~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 25: A Stolen Moment ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry listened to the others talk amongst themselves, taking in Harry's orders. All the while he watched Dumbledore and Snape talk in a corner. They were talking in the shadows so Harry couldn't see their lips to read them.
"You know what this means don't you Harry?" Lupin walked up to him and Ron.
"I'm not even going to entertain that possibility," he replied back.
"But, Harry, who else would they have pulled out of there?"
"I said I'm not going to think about it. So just drop it," he snapped. He couldn't afford to think about it. So many nights he had dreamed that this was all fake, that Sirius was still alive, only to wake up and relive that pain over and over again. No, he didn't dare think about the possibility that he was alive. Someone was playing a very cruel joke on him, and he wouldn't fall for it this time.
"Harry, Ron? May I please have a word with you both?" Dumbledore motioned for them both to join him.
"What is it?" Harry asked when the joined him and Snape away from the room.
"Severus here has just informed me that Voldemort has put out a search for Miss Granger."
Harry's stomach filled with ice.
"He's put the word out there to every Death Eater," Snape added. "He wants her brought in alive. Death to anyone who so much puts a scratch on her."
"No. No, I want her out of that house. I want her somewhere safe," Harry said.
"I would be glad to take her in Harry. But it must be done in stealth," Dumbledore offered. "I do not want an entire Death Eater army at my door if he is to find out that I am keeping her at Hogwarts."
"That won't be a problem" Harry assured.
"Headmaster! Headmaster! Come quick! You must return to Hogwarts! We have caught a Death Eater prowling on the grounds!" Phineas' painting cried out.
"Aah!" Harry clutched his scar in pain and fell to the floor. The others in the kitchen hearing his yell ran out to help.
"Harry!"
"Harry can you hear me?"
"Harry are you alright?"
"Lupin take four others with you and go to Hogwarts immediately. I will follow shortly," Dumbledore ordered.
"Do you think this has anything to do with what's going on at Hogwarts?" Ron asked.
"I'm okay! I'm okay. Just haven't felt that in awhile," Harry shakily got back on his feet.
"Harry, was it Voldemort?" Ron timidly asked.
Harry shot him an impatient look.
"Did you feel any connection to him, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry thought a moment. "Yeah, it was kind of strange. He wasn't happy or angry, just…weak."
"Weak?" Snape raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah, weak or tired."
"That is very strange," Dumbledore pondered a moment.
"Look, I'm okay. Go ahead and go to Hogwarts. We'll meet you there later. Right now, all I would like to do is get out of here and get Hermione out of danger."
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Creak.
Draco began to stir. Where was he? What happened?
Crrrrreeeeeaaaak.
What the hell was that? Come on, open your eyes, move your body!
CR-----CRACK!!
Draco's eyes shot open.
"Shit!!!" he shouted as he rolled off to the side.
An iron chandelier that hung above him had fallen and just landed where he lay just mere moments ago. Draco sighed and rested his head on his arm.
"Son of a …Hermione!" he suddenly remembered what happened as he scrambled to get up.
Not bothering to check on anyone else he ran up the stairs to her room. This time the door gave when he tried to open it, nearly falling inside with the force that he pushed on it. How much time had passed? The shadows on the wall indicated that it was late afternoon. Hermione's room was just as he had left it, no sign of the events that had happened earlier, whatever it was. He suddenly spotted her lying in her bed and he rushed over to her.
"Hermione. Hermione wake up. Are you okay?" he asked her quietly cradling her head.
He looked over her. There was no sign of injury, not a scratch. Her left hand was in a fist grasping something. Draco reached over and gently pried her hands open. It was the necklace. Hermione suddenly gasped for air and sat straight up, startling Draco as he jumped backwards.
She blinked rapidly. Had it all been a dream? Better yet, a nightmare? She looked around the room.
"Malfoy?" she asked.
It was in her tone of voice, the way she said his name, the way that she looked at him that clicked inside his head. Suddenly a horrified look came over her face.
"Oh God. It wasn't a dream," her voice began to panic.
"Hermione, what are you talking about?" he rushed back to her side.
"What did I do? Oh, what did I do?"
"Hermione, shhh! Calm down. Please calm down."
But instead she began to hyperventilate.
"Hermione!" Draco grabbed her by forearms and shook her. "Hermione, listen to me! Granger, pull yourself the fuck together!"
But she wasn't listening, she had progressed to being hysterical as she began to shake and cry.
"All right. That's it!" he threatened as he threw Hermione over his shoulder and marched her into her bathroom.
He filled her tub with cold water then unceremoniously dumped her in it. Hermione gasped with shock, coughing out the water that she had accidentally taken in.
"Malfoy!" she coughed out some more water. "What the hell did you do that for?"
"You were going into shock."
"I don't think that's the best way to help someone," she quipped as she pulled herself out of the tub.
"It worked didn't it?" he answered watching her carefully.
"What?" she asked impatiently when she noticed him staring at her.
"What did you do?"
"What are you talking about? Will you hand me a towel? Jeans are really uncomfortable when wet, as are white shirts."
Draco muttered a quick drying charm to help her out.
"Thank you," she said curtly. "Now if you'll excuse me."
She moved past Draco but he flung out his arm in her path to stop her.
"You're not fooling anyone, Granger, especially me."
"I don't know what you're talking about," she nervously backed away from him, back into the bathroom.
"There was some powerful magic going on in this room. I know you know that. And suddenly you have your memory back?" Draco began to question her.
"What?" she laughed disbelievingly. "What makes you think I have my memory back?"
"I know you. You're acting the way you were before the accident. Am I right? What did you do?"
"I—I kind of lost control when you left earlier. I was s-so angry with you, I think I just lost control of what I was doing."
"Don't lie to me."
"Well, who cares then? Who are cares what happened! I've got my memory back! Aren't you happy? Isn't this just fucking wonderful?" she began to cry again. She felt his arms go around her, comforting her.
"Please don't ask me again what happened. Please just—just," she choked out.
"Shh. It's okay. I won't ask again," Draco replied.
He held her until her sobs slowly began to die down and still he didn't let go. Finally, she pulled away from him, he immediately missed her warmth.
"Thank you," she sniffled.
"Of course," he replied softly.
She smiled up at him, her heart hammering in her chest. Yes, she remembered everything. She looked down at her hand still clutched in a fist. She brought it up between them then slowly opened it revealing the necklace that she had been holding.
"I never did thank you for this," she said softly.
"It will always protect you," he said quietly then he stepped away from her. "It will also give you something to remember me by."
"What do you mean?"
Draco ran a hand through his hair. "Listen, Hermione. About this morning, I didn't mean it. I never meant to hurt you like that. You deserve to be happy with someone who can love you freely. In a perfect world, maybe we…I…" he was at a loss for words.
"Draco?" she asked with confusion in her voice. "Draco, what-?"
"I'm leaving, Hermione," he blurted out.
"Leaving?"
"I need to get away from here. Do a little thinking."
"But, but the war is starting soon. We need you. I need you."
"I'm not who you think I am, Hermione!"
"What? What are you talking about Draco?"
"Please I just need to go. Please." He said the last word full of pleading and anguish.
Hermione hung her head down. "Okay," she said softly. "But before you leave, will you put this on me?"
Draco looked torn, debating the issue in his head before finally conceding defeat. He walked over to her outstretched hand, taking the necklace. She gathered her hair in one hand tilting her head to the side as Draco reached around her and clasped the necklace. He was mere centimeters from her face. He was powerless to stop it. She let go of her hair as he slid his hands up to cradle her face. He felt her hands on his waist as he looked into her teary eyes. He wasn't going to fight it anymore. His lips crashed down on hers in a passionate kiss. Passion and fire consumed them. It was a stolen moment. Their moment, as if someone was granting them this small moment in time to have as their own. He wanted to consume her, to taste everything, committing it all to memory. Hermione was caught up in the tidal wave of desire that threatened to overwhelm her every sense. He invaded her every sense. She pressed harder into him wanting more of him. They were swept away in their rapture, making the most of their moment.
Creak.
Draco and Hermione froze. Their eyes flew open and looked at each other as they slowly separated. Their hearts pounded in their chests. They weren't alone in the room. Slowly they turned to look at their intruder.
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Harry and Ron let themselves into the manor.
"What happened here?" Ron asked as they walked into the parlor and living room.
The place looked like a wreck, furniture was broken, glass vases and mirrors smashed, plaster fell from the ceiling. Groans and moans could be heard throughout the house as its inhabitants struggled to free themselves of the debris. The giant iron chandelier had fallen from the ceiling and crashed in the middle of the room.
"Ginny!" Ron shouted out, pointing to a spot of red hair underneath a smashed table.
They ran over to her, gently overturning the table off of her.
"Oh, what happened?" she groaned.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Harry asked her.
"I—I think I'm okay," she struggled to get up. "Oh my God!" she said suddenly.
"What? Did I hurt you?" Ron asked, for he was helping her up.
"Hermione! Check on Hermione! She was in her room!"
Harry didn't need telling twice as he dashed up to her room. But when he got there, he immediately sensed something was wrong. The tension in the air was so thick you could practically touch it. Viktor and Malfoy stood facing each other in the middle of the bedroom. Viktor was giving Malfoy a look of pure death that it startled even Harry. Harry had clearly interrupted something. They both turned to look at him as he slowly entered the room. Malfoy gave one last look at Viktor before brushing past Harry to leave the room. Harry looked at Viktor for an explanation, who briefly flickered his eyes over to the bathroom. Harry was afraid of what he might see when he entered the bathroom. Was she okay? Was she alright? She was sitting on the floor, her hands covering her mouth, eyes wide.
"Hermione?" Harry asked quietly.
She jumped at the sound of his voice, a look of pure panic on her face as she scrambled to get away from him.
"Hermione? Hermione, what's the matter? What--?"
Harry was distracted by a flash in her clothes. She pressed herself against the wall as Harry knelt down in front of her. He reached his hand out toward the metal but she pushed his hand away and scrambled to get around him.
"Hermione, what is that?" he asked as he grabbed her around the waist.
"Harry, stop it! No, don't! Let me go!" she struggled against him like an animal caught in a trap.
"Hermione, what's gotten into you?"
She was clearly hiding something and Harry had the idea in his head that it had something to do with the face off in the other room. She held her hands over her chest covering it, but Harry was stronger. Prying her hands away he quickly grasped the item around her neck.
"Harry. Harry I'm so sorry. I'm sorry."
Harry leaned in to get a closer look. It was a silver key adorned with snakes and emeralds.
"Harry, is everything okay?" Ron asked as he and Ginny entered the bathroom.
Hermione was paralyzed with fear as Harry just sat there staring at the key. It all clicked in his head. The face off, the necklace, the look on Hermione's face. He looked up at Hermione and she gasped. Rage. Pure rage is what she saw in his eyes.
"Harry?" Ginny's voice called out to him.
"GET UP!!!!!!!!!"
Hermione yelped as Harry yanked her to her feet.
"Harry, what's gotten into you?" Ron asked bewildered at his friend's behavior.
Harry had a good grip on Hermione's arm as he dragged her out of the bathroom.
"Let's go!" he ordered Ron who dutifully followed them.
"Harry, where are we going?" Ron asked.
"We're sticking to the plan, Ron!" he called out from behind him as he yanked Hermione along.
"Where are you taking me?" Hermione bravely asked Harry.
"We're apparating to Hogsmeade," Ron answered her quietly.
"Hogwarts? You're taking me to Hogwarts? Why?" she asked.
"Look around for something we can use as a portkey," Harry ordered.
"Why don't we just apparate?" Ron asked.
"She can't do that," Harry answered nodding toward Hermione.
"I can apparate just fine, thank you," Hermione said curtly.
"Don't be silly, now start to look, you're wasting time."
CRACK!!
"Bloody hell!!" Ron yelled in surprise.
A second ago, Hermione was standing right in front of him. Now she just disappeared. He gave Harry a bewildered look.
"Dammit!" Harry cursed. "Come on, let's go."
CRACK!!
Hermione felt something being thrown over her a few seconds after she apparated in Hogsmeade.
"What's going on?" she asked as she struggled to get out of it.
"Would you cut it out? It's the invisibility cloak. The idea was to get you to Hogwarts in stealth," Harry explained.
"That would've been nice to know," Hermione cut back.
"You did your little disappearing act before I could."
"You didn't seem like you were in the mood to explain it to me."
"Can you blame me? You're just full of little surprises aren't you?"
"Guys, quiet!" Ron interrupted. "Look, she apparated into an alley and no one has seen us…yet. So I suggest we quiet down and look for a carriage to Hogwarts."
"No. We're going to go through the secret passage from Honeydukes. Let's go," Harry said.
Ron was puzzled by his friends' attitudes toward one another in the underground passageway to Hogwarts. Not one word was spoken to each other in the tunnel, and Ron's attempts at conversation were not met, therefore the trek was made in silence. Ron couldn't understand what had happened to change Harry's attitude for Hermione's well being from concern to complete apathy. Hermione had tripped over something in the tunnel and fell, and while Ron stopped to help her to her feet, Harry ignored this incident and kept on walking as if nothing had happened. When they had reached Hogwart's, Dumbledore had met them behind the statue of the humped witch.
"This will be your room while you stay here," Dumbledore explained to Hermione when they reached the room of requirement. "I must stress, Miss Granger, that no one is to know you are here. Mr. Potter and myself will have the password to this room. Is this understood?"
"No sir. Why am I being treated like a prisoner? I haven't done anything wrong!" Hermione stated.
"It is for your own safety. Our sources have found out that Voldemort has put out a search for you. Every Death Eater in the country is looking for you." Dumbledore explained.
Harry watched Hermione's reaction to this news, or rather lack thereof. She didn't flinch at the mention of his name, nor did she gasp in horror knowing that the Dark Lord was after her. Instead, she looked into Dumbledore's looked at Dumbledore with the most peculiar expression on her face. Dumbledore sighed.
"Harry, Ron, you may go ahead and join the others," he said pointedly. "I am sure they are waiting for you in the dungeons."
"Dumbledore," Harry began to protest. He knew something was up.
"That will be all, Mr. Potter. Thank you," Dumbledore cut him off.
He looked one more time at Hermione and felt his heart break. She suddenly for an instant looked like a child waiting to be punished.
"Come on, mate. Let's go," Ron steered Harry out the door.
When the door had closed, Dumbledore turned to Hermione with concern in his eyes.
"Now, Miss Granger, tell me everything. Leave no detail out."
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Lupin met up with Harry and Ron as they walked toward the Great Hall. Harry missed Hogwarts, the memories washed over him, but they were bittersweet. For many of them had a certain bushy brown haired girl in them. Ron had asked Harry about his odd behavior.
"Are you going to tell me what happened back there?" he had asked.
"I really don't want to talk about it right now," Harry answered tensely.
And before Ron could probe any deeper, Lupin had walked up to them.
"Has Dumbledore arrived yet?" he asked.
"Yeah, he'll be down in a little while. He's talking with Hermione right now."
Harry desperately wanted to be a fly on the wall in that conversation.
"Is the Death Eater being held here?" he asked.
A group of students walked down the hall, some stopping to gape at Harry. Lupin quickly ushered the three of them into an empty classroom.
"That's just the issue," Lupin said quietly after he closed the door behind them. "He's claiming he isn't one. He says he's being set-up, that he was attacked and left with the Dark Mark on his arm."
"But I thought you couldn't see the Dark Mark anymore," Ron whispered.
"What was he doing here?" Harry asked.
"He says he came looking for you," Lupin looked directly at Harry.
"What does he want?"
"He won't say. He'll only speak to you…alone."
"Don't do it, Harry. It's probably a trap," Ron warned as Harry opened the door to the classroom.
"I have to agree with Ron. It's not safe," Lupin added as they trotted next to Harry.
"Look, he's not talking to the aurors," Harry said. "We'll use a charm that will allow everyone to hear what we're talking about. No one else is in the dungeon and he's unarmed. I won't be and we'll have aurors right outside the door."
"But what about Dumbledore?" Lupin asked.
"Dumbledore would agree. Let's just hear what he has to say then we'll decide what to do with him."
Members of the Order waited apprehensively in an empty room in the dungeons. They waited as they heard Harry approach the cell. When he reached the prisoner, Harry immediately recognized him, though he didn't voice this out loud.
"So we finally meet. The Great Harry Potter," the prisoner said smoothly as though greeting an acquaintance. "Oh, yes, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ashton Montgomery."
Ashton held out his hand through the bars. Harry ignored the gesture, arms crossed.
"Forgive me for being rude," Harry began, "I would hate to think that you brought me here for a personal introduction."
Ashton's smile faltered slightly. "Of course, a man who like to get straight to business. Right, then. A war is coming soon, deep down we all know this. You-Know-Who is building up an army, as we speak, to strike and strike hard."
"How do you know this?" Harry asked suspiciously.
Ashton ignored him and continued. "He also has a little protégé, a wizard that he's been teaching his little dastardly ways."
Ron and Lupin who were in the next room, with the Order, looked at each other. Harry was curious.
"And why would I care about that?"
"He happens to be somewhat of a thorn in my side. And from what I've heard, a thorn in yours, too."
"Thank you for this lovely chat but I'm sorry to say that it was a complete waste of my time."
Harry began to walk away as Ashton pressed himself against the bars.
"I want to make a deal!" he cried out after Harry. "Together we can bring down Draco Malfoy!"
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Dumbledore looked at Hermione, deep in thought. She was sitting on the sofa, tears falling silently and slowly down her cheek.
"The protection charm around you is a powerful one. Voldemort did not harm you because of it. It's a sort of code among the Death Eaters to protect their families. It can only be broken when the caster takes it off or if he or she is banished as a Death Eater."
Hermione felt as though the ground gave way beneath her.
"Are you telling me that Draco…that Malfoy…he," she couldn't get the words out, she felt ill.
"Do you care for Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked gently.
Yes, she did. She couldn't help it, they had been through so much together. But she felt sick at the thought. A Death Eater.
"I know that deep down you loyalty lies with Harry. No matter what the past was," Dumbledore continued.
Harry. Oh, God, Harry. She had to explain everything to him. She had to get out of here. The room felt like it was getting smaller and smaller, trapping her inside. She couldn't breathe. She was suffocating.
"But I must ask you not to tell him what you have told me," Dumbledore placed a hand on her shoulder.
Instantly Hermione calmed down and she looked up at him in confusion.
"What?" she asked.
"As the war draws nearer, our list of allies has grown thin. Very rarely are we presented with an opportunity such as this." Dumbledore, who had been pacing, stopped suddenly and looked at the young woman in front of him. "Do you believe in Harry? Do you believe he can defeat Voldemort and end this war?"
"With all my heart," Hermione said softly.
"In love and war, we must all make sacrifices. Sacrifices for what we believe in, what we
believe is best, what we would die for and what we love."
"Harry," Hermione said mournfully as tears fell from her eyes.
"You know what I'm asking of you, what I'm asking you to sacrifice. I wouldn't do it if I didn't think you had the strength and will of character." Dumbledore helped Hermione stand up. "You will leave tonight, I will make your excuses. It is no longer safe to keep you here. Go quickly. You will know when to send word."
This was all coming so fast to Hermione. Could she do this? Would she? Dumbledore had ushered both of them out of the room and into the hall.
"Good luck my dear. And remember, I'll let you know when it's safe to send word."
Tonks had run up to them in the hall.
"Dumbledore, come quickly!" she exclaimed.
Dumbledore turned to Hermione and whispered, "Now is your chance. Go!"
Hermione turned and ran.
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Ron and Lupin looked at one another.
"I knew it!" Ron exclaimed under his breath.
"Heads up guys. Be ready to enter on my signal," Lupin said to Kingsley and Tonks, who were on the other side of the door to the room Harry was in.
Harry turned around and slowly walked back to Ashton.
"Malfoy?" he asked.
"My master wished to be rid of him and I know you will help me," Ashton replied.
"Why would I help Voldemort get rid of him?"
Ashton winced at the Dark Lord's name.
"I don't serve You-Know-Who. My master is a far deadlier enemy of Draco Malfoy."
Harry just stood there trying to act uninterested.
"It's no secret that You-Know-Who is a deadly enemy of yours. Why not help us cripple him by bringing down Malfoy?" Ashton offered.
"Don't listen to him, Harry," Ron muttered to himself in the other room.
"Forgive me for refusing your offer," Harry said and Ashton frowned. "I find your motives questionable, considering you are under investigation for Ms. Granger's accident."
Ashton's face got very serious.
"I had nothing to do with that. I care about her, very much."
"Stop the interview, get Harry out of there," Ron said to Lupin.
"Okay guys," Lupin said into a badge, "open the door."
A moment later the badge cackled. "We can't. He sealed it shut!"
"Shit!" Ron cursed.
"We're on our way," Lupin spoke into the badge again.
Harry had put a powerful locking spell on the door when he first walked into the room. He knew the aurors would cut his interview short. He narrowed his eyes at the man in the cell.
"You care for her? Is it just coincidence that she's in mortal danger when you're nearby?"
"I don't have to justify my feelings for her to an old school friend of hers. Oh, yes, I know you went to Hogwarts, I know that she and Weasley were your friends. But that's in the past. You knew the little girl, I know the woman."
Harry stepped up to the bars, glaring at the man on the other side.
"You don't know her," he growled. "Stay away from her!"
"Apparently I'm wrong," Ashton said as he backed away from the bars. A look of surprise and sudden comprehension fell across his face. "You, too, have fallen under her spell. I can hardly blame you. What was it that did it? Her smile? Her laugh? The way she feels in your arms when you hold her—ah!"
His anger unchecked, Harry inadvertently sent a stinging hex to the man behind the bars. Ashton rubbed his wrists and looked up at a glowering Mr. Potter.
Harry was wrestling his anger under control, calming himself as he tried to block out Montgomery's words, but he was failing miserably.
"I pity us both, then," Ashton said softly. "Wanting a woman we both can never have, or at least, shouldn't have."
Harry raised his eyebrows.
"How does that muggle saying go?" Ashton continued. "Thou shalt not covet another man's wife?"
