A/N: So sorry it took so long to update. My computer crashed and has been formatted. I lost everything, so I had to redo most of the chapter. I had a wee bit of trouble with it, but I pulled through. Hopefully you guys like it. Please don't forget to review!

Chapter Ten: Crisis

For the rest of the summer, Hermione kept her mind off of Draco by concentrating harder into her studies and preparing for the NEWTs. This will be their final year at Hogwarts and as Head Girl; she looked forward to uphold any duties she would be assigned.

After saying farewell to her parents, Hermione pushed her cart through the wall, and onto platform 9 ¾.

"There you are Mione!" she heard someone call out.

Hermione looked around and spotted Susan running towards her.

"Susan!" Hermione greeted, giving her a hug.

"I've missed you! Congratulations on making Head Girl! Quite an honor!" Susan complimented.

"Thank you, I've been looking forward to it," she told her, "How've you been? Are you and Neville--?" she trailed off.

Susan gave her an assuring smile, "Yes, we still are. He's really not that bad once you get passed the whole uncanny Mrs. Malfoy worship phase. I might even call him charming."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, "Really? Hmm. Who could've imagined?"

"Hey now!" Susan giggled, hitting her playfully on the arm.

Just then, the first warning whistle started to blow.

"Well we better get going," Hermione said leading the way onto the train. "Let's try and find the others."

As they made their way toward the back of the train, Lavender poked her head out of a compartment just a few feet way.

"Mione! Susan!" she waved them over.

"Oh, Lavender!" Hermione ran up to give her a hug, "We were just looking for you." Her smile quickly vanished as she discerned the glum expression on her friend's face.

"Hermione, it's so awful!" Lavender cried with a look of discontent.

"Well what is it?" Hermione asked.

"It's poor Padma," she answered fretfully, "She's missing! No one's seen her for days!

The Ministry's have assigned some people to look for her, but can't find her anywhere! And that's not all of it. Harry Potter is gone too."

"Harry?" Hermione repeated.

"Well, we think he might have something to do with it. Parvati claimed he was the last person to be seen with her sister. In light of this information, Dumbledore and the Ministry have been on high alert, but they won't tell us anything! It must be something serious!" she concluded glumly.

Hermione's expression turned completely sour. She patted Lavender's shoulder sympathetically, "Where's Parvati?"

"In there," she gestured behind her.

Hermione swiftly stepped into the compartment where she found Parvati lying against the window, being comforted by Hannah.

"Beware of Harry Potter, I told her," Parvati sobbed in hysterics, "The man has no principles!"

"You're right there, Parvati," Hannah agreed, "There had been rumors about the type of company he keeps. And that is to say the very least!"

Parvati looked up and saw Hermione approaching towards them, quickly followed by Lavender and Susan.

"Mione! Susan! You don't know how I've suffered!" Parvati ranted on, " Such spasm! Such worries! Such-such-such..." she stuttered.

"Yes, yes, I know, there now Parvati," Hermione rubbed her shoulder, trying to calm her down, "Lavender, would you mind trying to find the trolley and fetch some chocolate for her?"

"Oh I forgot those!" Lavender nodded her head and left the compartment.

"When did it happen, Hannah?" Hermione asked.

"Two days ago," she answered, "Dumbledore only told us that the Ministry suspect they might be hiding in Knockturn Alley."

"Oh Parvati," Susan remarked, "It's too dreadful!"

"There you are Susan!" Neville suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Upon seeing Parvati's misery, he joined the gathering around her.

"Ah Parvati," Neville said shaking his head, "Yours is a misfortune that no lapse of time can alleviate. No lapse of time Parvati."

"Neville!" Susan interrupted him.

"What is it my dear?" he asked without the slightest awareness of his inappropriate statement.

"Poor Parvati, you're distressing her," she scolded.

"Distressing her? I'm merely stating something that should be of no surprise to her," Neville replied, shrugging his shoulders.

"Oh he's right!" Parvati grunted.

"I shudder to think what Mrs. Malfoy would say to this," Neville added.

Everyone in the compartment rolled their eyes to that remark. Time passed by really slow on the rest of the ride to Hogwarts. No one was in the mood to catch up about their summers or reminisces on the previous years.

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Hermione left the Great Hall early after the feast. Professor McGonagall had summoned her into her office about discussing her Head Girl duties.

"Come in," McGonagall announced from the other side of the door.

Hermione quietly slipped into the office, "You wish to see me Professor?"

"Ah, Ms. Granger," McGonagall greeted, "Please, have a seat."

She sat down in front of her desk.

"Here," McGonagall handed her a sheet of parchment, "This is the list of tasks you are responsible for."

"Thank you Professor," Hermione took the paper, "Is there anything else?"

"Yes, Ms. Granger," she replied, "Actually, there's someone here to see you. You must remember him, Draco Malfoy? He was one of our exchange students last year."

Hermione stifled a gasp, "Yes, I remember him. But why does he want see me?"

"I've gathered you heard about the little crisis dealing with a good friend of yours?" McGonagall asked in a softer tone of voice.

"Yes, Professor," she answered.

"Mr. Malfoy seems to have some information that he insists that he must share with you. Professor Dumbledore has agreed to allow it. In fact, Mr. Malfoy waiting for you in the headmaster's office as we speak." McGonagall informed her.

"Thank you," Hermione said as she left her office. Her heartbeat was racing at the mention of Draco's name. She grew nervous and confused as to why he wanted to see her, and to come all the way to Hogwarts to do it.

Taking deep breaths, she walked into Dumbledore's office. Draco was staring at some of the uniquely displayed trinkets around the room. At the sound of the door closing, he abruptly turned around and found Hermione standing by the doorway. After a few seconds of awkward silence, they made their way towards each other.

"Draco," she made her voice sounding as cool and collected as she could, "what brings you here?"

Draco sensed her uneasiness, "Feel no alarm Hermione," he said, "I have no intention of opening a painful subject. After what you said to me the other day, that chapter is definitely closed."

Hermione's expression remained still as Draco continued.

"Bad news travels fast, Hermione. I heard about Potter and your friend Padma. I felt it my duty to come at once," he explained.

"To triumph over us," she said weakly turning away, "I suppose."

"To offer you my services," Draco corrected her, walking around to meet her eyes, "Hermione, I told you the other day where Harry Potter was concerned, I chose to be silent. What has happened to your friend has made me changed my mind."

Hermione looked up at him silently.

"Harry Potter is not an honorable man," he explained, "You see, her case was not the first."

"You mean that Harry--?" she started to say.

Draco gave her a small nod, "My sister, Georgina."

"Your sister?" Hermione gasped.

"Yes," he replied in a whisper. He gazed down solemnly at the floor, "She was younger than even Padma."

"Oh Draco!" she said, "But-but why?"

Draco took a deep breath before meeting her penetrating stare, "Have you ever heard of my father Lucius Malfoy?"

"No, you've never mentioned him."

"During his life," Draco explained, "My father was a devoted follower of the Dark Lord."

Hermione bit on her lower lip as she listened. "Yes, Hermione, he was a death eater. A high ranking member of the Dark Lord's circle." He continued, "Our family never shared his views, but we were all too afraid to go up against him, especially my sister."

Draco paced about the room as he recalled the events, "I knew my father could sense the fear in us. But I also knew it was my duty to defy him. He was determined to recruit his children into the death eaters. Lucius had taught me the principles of a Malfoy. After all, I am my father's son," he stared out into space, "It wasn't until Harry Potter came into our lives; my father focused all his attention on him."

"Why him?" Hermione asked, as she got closer to him.

"Harry Potter shared the same outlook as my father," Draco explained, "He became an orphan as a child and was raised by his mother's relatives who are muggles. These relatives hated everything that dealt with the wizarding world, including their own nephew. He grew up in a world of hate, thinking that all muggles were evil, and needed to be eradicated."

"That's horrible!' she gasped again.

"I could still remember that climacteric night which set forth the gears in motion. Potter had agreed to use the Imperius curse on my sister and take her to their meeting somewhere in Knockturn Alley," Draco recalled, "My father had given them leave to initiate her into their circle. I knew it wouldn't have been long before they would come after me. By the mercy of providence, I discovered the plot in time." He gently placed his hands on Hermione's shoulders as he bored into her eyes, "I notified the Ministry anonymously and turned my own father in. Rather than facing the consequences, Lucius battled the Aurors to death. But Potter and a few others got away. Georgiana remembers nothing, and no charges were ever filed. Your friend has been less fortunate." His expression softened as he lets go of her, "Hermione, may I ask, if everything possible is being done to recover her?"

Hermione turned away, trying to collect herself, "The Ministry has issued a search. They've sent people out to Knockturn Alley to look for her," she responded.

"If there is any hope that I could give," Draco moved closer behind her, "I would be only too happy."

"Thank you," Hermione said in a high trembling voice, with her back still facing him, "I'm sure they will find her," she lets out a small sigh, "This will all be settled somehow."

Draco noticed her failed efforts in hiding her vulnerable state. He felt terrible seeing her like this, and even worse for not being able to do anything to help her. "I'm afraid I've kept you too long," he said still staring at her, waiting for any reaction, "Goodbye."

But Hermione didn't move. "Goodbye," she whispered.

Draco finally turned away and walked towards the door. He stood at the doorway contemplating for a moment before turning back around, "This is perhaps, the last time I shall see you," he told her, his tone emotionless, before closing the door, "Take care of yourself Hermione."

Hermione turned around as soon as she heard the door close. She hesitated for a moment before running to the door. She started to reach out to turn the knob, but her rationality took over and she reluctantly drew her hand back. Hermione stood there trying to decide whether to follow her mind or her heart when suddenly the door opened again.

"Drac-"she started to call out before realizing who it was.

"Oh, Hermione," Lavender stepped into the office.

"Oh-I," she looked over Lavender's shoulders out into the hall, "I thought it was-I-" she uttered, "Has he gone?"

"Yes," Lavender answered, "He flooed out only a few seconds ago."

"Flooed out" she repeated, "But will he ever come back?" Hermione sighed glumly as she walked back to the desk muttering to herself, "That chapter is definitely, closed."

"Mione," Lavender grabbed her arm in concern, "What are you talking about?"

Hermione finally turned around, snapping out of her melancholy mood, "Oh Lavender!" she exclaimed in a lighter manner, "Lavender! You don't know what happened at Neville's during the summer! Something so extraordinary! So unbelievable!"

"What?" Lavender asked.

"He wanted to be with me," Hermione divulged.

"Who Mione?

"Draco!" she answered.

"Draco!" Lavender uttered out in shock, "Oh my goodness Mione! What did you say to him?"

"What did I say to him?" Hermione repeated, looking down, "What did I say to him?" She lowered her volume. Her expression dropped as she lets out a sigh, "I said I hated him! I said I never wanted to see him again!" she looked up at Lavender, "Now I-suddenly-I." Hermione sat down on one of the chairs coming to terms with her realization, "Lavender, I love him," she confessed.

Lavender sat down beside her, "You love him?"

Hermione nodded, her eyes in tears, "I'm so dreadfully unhappy."

"Oh Mione. Dearest," Lavender patted her gently on the back.

"I brought it all on myself. It's all my own stupid fault," Hermione sobbed, "Merlin, how could I have misjudged him so. What a fool I've been! What a despicable fool!"

"There now, Mione, we all make mistakes, you mustn't feel-" Lavender said, trying her best to console her friend.

"Oh look how selfish I'm being," she realized, "As if I were the only one that's been made unhappy. Poor Lavender, darling, why you've never done anything wrong and look what's happen to you. It's not fair!"

"Mione, I'm not really unhappy. It was worse in the beginning when I was always expecting him to write or even to come back," she sighed and began to share her thoughts, "I don't do that anymore. I just dream of him. Mione, you've got to learn to dream, like I do," she insisted, "Sometimes I dream we're out walking in the woods when the primroses are out. Sometimes he comes riding up to the door. He goes in, and I'm waiting for him," she gives a weak laugh, "And sometimes we're dancing and it's the waltz! The music's playing and the lights are shining. I feel as though I could go on forever!"

Lavender broke out in tears. "You shouldn't let me go on like this!" she sniffed putting her head down on Hermione's shoulders.

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