." Harry said, and turned the broom, hurtling down the hallway. Draco followed, with Hermione clinging tightly to his waist.
Well I hope everyone liked that! Originally I had more to write for this chapter, but it was just getting to long and that was the best cutting off point. So the next chapter will be just as suspenseful! Remember, go check out the picture and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! ^_^