Hi! Yeah people, I know you want to kill me for updating this late but I had pre-midterms jitters plus the holidays and starting school again and starting French class and well, you get the point. Thanks to: CherryCharm, random surfer, Sentimental Butterfly and natyslacks who were the ONLY 4 THAT REVIEWED! PPL, WAKE UP AND LOOK AT YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN! REVIEW! Even some of the reviewers I thought were going to stick around haven't reviewed in 4 chappies (I won't say names)! By the way, I started an author alert group, that way you will know when I update cause my stupid computer doesn't let me get a subscription and/or pay via internet. Well, as I see from the past reviews, I left it in a kind of suspense in the last chappie so; I'll get on right where I dropped off and start the engine! Hope you like it!
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FLASHBACK
DRACO'S POV
"Well, then I guess Ms. Granger will have to suffer the consequences. And I thought you cared for her." I stopped in my way and returned to face the portrait.
"How do you know about that?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
"Well, if I also recall, there is a blank portrait in your Common Room in which I can enter and exit at my will. In Dumbledore's exact words it is used to check up on the Prefects and learn about their lives, so we can make their learning experience more enjoyable for them." He said in a voice similar to Dumbledore's.
"I always knew he was a crazy old coot." I said while laughing to myself.
"Well, YOU are going to be the crazy one if you don't show up at Slytherin Common Room in 10 minutes. Take care and I will be watching if things get out of hand. And remember what your prophecy says, Amorio conqueris totalus." He said as he slumped back into his majestic chair.
"Love will conquer all. Thanks." I said as I continued my journey.
I turned the corner and kept on walking until I reached the Slytherin portrait. I stood outside for a moment, preparing myself mentally for anything that may happen in there. They must have already hurt her, they have sick minds and they don't care about anyone except themselves and their also selfish master Lord-I'm-So-Scaly-And-Evil-Voldemort (AN: That was a phrase from DeChantal's fic, read it, it's good.). Physically and mentally prepared, I said the password and entered to the scene of an upcoming crime.
END FLASHBACK
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Chapter 19: Buried deep, pt. 1
DRACO'S POV
When I entered the Slytherin Common Room I saw something (not to be considered as a someone) unexpected: my father.
"Father?" I said, wondering if this was just a fiction of my imagination.
"Draco. I've come because I've heard some disturbing information." He said with a look of pure disgust in his face.
"What?" I said, fearing that he already knew about my almost relationship with Hermione.
"Well, that you and that mudblood bitch were "getting along"." He said not even bothering to look at me when he finished his statement.
'He knows.'
How?
'Maybe Parkinslut told him.'
Bing Bing Bing! We have a winner!
'Yeah. I don't know how you got along with that bunch of losers.'
Easy. I didn't. Ouch!
"Draco! What in the blazes is wrong with you boy!" Lucius said while standing me up. I guess I forgot I could still go that deep by just thinking.
"Nothing. Sorry. Now about that information, it isn't true. I've only been civil to her because Dumbledore said that if we weren't I wouldn't, um, I wouldn't-" I stopped there, lost for words or a reasonable explanation to give to him.
"So you wouldn't what? Hurry up, I haven't got all day!" he said while tapping his staff/wand impatiently. I had to think of something fast.
"So, I wouldn't lose the chance to become Head Boy! And because it seems that every prefect has to be an example to follow." Yes! I have to say, I'm totally brilliant!
"Well, I suppose. You better keep up your grades too. I don't want that mudblood to be the best. You should be ashamed of yourself. Being second-best to a mudblood who doesn't know anything!" he snarled at me. I wish I could just punch him.
"Yes father." I said looking down so I wouldn't meet his piercing glare.
"Now, onto more important things," he said while putting on the Malfoy trademark smirk. "Lord Voldemort will be expecting your union when you're 16 and of age. You will continue my jobs since I am getting old for these type of things." He said while looking Longley at his staff/wand.
"Yes father." I said, although that was far from my wishes at the moment and it would always be. Why would I want to serve something that can't even hold a wand? Or who was to weak to kill a 1-year-old baby? That was pathetic.
"Well, I must go. We've taken care of the mudblood for the time being. She won't be getting in your way so you better speed up. I want it clear that you are the best student in this school. Fast." He said while leaving.
"Yes, you crazy, bloodthirsty bastard." I spat as I saw his retreating figure.
It was only when he left that I let his words sink in: we've taken care of the mudblood for the time being. She won't be getting in your way. So, he's taken care of her. Damn. What has he done with her? Where is she?
I was looking around like a crazy lunatic. I couldn't find her anywhere. Not in the 6th year boy's dormitory, not in the 6th year girl's dormitory (I had my connections). Not in any corner in the Common Room. I was worried to death to say the least.
I raced out of the Common Room with a million thoughts in my head. It was like my head was spinning around a revolving figure. Guess who the figure was?
I didn't actually know where I was going; I just let my feet and gut instinct take me to the best place. When I finally stopped, I was right in front of the gargoyle that leads up to Dumbledore's office. But why was I here?
Then again, he was the one who helped us to where we (Hermione and me) are currently, although in his own sneekyish way, he did help us. So, I decided to be faithful to my instinct, throw caution to the winds and just go and tell him. He could, after all, cover much more ground than I could. Don't ask me how or why.
"Earwax and Lemon all flavor beans." I said to the gargoyle while it jumped aside to reveal the ever-revolving staircase. When it stopped I was face to face with Professor Dumbledore himself.
"Good evening Mr. Malfoy. Would you please step into my office? We could discuss our matter more privately." He said in a somber voice I had only heard once in my life from him: the 4th year end-of-term feast when he talked about Cedric Diggory's death.
"Professor, I think something bad, really bad, just happened to Hermione." I said keeping my voice neutral, not knowing which emotion I should show.
"Yes, I'm afraid that something did happen to Ms. Granger. But what, I do not know," he said while looking up to the night sky, which was looking kind of dull due to the amount of clouds.
"Salazar," he said turning to a portrait of 4 chairs in the other side of his office, "Salazar." I watched as Salazar Slytherin walked into the portrait and sat in a green chair.
"Yes, Dumbledore?" he said while looking intently at Dumbledore and then shifted his eyes towards me, "Ah, Mr. Malfoy, of course. I believe you didn't find Ms. Granger in the Common Room?" he said while looking at me with piercing eyes, similar to my fathers, too similar.
"No." I said lifting my head, as to not let my tears spill.
"Yes, it was expected. They just put Ms. Granger as bait, knowing that for sure you would do anything for her. Maybe she isn't in any harm. Did you check to see if she was in the hospital wing?" he asked.
"Yes, Ginny Weasley was there and she found an empty bed with a note, it had a red liquid, blood I presume, all over it. Knowing my fellow classmates, Hermione could be anywhere." I said bowing my head once again.
"Well, we mustn't hesitate then. Salazar, go get Professor Snape and tell Godric to get Professor McGonagall. Fellow headmasters and headmistresses," he said turning to the "sleeping" portraits of past headmaster of Hogwarts, "I would like for you to search as far as you can for any Slytherins and any sight of Ms. Hermione Granger. I suppose you have seen her?" he said. Murmurs of agreements were heard from the portraits as they all left the portraits.
"Fawkes," he said turning to a phoenix perched in a chair in the back of his office "I want you to search the grounds for any suspicious sights or any students. Send a warning to Professor McGonagall or myself if you do." He said. Just then the door opened and in came Professors McGonagall and Snape in their night robes.
"Albus, what is going on?" said a worried and tired looking McGonagall.
"It seems that the Slytherin students decided to play a rather nasty prank to Mr. Malfoy here by taking Ms. Granger. We do not know anything of Ms. Granger, for now." he said in a somber voice.
"Well, it was kind of expected. I mean, not to be rude or anything but, a Slytherin like you, Mr. Malfoy, and a Gryffindor like Ms. Granger being, not only civil but, friendly towards each other is not a common sight. I daresay, it's a surprise that nothing had happened to any of you by now." said an annoyed looking Professor Snape, "But, nonetheless, it was a bad way to express themselves. They will, of course, be sus-suspended." He quickly said after receiving an ominous glare from McGonagall.
"Well, let's not worry about that right now. Our priority is to find Ms. Granger and to make sure she is safe." Said Dumbledore while making his way towards the door and everybody else followed suit, "I think Mr. Potter has something that would help us and Mr. Weasley and Ms. Weasley should be called to help. I think, Mr. Malfoy, that you can make sure they are alerted while we search the grounds." He said as we stepped into the dark halls.
"Of course and thanks Professor." I said as I turned to go to the Prefect's Common Rooms.
When I reached the Founder's portrait I saw it empty so I just pushed through it, ran to the entrance of the 6th year's Common Room and went to Weasley's room. He was snoring loudly, something I expected from him, and he was sprawled in the bed.
"Weasley," I said tapping him in the chest, "Weasley, WEASLEY!" I said. When he didn't wake up, I did the first thing that came to mind, something I had longed to do to him long time ago. "Aquaticus apparus" I said as water gushed out of my wand and directly at his face. He jumped up and started pointing his wand all around until he opened his eyes and looked at me.
"Malfoy? What in bloody hell are you doing in MY ROOM?" he said, his cheeks had started to turn red, something oh-so-normal of him.
"Well, then I just guess I could go and look for Hermione by myself." I said as I started for the door.
"No! Wait! What do you know of her, was she in the Slytherin Common Room?" he said as he started to look for a coat and put on some shoes.
"No, the Slytherins did something to her and now we don't know where she is." I said sadly as I waited for him to finish getting ready.
"Damn. You just wait till I get my hands on the one responsible for this." He said with his fists clenched as we made our way out.
"Well, I doubt you will. It's my father and probably Voldemort behind all this." I said silently, "Wait, we have to get your sister and then we have to get Potter before we go." I said heading towards the 5th year prefect's area.
"My sister? Harry? What do they have to do in all of this?" he said throwing a questioning look my way.
"Well, Dumbledore says Potter has something that might help us and your sister, I don't know why." I said, questioning myself as to why the Weaslette was called.
"Well, come on then," He said as we entered the 5th year Common Room, "but stay outside, I don't want you looking at my sister." He said as he entered her room. He came out moments later with Weaslette tailing behind in a coat and her wand at the ready.
We walked the halls and came to rest upon the 7th floor, in which the Gryffindor tower was. We were in front of the portrait and I said the password (Devil's Snare). As I did, the Weasleys threw a questioning look at me.
"What? It's written in the Prefect's Common Room, haven't you seen it?" I said defending myself.
We entered the quiet Common Room and made our way up to the 6th year boys' dormitory. When we entered, we were greeted by snoring (this time coming from Longbottom). Weasley then made for the first bed in which Potter was laying all tangled up in his covers. Wow, he was a bad sleeper.
"Harry, Harry." He said tapping his shoulders. He immediately sat up and pointed his wand at me.
"What? Who's there? Lumos." He said as his wand tip lit up. "Ginny? Ron? Malfoy? What in the blazes are you doing here!" he said throwing a death glare my way. These people were so rude.
"Well, if you care for Hermione, which I doubt a lot judging by your past actions," I said.
"I care for her more than you ever will!" he snarled at me. Weasley got in between us, to prevent any fighting. That's a new one for me, Weasley the peacemaker. I always thought Potter was the quiet one. Oh, how the tables have turned.
"Well, then. I suggest you take whatever you have ("Your map" said Weasley) and come help us search for her. She's in trouble you know. Although I doubt you will mind." I said the last part to myself but I guess my voice carried on.
"Why you little bouncing ferret-"
"You overgrown baby-"
"BOTH OF YOU STOP!" said a highly noted voice (Weaslette), "if you both care for Hermione as you say you do, I suggest you put your differences aside and help us search for her. If you can't then, you're not her friends." She said as she tapped her foot impatiently. The others in the room, unsurprisingly, had awakened, with the exception of Longbottom who was now snoring more than ever.
"What's up?" said 2 sleepy voices from the other side of the room.
"Nothing. Dormius, dormius." The Weaslette said while pointing her wand at the source of the voices. We heard 2 thumps as they fell asleep again. Wow, she was spicy when she was mad. Now I know what Blaize meant.
"Well, are you coming or not?" she said as she made her way towards the door. Potter mumbled something incoherent to human ears and tossed a roll of parchment to Weasley. He then proceeded to get to his bed again. I, of course, took this opportunity to throw something at him, even if it was a stupid comeback.
"Yeah, shows how much you care. Freaking Boy-who-lived-to-irritate-me." I said as I closed the door in his angry face and muttered a locking charm, just in case.
As we descended the stairs, Weasley was mumbling about how Potter wasn't himself these days and Weaslette, who was at the foot of the stairs, was telling us to hurry up. She looked pissed off and disgusted about something, let's say, someone in particular.
"I can't believe him! That was so rude! I mean, you could cut him some slack for the other day's behavior but to be going this far! I really didn't expect something like that from him!" she said in a disgruntled voice, for a moment I swear I saw steam coming from her ears.
"Well, for all I care about him, he could just go and bloody well die! The stupid, know-it-all, heroic-wanna-be git/prat." I said as we exited the Common Room. They both threw dirty looks at me but I didn't give a.
"Well, I think we should look in the map and then split up to where she would probably be." Weaslette said as we reached the Entrance Hall.
"Wait. If we see her in the map, shouldn't we just all go?" Weasley said looking flustered.
"Ron, do you seriously think that she would be in a common place in the castle or close to the grounds? No. We should first look to see if there's any Slytherins out, she's bound to be close to them. If not, then we should just split up," she said making it sound like it was the simplest thing in the world, in other words, that we were idiots not to have thought it up.
"Ok then. We solely swear we are up to no good." Said Weasley with a blank open piece of parchment in his hands. At first I thought he was stupid to be talking to a map but then words started appearing in it and then a map appeared with a bunch of dots on it. As I looked closer, I realized it was a map of Hogwarts, and the dots were people moving around in the castle and grounds. For it to be 1 o'clock, there was a lot of people out of bed.
"Ok, now let's see who's out." The Weaslette said as she took the map into her hands, "McGonagall, Snape, Dumbledore, and a bunch of teachers, Filch, Mrs. Norris, Peeves and aha, Zachary Jones." She said as she looked in closer, "He's in the Charms corridor. I'll go the fastest way with Draco ('Wow, Mione must have rubbed off on her since she's speaking my 1st name. Impressing.') and Ron, you can go through the other side just in case he tries to run away. Since we still don't know if he's the culprit. If not, we can still torture him to get info." She said as she grabbed my arm and pulled me through the halls until I came back to my senses.
"Well, Weasley. I can't deny, you got some spark in you." I said looking at her in a knowing way.
"Don't-even-think-about-it," she said throwing a glare my way, "I can't believe your thinking that way at times like these. Boys." She said as we rounded on a corner before the Charms corridor.
"Ok, let's just go and round in on him." I said.
"Ok, wands out." She said.
"Jones, so nice to see you." I said as we stood face-to-face.
"Well, well, Malfoy. I knew you would fall for the bait. I'm afraid you fell from too high and now you're going to hit your dead end." He said in his malicious voice, "I see you've brought a friend too. Good, the more the merrier they say." He said while rubbing his palms together.
"Dispense us the small talk and let's get straight to the point. Where is Hermione?" I said pointing my wand straight at his head.
"Now, now Malfoy, no need to get violent here. You asked a simple question and I'll give you a simple answer." He said in a tone that only made me feel worse than I already did.
"Where is she? Answer me now or suffer the consequences." I said in a tone resembling his.
"Ah, I see you read my note. Well, as you just said, she is suffering the consequences. I think she just has ½ an hour, tops, to live. I hope you find her soon." He said as he started to laugh.
"WHERE IS SHE?" I said, ready to throw him against the wall and beat him to a bloody pulp.
"She's in a place that's dark. She's deep and covered." He said as he reached inside his robes and disappeared.
"Damn! That could be anywhere considering it's dark outside!" I said punching the hard stonewall.
"No, wait. He could have just as well given us the exact location. Dark, the Dark Forest of course; deep and covered is the part I don't know about. There's no river or lake in the Forest so, she can't be covered in water." She said staring into space after she said this.
"Well, then where, in the Dark Forest, could she be?" asked Weasley coming from behind the shadows.
"I have no idea but we should find Dumbledore and ask him his opinion. Shall we?" I said making my way towards the Entrance Hall.
"Yes. According to the map he is right in front of the Entrance Hall," the Weaslette said after looking in the map, "Let's go."
When we were walking in the halls, there was an eerie silence between the strange group. If anyone were to walk by us, he/she would think that we were under the Imperius or we were nuts. Sincerely, a conversation between me, the Boy-who-lived-to-be-a-pain-in-my-arse or his trusty sidekick didn't end with one of us in the Hospital Wing, I would consider it a miracle. Hermione doesn't give me enough credit for these things.
"Professor Dumbledore, we found Zachary Jones in the Charms corridor and he told us that Hermione was in a place that's dark and that she's deep and covered before disappearing." Said a distressed looking Ginny Weasley.
"Well, I assume he had an illegal portkey because you can't apparate or disapparate inside the walls of Hogwarts. As to Ms. Granger's location, I have a shrewd idea. It might sound a bit shocking but I think that the Slytherin's might go to any lengths to keep their pride." He said to us while looking over his half moon glasses. He had a misty sort of look that made everything look worse for me.
"So, what is your idea, Albus?" asked a worried looking McGonagall.
"Well, according to Mr. Jones description, she is, undoubtfuly, in the Dark Forest and since the forest does not contain a lake or any source of water, I'm afraid she may be buried alive." He said finishing in more somber voice.
"B-bu-buried alive?" Weaslette said in a strained voice, as if she were about to cry. She was. She buried her head in Weasley's shoulder, who was looking as if he had just been petrified.
I just stood there thinking of the probabilities that what Dumbledore just said was true: 1) Slytherins hate Gryffindors; 2) Slytherins hate the Golden Trio; 3) Slytherins despise mudbloods and half bloods; 4) Slytherins hate me; 5) Slytherin hate people who betrayed Voldemort (aka: me). So, knowing the Slytherins as I do, they are capable of killing her or me in that case.
"Well, there's not much to think about. While we stand here crying over something and staring into nothing, she might be dying. So, if we don't hurry up." I said this as they all scrambled about doing God knows what.
"Well, as I said before, she isn't shown in the map which means she has to be very deep into the forest or extremely deep in." the Weaslette said.
"Let's go then." Weasley said as he led the way into the forest.
"Wands out. We don't know what wanders here at this time of night." He said. Which reminded me of my detention in the first year and my first encounter with Voldemort, that I remember of.
We walked for what seemed like an eternity. When the sun started rising and some rays of light crept in between of the gaps made by the large tree branches, we reached the edge of the forest in the map. Which meant that from here on we should search for her by our eyes and ears, if she could still make a sound.
"Keep your eyes open for any mound of earth, anything unusual, more unusual than the unusual you find here, and if you do, make a sound with your wands with this enchantment: Somnorus amius. Good luck and remember keep your eyes open." He said with a last nod as he turned and disappeared between some bushes. I looked around and nodded to Weasley and Weaslette as they gave a nod, or something like a shake, and left.
AN: SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, AND SORRY. So sorry for everyday you doubted that I was ever going to update but I just finished my mid terms last Thursday and had a break from everything plus, we have an energy deficiency in my country so that makes like 8/24 hours a day we have electrical power and the other we don't. Well, anyways, you can expect me to update every weekend like usual, if the power lets me. And I promise better chapters, though not as long and detailed as this one. I know I left it in a kind of cliffe but it suits my hands better. Well, I hope that some of my faithful readers out there still review; I'm hoping to get to the 100 mark. The 100th reviewer will get a recognition, which, don't ask me. I hope you still like my story and don't hate it because of my laziness. REVIEW! Even flames I accept at this moment. Ciao, Alannah
