Chapter 10
A/N: I am so sorry it's taken so long. But I'm even more determined now to finish this. My last chapter ten, (the one with Harry's birthday party), I have taken of, because I decided to go in a different direction. Enjoy.
"I've been thinking," Hermione said upon sitting down with Dawn at breakfast.
"You? Really?" Dawn remarked before biting into a piece of bacon.
Hermione shot her a look. "You've been upset lately." Dawn open her mouth to argue, but was cut of by Hermione. "No, you have been. And it's because of Harry, isn't it?"
"No!" Dawn argued. "It's because my sister and everyone left. I really miss home and-"
"Bull shit. When Harry started liking you, you thought you'd be miserable with him. Now, you miserable without him."
"You intuition is really irritating."
"Look, Dawn, the only thing you should be worried about right now is your happiness. Your not happy without him."
"There's not much I can do about that now, is there?"
"Sure there is. You both go to Care of Magical Creatures after breakfast. Walk with him down there. Be friendly. At least talk to him. It doesn't matter how much you think you don't like someone, if you start talking to them, you'll realize they're not that bad. Trust me, I know."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Two weeks later...
Dawn was seated in Three Broomsticks. She wasn't alone however. She was surrounded by friends, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and of course, Harry. They were celebrating his birthday.
It was meant to be a quiet, low-key dinner, as Harry didn't want to make a big deal out of it, but the twins showed up and invited themselves to sit down. It suddenly became a large and boisterous group.
Dawn had had fun, but had been annoyingly yet thrillingly aware of how close Harry was, sitting just next to her, his knee gently brushing hers. As usual, there were many people from Hogwarts in the village that night, and most of them were stopping by for a few moments to say happy birthday.
"So, Dawn," Harry said with a smile, "what'd you get me?"
Dawn spoke in mock offense. "I'm insulted. I would think my mere presence would be enough."
"It is," Harry replied," But the presence of something like chocolate is also greatly appreciated."
She giggled. "Well, tough luck."
"Well, Harry, we got you a present, and your going to have to whether you want it or not," said George with a mischievous smile as he finished his piece of cake.
Harry shook his head. "If it's food, there's no way in hell I'm eating anything you two give me."
"But-" they both said at once only to be cut of.
"No way in hell," Harry repeated.
They both frowned. "Fine," said Fred. "Well just have to find another person to test it on."
After a few more minutes, everyone had finished their desert and headed out of the pub. "I should go home," Ron said though he sounded sorry about it. "I've got a six a.m. meeting tomorrow." He apparted of. The twins followed shortly after him.
Ginny cursed loudly after realizing she was late for a date that she had scheduled for after the dinner. Hermione muttered something about going to look in a few shops before rushing of. This, unfortunately left Dawn and Harry alone to walk back up to the castle.
Everyone's abrupt departure lead Dawn to believe it had been planned, but she didn't have time to dwell on it, because soon, Harry took her hand in his, which she was not expecting to happen, (she, however, did not complain,) and lead her up the path to the castle.
The night was warm as most days at the end of July are. The air was heavy and humid yet the gentle breeze seemed to make the evening pleasant. There was a full moon so the land before them had a bluish tint, and the noise form the village grew fainter and fainter as they walked away from it.
"So, have a good birthday?"
"Very," Harry replied.
"Good." They walking in comfortable silence for a few minutes until Harry spoke.
"So, what's you favorite part about Hogwarts?"
"Um, the thestrals." Dawn pictured them in her head as she said this.
"Well, Hagrid will be glad to hear that. I never cared for them much. When I first saw them, in my fifth year, I always thought they looked, well, dead."
"They do at that, it's just, there's something about them that intrigues me."
She suddenly grew very silent. Harry must have noticed. "What is it?"
"I want to ask you something, but it might upset you and I don't want to ruin your birthday."
"What?" he asked. He stopped walking and turned to face her.
"Who did you see die?"
He paused for a moment. "Numerous people, the first was a boy named Cedric." The emotion in his voice made Dawn's heart swell with pity. "You see, we were in a tournament together, and whoever grabbed the cup first would win. He was going to let me win and I him, but then I suggested we grab it together, so we did. A death eater had charmed it to take us to Voldemort, but I was supposed to win, not him so upon arrival Voldemort ordered Cedric killed."
Dawn was so terrified at that moment that her heart would break at the sight of him. He wasn't crying or anything, it seemed he had spoken about this before, but his eyes seemed like they weren't really seeing her that they were back at that time many years ago seeing these things happen to him.
"I'm so sorry," Dawn's voice broke as she said this.
He nodded. "Not your fault. You probably dealt with worse, your own sister."
"But she came back." Dawn slipped her arm through his and they continued walking.
"Was she the only-"
"I've seen others die," Dawn answered knowing the question he would ask. "I've been around death most of my life."
"Why- If I were you I would want to get away from it all. Why did you chose the same life?"
She shrugged. "How could I ever lead a normal life knowing what I do? The death is small price to pay for all the good that I can do."
"I never thought about it like that."
"So," Dawn said wanting a change of subject, "what's your favorite part about Hogwarts?"
Harry stayed quiet for a long time. Dawn stopped walking and turned to face him. Soon he answered. "You."
At that moment, as he looked at her with his eyes filled with such sincerity she realized that he saw her as no one else did. In his eyes, she was perfect. He didn't see all the horrible things about her. And that made him perfect.
She wasn't exactly sure how it happened, but slowly his mouth grew closer to hers and his lips gently brushed against hers. They stayed for a moment in the barest hint of a caress. His lips were warm and felt like silk against hers. She shivered slightly at the contact. His hand was on her cheek, gently cupping her face. All to soon he pulled away, and she could barely keep herself from pulling him right back.
"I'm sorry," Harry said softly. "I shouldn't have done that." Dawn, still slightly dazed did not reply. "Do you forgive me?" he asked needing her to say that they were alright.
Dawn nodded. "I forgive you." Without another word she pressed her lips against his again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ah, Mr. Giles," Dumbledore said upon passing Giles in the hallway just after breakfast the next day, "I'm glad I ran into you, I was hoping I could ask you a few questions about Miss. Summers."
Giles frowned. "Dawn?"
Dumbledore nodded. "I'm afraid so. Tell me has she been spending a lot of time down by Hagrid's with the animals."
"I wouldn't say a lot, but a fair bit, yes."
"Any particular animal she likes?" Dumbledore further inquired.
Giles shrugged. "I think she likes the thestrals." Giles, however, did not notice the comprehension dawning in Dumbledore's eyes at this information as he did not show it on his face. "These are rather strange questions, Headmaster, any particular reason for them?"
"No." Dumbledore shook his head knowing well he was lying. "None at all." Wordlessly Dumbledore turned and walked back down the hall and toward Trelawney's classroom.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Before breakfast the next day, Dawn was down by Hagrid's watching the thestrals. She did this a lot. It was as if they had established a deep connection. She was so absorbed she didn't realize someone coming out after her.
"Hey, you," Harry said sitting gown next to her on the ground.
"Hey, you," she replied affectionately turning her back to face him and leaning back against his body. She sighed contentedly.
They sat in comfortable silence for a long time watching the thestrals until finally Harry broke it. "We should get to breakfast."
"No," Dawn mumbled. "I don't want to leave."
"Me neither."
So they didn't until a long time after that.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Dawn met Hermione in the library after lunch. She obviously told Hermione about the new relationship with Harry leading to several "Oh my Gods" and "It's about times" from Hermione.
"Did you buy anything last night?" Dawn asked looking for a slight change of conversation, because soon she could tell Hermione was going to get very smug and move into the "I told you so's."
"When?" Hermione asked seeming confused.
"When Harry and I were walking back to the castle, you said you had to go to a few shops," Dawn explained.
Hermione didn't appear to understand anymore than she did a minute ago. Until comprehension dawned on her face. "Oh, oh yes I remember. No, I didn't get anything."
Her voice sounded strange. Strained almost. "You weren't shopping last night." It wasn't a question.
"Don't be silly, Dawn," Hermione's reply was short. "Of course I was shopping last night. "Where else would I be that late at night?"
"I don't know." Dawn shrugged. "But I'm going to figure it out."
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Draco," Dawn acknowledged as she sat down with him at dinner.
"Dawn, I've been hearing the most interesting rumors. Such things including yourself and one, Harry Potter."
"It's out already! Damn, news goes fast around here." Dawn poured herself a glass of water.
"This is Hogwarts. I thought you would've figured that out by now."
"You're not mad?" she asked.
He laughed. He actually laughed. "You thought I'd be mad? Don't be ridiculous, I could tell how much liked him for forever."
"But- but- but you don't like him..."
"Trust me, Dawn, my not liking him is not a factor. It's not as if I'm the one dating him. Yes, he's a prick and an idiot, but I'm sure he'd say the same about me."
"And worse."
"So all this happened last night?" he inquired.
She nodded. "What did you do last night?" She wasn't sure if she felt comfortable talking about Harry with Draco, just as she didn't like talking about Draco with Harry, so she changed the subject.
"Read." His voice was short and to the point, and there was something about it that made Dawn inquire further.
"What?"
"A report my office sent me." Still, Dawn had a feeling he was lying to her, and was making this up as he went.
"What was it about?" she asked hoping to stump him so he'd slip, assuming he had something to slip about.
He must have seen where she was going with it, be cause he answered, "Classified."
But it was to late. Dawn finally put the pieces together. "Oh my God!" Her voice wasn't loud, but in an astonished whisper. "You were with Hermione."
Draco opened his mouth to protest, but shut it realizing it was fruitless. He stood up, taking Dawn by the hand and standing up. "Let's go," he murmured, walking to the door. He turned shortly, and Dawn saw him shoot a look at Hermione, which she saw, then, he turned and left the room taking Dawn behind him.
"Draco, where are we going?" Dawn asked irritably following him anyway. He did not reply just lead her down stairway and stairway until Dawn was certain they had reached the lowest part of Hogwarts. He brought her to a large tapestry and said clearly to it, "The essence of a traitor." The tapestry moved aside and the wall behind it opened up.
He lead her inside. "You can sit down, if you want."
The room they were now in wasn't small nor large. It was about half the size of the Ravenclaw Common Room. There was a carpet, which surprised Dawn as the walls were stone like a dungeon. The carpet was read and soft. There were two soft arm chairs in one corner and a few pillows thrown together on the floor in another.
Dawn sat down in one of the chairs a little self-consciously. Draco leaned against the wall and watched the door. Soon Hermione walked in. She didn't say hello, or even smile.
"Were you followed?" Draco asked immediately.
"I don't think so. She figured it out, then?" Hermione asked Draco. He nodded.
"Figured what out?" Dawn asked loudly. "I would very much like to know exactly what the hell is going on!"
"We're dating," Draco said simply. Dawn stared at the two of them. Although she had sort of figured it out, it was shocking to hear it confirmed.
Hermione spoke next. "For about a year now."
No one spoke after that. It seemed they were both staring at her waiting to hear what she would say. But Dawn didn't say anything.
Finally Draco couldn't stand it anymore. "Well, say something. We figured you'd be mad, but at least yell at us or something."
Dawn looked over at him and shook her head. "I just feel like an idiot for not figuring it out sooner." Dawn turned to Hermione. "So all the times you made up those lame excuses that you were going to the bathroom you were going to see him."
Hermione nodded. "I had to come up with an excuse."
"Damn, you're a bad liar!" Dawn exclaimed. "We all knew you weren't going to the bathroom, we just couldn't figure out where else you would be."
"We were able to hide it this long because we didn't have any mutual friends to figure out we were missing at the same times," Hermione explained. "We were actually wondering when you would catch on."
"I don't understand. Why did you have to keep it a secret?"
After saying this, Hermione immediately turned to look at Draco, who didn't notice or pretended not to. "We can't tell you th-" he started but was interrupted.
"Draco," came Hermione's firm voice. "Don't do this again. We can tell her."
He looked over to her his eyes stern. "This is my secret. It's my responsibility and it's my choice. Just because I told you, doesn't mean you have the right to tell others." Dawn followed this conversation with much interest.
"I don't give a damn. She's your friend and mine. Are you really going to stand here and lie to her?" Hermione asked looking angry.
"The more people know, the more chance he could die."
"She's had to keep secrets from the rest of the world since she was twelve. She knows how to keep them."
"I don't care. I'm not putting anyone else in danger. Not him and not her."
"You didn't care with me."
"No, if anything I cared to much." Draco didn't look at her as he said this. After saying this he silently left the room.
"Why does this have to be a secret? Whose life is in danger? What is going on?" Dawn interrogated immediately not sitting anymore, standing.
"If I could I would tell you, but he's right: It's his to tell," Hermione seemed upset about this but said it jus the same . "And he's right it could easily get people killed. And I can't lose him. You should go, I'll stay a while so it's not suspicious." Dawn started to walk toward the door. "And Dawn?"
"Yeah?" she asked turning back to face her friend.
"I don't think I have to-" Hermione started.
"I won't tell anyone," Dawn interrupted.
"Not even-"
Again Dawn foresaw the question. "I won't tell Harry." Dawn left the room and walked back up to dinner. Desperate to see Harry. The only thing that made sense anymore.
A/N: Next one will come soon.