Disclaimer- Every thing is JK's. All of it. Not one thing is mine. Except for the nice new Draco…maybe.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN- Sacrifices.
"Was it awful?" Hermione asked Draco tentatively, as he lay himself next to her on the bed. It was a bit squashy, but neither of them minded.
Draco thought back to the ceremony. "It was a little bit." He said, a major understatement.
"What happened?"
Draco recounted the ceremony for her, explaining how Voldemort searched his mind, asked him all the questions and put him through agony he had never experienced before. After wards, he had taken a Portkey home with Lucius. They had talked quietly about the Prophecy for a short while, but basically kept quiet. Draco had spent a little bit of time with his mother, who knew only snippets of information about the Prophecy, but had then retired to his room.
He had received Hermione's letter after dinner, but hadn't sent one back, assuming that by the time Hedwig would have arrived, he'd be nearly there himself.
"I think Harry, Ron and Ginny will all feel much better that you're back too." Hermione said.
Draco sent her a sidelong glance. "Huh?"
"I've been acting weird since Wednesday, so I suppose they'll be happy to have me back to normal. I think I worried them a bit." Hermione explained.
"Oh, right." Draco said. He checked his watch casually, then remembered that he had Quidditch practice that afternoon. "I'll have to go in a few hours. I have training."
"When do you play Gryffindor?" Hermione asked. "Next Saturday?"
"Yep." Draco turned on his side to face her. "So, who will you be rooting for?"
"Gryffindor! What a stupid question."
"You mean you won't root me?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.
Silence. Hermione looked back at him apprehensively. She wasn't sure if he had meant that, but there was no way she was going to answer. Draco looked at her questioningly, then thought about what he had just said.
"Oops! I mean, you won't root for me?" Draco corrected himself.
"Right. I'm sure that's what you meant. And no."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not in Slytherin."
"Gottcha." Draco said, smiling. "So what are you going to do today?"
Hermione thought for a bit. "I might go into Hogsmede. I've got something that I have to do for a certain somebody…Is this even a Hogsmede weekend?"
Draco smiled, knowing what she had to do. "I think it is. The weekend before the final Quidditch match usually is. What are you going to do there?"
"Just a little something." She said evasively. "But for now, I think I'd better get back to the castle, because I'm starving."
"Me too." Draco agreed, standing up and passing Hermione her clothes from the day before. She got dressed then went outside to splash her face in the river. The water was icy cold and washed away the images of the nightmares from the night before. She twisted her hair and pinned it at the back of her head. She slowly wandered out to the clearing and looked up at the clear blue sky.
Draco joined her shortly afterwards. She turned to him and said, "Beautiful day."
"Beautiful company." He replied, causing her to smile at him. He then took her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. "Allow me."
Hermione stood, waiting for Draco to picture the spot he would transport them to. After a few moments, Hermione felt herself being pushed against by a force of wind and then felt her feet hit the hard ground of the Astronomy Tower. Opening her eyes, Hermione quickly stepped away from the banister.
"You always come so close to the edge." She scolded Draco.
"There is a railing, you know." He told her, unnecessarily patting the ledge with his hand.
"I know, but the railing wont stop us hurtling to our deaths if you miss the tower altogether."
Draco looked a little worried at that, but said nothing of it. "Let's go to breakfast." He said instead.
Hermione nodded and they walked, still hand in hand, to the Great Hall. When they entered, Draco began to veer off in the direction of the Slytherin table, and Hermione made to continue to the Gryffindor table. Only once their arms reached their full length, did they both stop and look at each other in mild alarm.
Hermione glanced over her shoulder at Harry and Ron, who were sitting at the Gryffindor table, eating their breakfast. She looked back at Draco, who was watching her closely, not removing his hand from hers.
"Uh…where do we sit?" Draco asked her, as if them separating wasn't even as option.
"I'm not sure." Hermione looked around the hall as if believing that a table to suit them might have appeared in the last few seconds. "Are students allowed to sit at a table that isn't of their own house?"
"I think so. I don't see why not." Draco answered, searching the faces of the people sitting at the Slytherin table. "Do you…wanna come and sit with me and the Slytherin table?"
Hermione snapped her head towards the table. No one looked too menacing. "Alright. But I'm moving to the Gryffindor table if anyone threatens to hex me. I'd hate to get expelled for hurting someone too badly."
"Modest." Draco muttered sarcastically under his breath. He began to walk Hermione to his table. She followed, though a slight bit behind him. Draco sat down next to Pansy, his expression looking as if bringing a Gryffindor to the Slytherin table was nothing was out of the ordinary. Hermione tentatively down next to him.
The people near them stopped talking and looked at Hermione in shock and confusion. Slowly the others looked up and saw her too. Eventually, the entire Slytherin table was staring at her and Draco, apparently speechless. Draco glanced up from his bowl of cereal and his expression turned hard.
"Something wrong?" he demanded of them all.
They didn't answer. Just continued staring unblinkingly.
"I said, is something wrong?" he asked, more loudly this time. Several of the Slytherin's shook their heads and hastened to make conversations amongst themselves. Pansy continued to stare in perplexity.
"Pansy, do you have a problem?" Draco asked her dangerously, wrapping an arm protectively around Hermione's shoulder. Pansy raised her eyebrows and frowned.
"I don't think so…it's different, that's all."
"She's allowed to sit here." Draco said firmly.
"I never said she wasn't, Draco." Pansy told him, turning back to her breakfast. "I just said it was different."
"Thank-you Pansy." Draco said quietly. He then turned to Hermione and smiled. "What would you like to eat?"
***
Hermione left to go to her dorm shortly after she'd finished eating. Draco stayed, as he hadn't finished eating his fourth piece of toast.
"Draco." Pansy said.
"Just deal with it Pansy." Draco said. "She's my girlfriend and we are allowed to have breakfast together."
Pansy sighed. "Draco I don't care about that, ok? It's your decision, and to be honest, I agree with you."
"Than what did you want?" Draco asked her, a little confused.
"I was wondering how yesterday went. Father told me you had your ceremony early, and I was a little worried when you didn't come back last night."
"Oh." He said. "Yeah…it went fine."
"Don't be stupid. Nothing concerning You-Know-Who can be fine. He has a lot of power and strength, but he isn't the worlds most caring man. Did he hurt you at all?"
"Yes, I s'pose he did." Draco said very quietly.
"Can I see it?" Pansy asked.
Draco looked around to make sure no one else was watching, then pulled back his sleeve to expose a faded skull on his forearm. Pansy pocked it gently, causing Draco to draw a sharp breath in pain. She looked up at him. "It still hurts?"
He nodded, and pulled down his sleeve again. Pansy frowned as a thought occurred to her.
"Does Hermione know?"
Draco froze for a split second. He didn't know what to say. What kind of a Gryffindor would knowingly go out with a Death Eater? Certainly not a friend of Harry Potters. He recovered, and managed to look guilty. "No, I don't think she should. I don't want to lose her, but to tell her would make that a sure fact."
"Ok. So no mentioning it around her than. Got it." Pansy said simply.
Stuffing the rest of his toast in his mouth, Draco stood up. "I have to go to Quidditch practice now. Big game next Saturday."
"Oh yeah." Pansy said, remembering. "I forgot. Have fun."
He walked off to the common room to grab his broom. After stopping for a few moments in the Entrance Hall to tie up his undone shoelace, he began proceeding to the staircase leading to the dungeon. Just as he was walking through the doorway, he heard his voice being called from behind him. "Draco!"
He turned to see, with much surprise, Ginny walking towards him. "Draco," She said again. "I need to talk to you. Privately."
Draco frowned. This didn't sound good. He nodded at her, and led the way to an empty dungeon classroom. Once he closed the door behind Ginny, he looked at her questioningly. "What's up?"
Ginny looked at him with a penetrating gaze. "What has been going on with you?"
"Sorry?" Draco asked in some confusion.
"Hermione has been acting almost dead these past few days. It's because of you, or something to do with you. And I want to know what is going on, because she cant keep living like she has been."
Draco sighed. "Ginny, I can't tell you what's been going on, but I can tell you that it's all over now. Hermione should be back to normal as of today."
Ginny narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure?"
Draco nodded. "Yep."
Ginny smiled at him in relief. "That's good to hear, because she was worrying us-" she paused and her eyes widened. Her expression turned dangerous. "Did you break up with her?" she demanded quietly.
"No!" Draco said in alarm. "Nothing like that. We just, er…had a little problem, but now it's all fixed."
"Good." She took a step closer to Draco and rested a hand on his arm. "Know that I trust you, Draco. If anything happens to break that trust," her grip tightened. "Then you'll wish you hadn't."
Draco had to keep himself from smirking. "Ok. But you have nothing to worry about. You will trust me forever. Nothing will split Hermione and myself apart, me least of all."
"Thank-you." Ginny smiled at him again, taking her hand away from him. "Just don't distract her too much, you are getting closer to your NEWT's. Hermione would die if she didn't get as high as she possibly could. Which is probably full marks in all of them."
"I wont. Trust me."
"I want to be able to." Ginny said. She moved to the door. "Have a good Quidditch practice."
"Thanks." Draco followed her in to the corridor. "Would you be able to pass a message on to Hermione for me?"
"Sure."
"Tell her that once she gets back from Hogsmede to relax, and get used to what's new."
"Oookay." Ginny said slowly.
"She'll understand." Draco said, smiling at her. "See you later."
Ginny looked after him, his black robe billowing out behind him and a slight swagger in his step. She turned once he had disappeared around the corner, and went in search of Hermione to pass on the weird message Draco had for her.
***
Hermione sat in the common room, her eyes glazed over and thoughts of the previous evening running through her head. Draco had come back. He had survived the ceremony of becoming a Death Eater. He was a Death Eater. The Prophecy had to move on, it was taking much too much time. Draco had told her he loved her. And only once he had said that to her, did she realise that she loved him too. Maybe she would go down and watch him practice Quidditch-
"Hermione." Ginny's voice said from next to her. Hermione jumped; she hadn't noticed in her musings that Ginny had come and sat down next to her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
"That's alright. What was it you wanted?"
"Well, I have a message to pass on from Draco."
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Really?"
"Uh-huh. It goes like this 'when you return from Hogsmede, relax, and get used to what's new.'"
"Oh. Ok. Thanks for that Gin." Hermione said.
"You understand what he meant?" Ginny asked, hoping that she would explain it to her.
"Yep." Hermione answered simply.
"Well…?"
"Uh…" Hermione thought briefly. "Just that I've had a big couple of days, and to relax."
"What's the new thing you have to get used to?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Er…he says I should be more comfortable about being with him. You know, it is kinda weird going out with a Slytherin."
"You seemed pretty used to it this morning at breakfast." Ginny told her, raising her eyebrow in an unconvinced manner.
"Yeah…well, you know." Hermione said.
"I'll never get any answers out of you." Ginny said accusingly, standing up when she saw Harry enter the common room. Hermione winked at her, and Ginny smiled, beckoning Harry over to them. "Hermione is going to Hogsmede today." She told Harry, taking his hand in hers. She faced Hermione. "Do you want some company?"
Hermione considered it for a second, then nodded. "That'd be great."
Ginny smiled. "Great. I'll go get ready."
"Great." Harry said, with the air of someone who had just been forced into something without even being aware of it, till it was too late. Ginny rushed off, and Harry slumped down next to Hermione. "So, why am I now going to Hogsmede?"
"Well, I need to get a birthday present for someone." She answered.
"Really?" Harry said, a look of guilt creeping across his face. "Who?"
Hermione laughed. "Don't worry Harry. You haven't forgotten anyone's birthday. It's for Draco."
"Oh. Right. And Ginny knows that's why we're going into Hogsmede?"
"Well, no. She didn't ask why I was going in. I think she just wanted some fresh air, or a change of scenery. Something like that anyway."
Harry nodded, resigned to a day shopping with two girls, when he saw Ron stumble in to the common room. His face brightened. "Ron!"
Ron spotted Harry and made his way over. "What's up guys?"
"We're going into Hogsmede this morning." Harry said. "Do you wanna come? Please?"
Ron shrugged noncommittally. "Sure. We doing anything important there?"
"Yes. Well, I am at least." Hermione said. "I have to buy Draco a birthday present."
"Oh. What are you going to get him?" Ron asked, sitting down.
Hermione frowned. "I haven't the foggiest idea."
"We can help you. Maybe a nice little maze for him to run around in, whenever he annoys Moody too much…"
"Ron!" Hermione scolded him with narrowed eyes.
"I was only joking Hermione!" Ron said, risking a laugh. "Don't take me too seriously."
"That's impossible, Ron." She said.
They were joined not long later by Ginny, who looked rather eager to get out and about.
"Hogsmede, here we come." She said to the pale blue sky as they walked down the path leading through the Hogwarts gates. She looked at Hermione. "So, you got anything planned for our day out?"
Hermione informed Ginny that she needed to buy Draco a present. "But I don't know what to buy him."
Ginny smiled wickedly. "How about some ferret food-"
"Uh, Gin?" Ron interrupted. "Not a good idea."
Ginny stopped herself from finishing the sentence. She cleared her throat and began seriously, "Maybe some new robes? Or a set of quills with his name engraved on the side?"
During their journey to Hogsmede, many ideas were suggested.
"A broom polishing kit?" Harry suggested.
"Some…" Ron paused, not sure of what to say but trying to sound helpful. "Hair…products."
"Scented parchment is always nice." Ginny offered. Hermione disregarded this idea immediately.
"Potion ingredients?" Harry said. "He's good at potions. Maybe buy him some things that are not available to students so he can do some potion making in his spare time."
"Well, he doesn't exactly have much spare time…" Hermione said. But this idea brought another gift idea to mind. Draco's main task in the Prophecy was potion making. And they knew from reading the journal that he had more to do, so a new cauldron might be suitable. One that would enable him to take it to class with him without being noticed…she decided to check that out once they reached Hogsmede.
"How about…" Ron continued brainstorming. "Ooh! A hairbrush! He probably needs a new hairbrush."
"Why?" Ginny asked with a slight sneer.
"I don't know." Ron said lamely. "Just an idea."
"Some books." Harry said. "Don't know what kind though."
"Lollies?" Ginny proposed.
"A toothbrush?" Ron said, a tiny smile creeping onto his lips.
"Ron, what is it with you and toiletry items?" Harry asked curiously.
"Well, I can't think of things that Hermione would give her boyfriend. Let alone a boyfriends that is Draco Malfoy." He said defensively.
"Right. Try not to suggest mouth spray next, will you?"
"Does he have a pet?" Ginny asked.
"I don't think so." Hermione said. "But I don't think he's in to animals all that much."
They reached Hogsmede and stopped in the middle of the road. "We don't have to all stick together." Hermione said. "You've given me some ideas to work with, so if you want to go off and meet me in the Three Broomsticks in an hour or so, that's fine with me."
"I'll go with you Hermione." Ron said, giving Harry and Ginny a chance to be alone together. She nodded and they arranged a time to join back with Harry and Ginny, before parting and heading for the strip of shops closest.
"Where do you want to head, Hermione?" Ron asked her.
"If I listened to your suggestions, probably a chemist." She joked. "I'm not really sure. Let's just browse in this strip of stores."
After half an hour of looking unenthusiastically at things that were either too expensive or just ridiculous, they paused in between shops. Ron turned to Hermione, exaggerating a look of boredom. "Come on Hermione. Let's have an actual destination. Where do you want to go?"
"I still don't know." She thought for a moment. "I think the cauldron store will do for now." They walked into Caulder-On the StoveTop and dawdled down the isles of cauldrons. "For heavens sake, how many different companies feel the need to design a pot?" Hermione asked as they began proceeding down the specialty isle.
"Ooh Hermione, look!" Ron said pointing to a cauldron with different colors swirling over its surface. "That's kind of cool."
"Yeah, I suppose." Hermione said, but added critically, "But it might make the color of the potion look slightly different than it really is, so you might add things at the wrong time."
"That's true." Ron agreed. "Still cool though."
Hermione spotted a cauldron a few meters away, and made a beeline for it after reading the sign in it bore. 'Brew Potions In Secret With A Double Layered Cauldron.' Hermione peered inside and frowned. It appeared to have a normal base, with no little hinges on the side to indicate a second layer.
"Can I please help you?" Asked an eager voice. Hermione turned to see that the assistant from behind the counter had approached. She had noticed him when they first entered the store, looking at them impatiently, waiting for them to ask for help. Obviously it had gotten too much for him.
"Uh, yeah alright." She pointed to the cauldron. "Is this the cauldron with two layers?"
"It certainly is!" he answered her enthusiastically. Hermione smiled nervously and grabbed Ron's wrist as he was strolling passed her, and pulled him over to stand next to her. The assistant looked very young. He was short and stocky with black hair and brown eyes, which shone in excitement.
"Well, could you explain how it works?"
"Absolutely!" he leaned forward and stuck his entire torso in the cauldron. Ron looked mildly alarmed at his enthusiasm, but watched with interest. A few moments later, the assistant rose out and gestured for them to look inside. Hermione leaned forward and saw that the bottom section of the cauldron had been raised like a trapdoor, and there was a whole other section.
"Goodness, you can't tell there's extra room by looking at it from the outside." Hermione said.
"It's wonderful, isn't it!" the assistant exclaimed, smiling at Hermione with all his teeth showing.
"Yeesss." Ron said slowly, unsure whether this guy was as sincere as he appeared. He also wondered why he kept smiling at Hermione the way he was. Hermione tightened her grip on Ron's wrist, but smiled at the assistant.
"What was your name, sorry?" she asked him politely.
"Oh, how rude of me!" The young man exclaimed, hitting himself on the forehead in an almost animated fashion. He then extended his hand towards Hermione. "My name's Lex Slunk. You may not remember, but I went to Hogwarts myself," he pointed at the Hogwarts emblem on Ron's robes unnecessarily. "I think I left when you went into third year."
"You remember us?" Ron asked, shocked. Ron hardly noticed any student that he was not in direct contact with on a daily basis, let alone remember a student who had left the school five years ago.
"Harry Potter's friends? Of course. Every one knows you." He smiled at Hermione once again, showing his white teeth. "I never learnt your names though…"
"Oh…er, well, I'm Hermione Granger." Hermione introduced herself hesitantly.
"Yeah, and I'm…Ron Weasley." Ron said, frowning when Lex didn't even look at him. "So about this cauldron…"
Lex jumped forward and wrapped his arm around the cauldron. "Do you want it? I'll give it to you for half price today! Anything for someone who goes to Hogwarts!"
"Well, alright." Hermione agreed, taking her wallet out of an inside pocket from her robes and walking to the counter. Lex followed, carrying the cauldron for her.
"That'll be fifteen galleons, thank-you." Lex said in a now professional voice, holding out his hand for her money. "Ta." he added casually when she dropped seven gold coins in his hand. He performed a simple shrinking spell on the cauldron and placed it in a bag, then handed it to her. "Instructions are in the bag."
"Thank-you for your help." Hermione said, taking the bag and handing it to Ron when he offered to carry it for her.
"Any time." Lex said enthusiastically. He leaned on the counter with his elbows and looked at the pensively for a moment. "So…are you two going out?" he asked, honest curiosity spreading over his face.
"Us?" Ron waggled a finger between Hermione and himself. "No, we're just friends."
"Oh right. You just seemed kinda close, that's all." Lex said, then he smiled at Hermione. "You must be taken by someone though?"
"Well, to be honest, yes." She replied, seeing no harm in telling him that she had a boyfriend.
"Really? Is it Harry?" Lex asked, a large grin spreading over his face.
"No! He's just my friend too." Hermione said.
"Anyone in Gryffindor?"
"Well, no actually."
"I might know him, I wasn't in Gryffindor myself." Lex said.
"Were you in Hufflepuff?" Ron asked innocently.
Lex turned his gaze to Ron for the first time since he'd entered the store. "No." he said, his bright smile fading from his face. He looked back to Hermione. "So, what house is he in? He might be in my old house."
"He's in Slytherin." Hermione stated.
Lex's face assumed an unreadable expression. "Really? So I might know him."
Hermione and Ron exchanged a meaningful glance. This guy had been in Slytherin, but by the way he was acting it seemed Slytherin would be the only house he wouldn't fit into. There must be more to him than meets the eye. Hermione turned back to him. "You might, yes. But it has been five years since you were at Hogwarts and he was only in second year then, so I doubt it…"
"Try me. My memory needs a test." Lex said, tipping his head to the side and putting on a vague expression to prove his point.
"I see." Ron said. He then glanced at his watch in an over the top manner. "Look at the time, Hermione! We've got to go meet Harry now."
"I'm right here, Ron." Harry's voice said from the doorway.
He was standing with Ginny's hand in his. Harry's gaze shifted from Ron to Lex, whose eyes were wide as he stared back at Harry. Ginny didn't notice the odd atmosphere, and walked up to Hermione with a smile on her face.
"So, you found something for Draco, than?" she asked. Ron groaned and Hermione looked over at Lex. His gaze had moved from Harry's and he was now looking a little pleased with himself. He caught Hermione's eye and smiled.
"Have a nice day."
Hermione frowned, but replied with the same line and left the store, talking to Ginny under her breath. Ginny turned just outside the doorway to look at Lex, who smiled largely and waved at her. She smiled nervously, and a moment later was gone.
Lex's cheesy smile disappeared immediately and was replaced with a smirk of triumph. So, Lucius Malfoy's son was going out with a Gryffindor. That's interesting. The newly appointed Death Eater was betraying He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named by dating a mudblood. This cannot be allowed.
The Dark Lord would deal with Draco himself, no doubt. Lex had never liked Draco when he had known him at Hogwarts. He was a spoilt pureblooded brat. Maybe in thanks, the Dark Lord would raise Lex's status within the Death Eater circle.
"What are you looking so gleeful about?" Lex turned to see his boss staring at his suspiciously from across the room. Lex motioned to him to close the door. Once he had, Lex told him what he had found out.
"So, Potter's friend is with Draco Malfoy? That'll be valuable. The Dark Lord must be informed, as Draco now cannot be trusted. If he can lie so easily about hating mudbloods, then turn around and date one, his intentions will have to be put to the test. "
"I'll go tell the Dark Lord at once." Lex volunteered.
"I think Lucius should be questioned first. He may be disloyal too, and to bring two to the Dark Lord would mean even greater rewards."
"Yes, that's true Mr. Dray. I will go talk to Lucius immediately."
"After you've finished work, Lex." Mr. Dray said commandingly.
"Yes, sir." Lex said, crestfallen. He walked to the front of the store, opened the door, resumed his spot behind the counter, and plastered an enthusiastic smile on his face when the next customer walked in.
***
Sitting in the common room, Harry remained quiet. He didn't know what he could say, or whether he should say anything at all. It doesn't mean anything, he told himself firmly. It was only a guess, it wasn't even a fact. It's not as if-
"Harry. What's wrong?" Hermione asked quietly, her eyebrows furrowing.
"Nothing much." He shrugged.
"Don't give me that." She told him. "Now come on, you've been weird all afternoon."
"It's really nothing…just a little thing is bothering me, that's all."
"Which is?" Hermione pressed.
"Well…you know that shop Ginny and I found you in?"
"The cauldron store?"
"Yeah. Did you talk to the assistant at all?"
"Of course. He sold me the cauldron I got for Draco. Why, what about him?"
"I just thought that…" he trailed off. It was stupid. There was no way. He was just being stupid.
"Thought what?" Hermione leaned forward. Ron and Ginny followed suit. "Come on Harry."
"Promise not to laugh?" They nodded. "Well, I could have sworn I recognized him. His size and height, but most of all…his eyes."
"From where?" Ron asked.
Harry hesitated, but when Hermione's mouth thinned in irritation, he continued. "The graveyard. The night Voldemort returned." Harry sighed at the frozen looks on Ron and Hermione's faces. "But that's impossible. He's too young. And just ridiculous."
"Actually Harry…"Ron said slowly. "We did talk to him a bit more than sales talk. He seemed really excited by the fact that we went to Hogwarts. Then he asked if we were together…to which we said no. He kept pressing Hermione to tell him who she was going out with. Seemed odd, but harmless."
"You told him?" Harry asked fearfully, though not sure why he was.
"No." Hermione said softly. "But Ginny did."
"What! I did not." Ginny said defensively.
"You came in and asked if Hermione had found something for Draco." Ron told her. "It was easy enough for him to figure out."
"Oh. Sorry." Ginny said.
"We also found out that he had been in Slytherin." Hermione said, her eyes wide. "You don't think he was a Death Eater, do you?"
"No, because he still must have been too young." Harry said. "Do you know when he left Hogwarts?"
"When we went into third year, he had left Hogwarts." Ron supplied.
"That'd mean he's now…" Ginny figured in her head. "Eighteen when he left…five years on…twenty three."
"He couldn't have been a Death Eater when he was only twenty." Ron said. "I mean, that's too young."
"No it's not." Hermione said before she could stop herself. "They can become Death Eater's at only eighteen."
Three heads turned to stare at her. "How do you know?" Harry asked quietly.
"Draco…told me." she said.
"I see." Harry said. "Well, it's not that any of it matters anyway. I mean, what's he gonna do? Tell Voldemort that one of his Death Eater's sons is going out with a girl in Gryffindor? He wouldn't care."
Hermione managed a smile. "Exactly." Then she stood. "I'm going to go."
"Where?" Ginny asked.
"Don't know exactly. Maybe check if Draco has finished Quidditch practice. I'll see you guys later."
She made her way out of the castle and across the grounds. Hermione looked out towards the Quidditch pitch and saw that seven brooms were still zooming around the sky. She sighed, as the practice still looked a while away from finishing. Suddenly, Hermione remembered the message that Ginny had passed on from Draco. 'Relax, and get used to what' s new.'
She smiled. She knew what that meant. It meant, 'We don't really have time to spare, so chill a bit, but then try get accustomed to your new Unicorn form.' Heading for the cover of the forest, Hermione fiddled with her amulet. She looked down when a bit of metal jabbed her finger. It was the dagger that was facing the Unicorn's brow, and replaced its horn.
Hermione knew that it must mean something, and now that she was a unicorn Animagus it made more sense. Scary sense. As if she was the one that Derek had seen die in the future. Hermione gulped as the trees of the forest swallowed her. She pictured the clearing and moments later she was surrounded by Glowing Oaks.
Walking to the waters edge, Hermione stooped down and splashed handfuls of water on her face to clear her head of thoughts. She didn't think there was any point in wasting time, so she began to build the image of a Unicorn in her head. When the last muscle curvature had been set in place, Hermione felt the changes begin. Her arms grew to be almost double their original length, her ribcage expanded and her middle section thickened. A bristly tail sprouted from her coccyx, and her hair lengthened and became more comparable to straw.
She fell forward and soon after was standing proud on her fully formed four legs, with silver hair coating her entire body and with her horned head held high. With an echoing whinny, she reared up on her hind legs then began running as fast as she could through the forest. It was almost calming, running with out ever tiring and feeling so at home in this dangerous place. After at least an hour, though it felt much less to Hermione, she found herself back in the clearing. She walked with delicate legs into the lake, and lowered her head to drink deeply. She raised her head again, then pranced in the shallows, splashing water all over the place. Hermione laughed in her mind, wondering what she would look like to an onlooker.
Hermione reared up, and then began running along the shore of the lake, the water up to her ankles. She reached the far side of the lake, and pranced to slow herself, turning to face the way she came. As she cantered back again, she heard a noise beside her and saw in her peripheral vision that there was a second Unicorn running next to her.
Once they reached the main section of the clearing they slowed and Hermione came to a full halt. The second Unicorn stopped when she noticed that Hermione had, and turned to face her, it's head cocked to the side. 'Why have you stopped? Don't you want to play anymore?'
Hermione concentrated on communicating with the silvery gold creature. 'I do want to play. I was just wondering if you recognize me?'
'You are the one that saved me from the tree in the storm. Yes?'
"Yes. Are you okay?'
'Fine now. Do you want to keep playing?' Hermione would have smiled if she could, so she nickered instead. She reared up once again, and turned to race along the edge of the lake with the adolescent Unicorn in close pursuit. She caught up to Hermione and touched her flanks gently with her long horn, then spun around to canter the other way before Hermione could tap her back.
They played until the sun began to set, Hermione feeling extremely odd playing racing games with a frisky Unicorn, but enjoying every minute of it. She became tired though and splashed into the lake to get a drink and dampen her now dry throat. The young Unicorn followed Hermione's lead and dipped her head down gracefully to collect the refreshing water from the lake.
'That's enough for now.' Hermione said to her.
'Yes. Will you talk for a while? I am interested in you, as you are not completely my kind. You also walk on two legs I've noticed.'
'I do. The two-legged form is my true form. I hope you don't mind me using yours…'
'Not at all. I enjoy your company. But why do you become one like me?'
Hermione thought for a while, thinking that the explanation might be too complicated for a Unicorn to understand, but thought it was worth a shot. If it could communicate in the first place, why wouldn't it know what she was on about? 'It's a bit complicated, but I'll try…'
The Unicorn didn't interrupt throughout Hermione's entire explanation, and Hermione thought that she had zoned out. If Unicorns do 'zone out.'
'So, I have to defeat this evil one with the help of Draco. Only we haven't got much of idea how to do it.' Hermione's voice was sad as she said this.
'What is wrong?' The Unicorn asked.
'Never mind.'
'Please…?'
'Well, it's very complicated. As is everything else. But…we've been told that one of us will die in this…Prophecy. I have just thought that it must be me. I am a mudblood, I am one of the kinds the evil hates the most, and my amulet…just a trinket, but a useful one, indicates that the unicorn will die. I take the form of a unicorn. Out of Draco and myself, I am the more probable to be killed.'
'You say the evil hates you. So therefore he'd kill you, instead of this other one, Draco. What if he thought you were you, but you weren't really you?'
'What do you mean?' Hermione asked in confusion.
'He'll kill you. So what if someone else posed to be you, and he killed them? Then technically 'you' would be killed, but you wouldn't be…does this make any sense at all?'
'I guess so…' Hermione shook her head dismissively. 'But I would not wish death upon any one else.'
'What if someone else wished your death upon themselves?'
'That would be stupid of them.' Hermione commented flatly.
'Unicorns aren't the smartest of all animals.' The young Unicorn told her.
'You don't mean…?' Hermione asked in shock. 'You couldn't do it. It wouldn't be possible.'
'Why not?' The unicorn stepped forward on her delicate hooves. 'What would I need to be able to pass as you?'
'First of all, my form. My body…me.' Hermione said in a resigned voice, knowing it was hopeless but answering all the same.
'Easy.'
'What? How could that possibly be easy?'
'You managed to duplicate my form. Let me do the same with yours.'
Hermione shook her horned head. 'That's not possible.'
'At all?'
Hermione searched her brain quickly, and she recalled a Transfiguration lesson from earlier that year. McGonagall had said that the one transfiguration banned in the wizarding world was changing an animal into a human. It was dangerous, as the animal nearly always died in the process. But it was possible…
'Well, yes it is possible. But illegal and just ridiculous to attempt.'
'I'm sure you could do it. I would do all I could to help.'
'But why would you want to do this?' Hermione asked, still at a loss of the Unicorns reason.
'You saved my life. Let me save yours.'
'At the expense of your own life? Than there was no point in me saving it in the first place.'
'Yes there was. If I had died that night in the storm, then I wouldn't be alive to save you now.'
'Why do you want to die though? You could just as easily go back to your life in forest, I know I would if I were you.'
'No, I doubt you would.' The unicorns tone turned grave. 'Has this evil that you plan to kill ever ventured into this forest?'
'Yes. A few years ago now, but yes.'
'I thought so. And did this evil do harm to the creatures that lived here?'
Hermione froze, now realizing the Unicorns reasons for its self-sacrifice. 'Yes.' She responded quietly. 'He killed Unicorns and drank their blood to preserve his life.'
'I see. And for murdering my fellow unicorns, I must assist in murdering him. Even if my life must pay the price.'
'You can't.' Hermione said desperately.
'Would you prefer to be the one who dies?'
'Well no…but-'
'Then let me. I am offering…'
Hermione didn't answer. She couldn't. It was ridiculous. This whole conversation was ridiculous. This unicorn couldn't just let itself be killed. Hermione couldn't let it die. But she didn't want to die herself…
Picturing her own body in her mind, Hermione began to change back. After a few minutes, she stood on her own two legs and faced the unicorn. It stared at her curiously.
'I would like to do that. To know what it is like to be another…even for a short while.'
Hermione bottom lip quivered. No. This beautiful creature could not sacrifice itself just so she wouldn't have to die. It doesn't deserve it.
'Please…I really would.'
"Do you have a name?" Hermione asked it suddenly.
'A name?'
"A…title? Something that you are called. Or a word that you call yourself." She tried to explain.
'Oh. Yes.' The unicorn lowered its head, and Hermione could have sworn it looked embarrassed. 'I call myself Credere.'
"Why?" Hermione asked.
'It means 'to believe.' I always thought of myself as one who believed in things that others don't.'
"Like what?"
'Like this cause, for one. I believe that if I sacrifice myself I will be fulfilling my part in this Prophecy, and my life purpose. .'
Hermione sighed deeply. "Ok. I understand you are why now set on doing this. But I'll have to talk to Draco about it. We both have to agree on it."
'I understand. Good bye, I will come to see you later.'
"Alright. I'll keep my eye out for you, Credere."
'Please, remember I want to do it…' With that, the adolescent unicorn trotted back into the forest, its tail swishing gently.
Hermione frowned and shook her head. This was way too confusing to be kept to herself for too long. She made her way back to castle to search for Draco. Walking through the front doors, she wondered where he might be. Thinking that he would have headed to the Great Hall after training, she walked in and searched the faces of the students at the Slytherin table. Draco was not among them.
She frowned, turned and walked out of the room, then paused in the Entrance Hall.
"Maybe he's still training." Hermione said to herself quietly. It had been dark on her way back to the castle, so she hadn't bothered to check the Quidditch pitch. She climbed a few staircases to get to the third corridor, and made her way to the large windows that overlooked the Quidditch pitch there. It was very dark outside, but she would have been able to make out their silhouettes if anyone had been on the pitch. No one was.
Clicking her tongue in impatience, Hermione stumped heavily down the stairs again and back into the Entrance Hall. Where was he? The Slytherin Common room or his dorm would be the next likely place. Hermione made her way down to the dungeons. As she was getting closer to the entrance to the common room, Hermione wondered how she was going to get in. She didn't know the password, and it's not as if she could knock.
"Hermione?" a voice said from in front of her. Hermione snapped her head up to see Pansy approaching with furrowed eyebrows. "What's up?"
"Um, I was just looking for Draco. I thought he might be down in your Common room." Hermione answered.
"Nope. I was just in there, and I know that he wasn't. Sorry." Pansy answered, stopping when she reached Hermione.
"Oh." Hermione paused. "What about his dorm? Could he be in there?"
Pansy shrugged. "Dunno. I'll go check if you want."
"That'd be great." She replied with a smile. "I just want to talk to him about something that's all."
"Something wrong?" Pansy asked.
"No, no." Hermione shook her head. "Just want to talk."
"Ah." Pansy said, figuring that it was something important, but it wasn't for her to know about. "I'll go check his dorm, back in a bit." Pansy turned and walked back the way she came. Hermione leaned against the wall to wait for her to return. About ten minutes later, Pansy came back.
"Got no idea where he could be. Her wasn't there. Have you checked the Great Hall? Guys love their food."
Hermione smiled at that, immediately thinking of Ron. "Yeah, they do. I did check there though, but there was no sign of him."
Pansy shook her head. "Well, sorry Hermione. Can't help you there. I'm starving myself, so if I see him anywhere I'll let him know you're looking for him."
"Thanks Pansy." Hermione said, walking along side her as they exited the dungeons. When they reached the Entrance hall, Pansy headed into the Great hall, but Hermione had an idea, and walked up to the Gryffindor common room. Going straight into her dorm room, she was relieved to find that it was empty. Lavender and Parvarti must have been down eating dinner.
Hermione stood off to the side of the room, where she wouldn't be seen immediately if someone came in the door. She had managed to locate Draco by using this method before, and thought to try it again. Hopefully he was by himself. If he wasn't, she would have some explaining to do.
Hermione took hold of her amulet and closed her eyes. The image of Draco came quickly to her mind, as she knew it very well now. His white-blonde hair and his gray eyes. Draco's tall yet muscular build. His Slytherin robe and his newly acquired smile that made her heart flutter and her knees go weak. When Hermione made sure that even the piece of unruly hair was falling in his eyes, she focused on the image. Concentrated and kept it firm and unwavering in her mind. Before she felt herself lift off the ground, she wondered what he was thinking about. Whether he was thinking about her. Suddenly she felt her feet lift off the ground and loose all sense of direction.
Just as suddenly as it had started, Hermione felt her feet hit the floor. She kept her eyes shut for a few seconds to wait for the after effects to subside. When she continued to feel odd and queasy she opened her eyes to see where she was. As soon she opened her eyes however, it didn't take her long to realize that something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
***
Hermione didn't move. In actual fact, she found that she couldn't move. She continued to feel queasy, and her body had an odd watery feel to it. Hermione tried to sit down, just to wait for her head to clear, but found that she didn't have any control over her body. She began to get scared. What was going on? This had never happened before. She had never lost control of her body when using the amulet. So why had she now?
Hermione looked, through eyes that she wasn't controlling, around the room she had appeared in. It was familiar. It had a wall of windows and the room was full of plants. Hermione realized that she was in the Room of Requirement with all the plants that Dumbledore had been keeping.
Suddenly, without having any idea how it was happening, Hermione began to walk unsteadily around the room. At one point she felt a wave of nausea and felt like vomiting, but found that even her stomach didn't feel like her own. Unexpectedly and without any will to do so, Hermione stopped walking. She held her hands out in front of her and examined them, as if she felt odd and was checking to see if she still was normal.
At the sight of her hands, Hermione almost screamed, but as she wasn't in control of herself, she couldn't. Her hands were not her own. They were guys' hands, definitely not girls. They were tan and strong looking, and for some reason Hermione found them very familiar…
'Oh my God!' Hermione thought, realizing what must have happened, no matter how impossible it was. She had pictured Draco, but just before she could be taken to where he was, she had thought about his mind. Therefore, the amulet had placed her in contact with his mind. And the only way for it to do that was to place her in Draco.
The hand that was being held in front of her was Draco's. She wasn't able to move, because Draco was in control of his body. He was obviously not feeling to well himself, but had no idea that Hermione had appeared inside him. Since Hermione couldn't move, she couldn't get out.
Beginning to panic, Hermione's thoughts began to race. 'I'm stuck! How on earth could this have happened? Surely Draco will figure it out…but how could he, this is not something that anyone would think possible. Including me…in fact I still don't believe it. I'm so stupid, I should have been more careful when I pictured Draco. What am I going to do? I can't just stay here until-'
"Hermione?" Draco's mouth moved, causing Hermione's own to move with it.
'Bloody hell, he's good.' Hermione thought. She tried to respond, but found yet again that she could not. 'Draco! I'm here, please know that I'm here. Help me…please.'
A few seconds silence, and then, 'Hermione?' Draco spoke in her mind.
'Yes.' She answered uncertainly. She wasn't as good as Draco in the powers of the mind; maybe he wouldn't be able to hear her.
'Where are you and what are you doing?' he demanded, as if thinking she was playing a trick on him.
'So he can hear me.' Hermione thought to herself. Just as she was about to respond to Draco's question, he said,
'Yes I can hear you. Where are you?'
Hermione was shocked. Draco had just heard her own private thoughts. Not the one that she had directed at him. Ok, this was going passed weird and into a dream, or nightmare more like it.
Hermione didn't bother directing her thoughts at him, just thought it. 'To be honest, I'm kind of…inside you. Uh, I used my amulet to find you, like I've done once before remember-'
Suddenly Hermione's train of thought was interrupted by Draco's. Though after a few seconds, she realized that they were his own private thoughts. And he didn't have a clue that she could hear him.
'She thinks I've forgotten about that? Bloody hell, as if I ever could. Forget her suddenly appearing in my dorm when I was half naked, then leaving because she got scared? I supposed my abbs could be considered as scary…but I followed her back to her dorm. We almost kissed but her bloody roommates decided that it was time for them to go to bed…'
'Draco?' Hermione questioned, interrupting his thoughts.
'Yes.' He asked.
'Um…well, I don't know what happened, but I am inside of you. When I was picturing you, I thought about your mind. So I guess the amulet put me in contact with your mind. But I can't get out Draco. I can't move. Only where and when you do. And…I can hear your personal thoughts.'
'What do you mean?' Draco asked, and from his tone Hermione could tell that he didn't believe her.
'Stupid fool never believes anything I tell him.' Hermione thought before she could stop herself.
'Excuse me?' Draco asked, a little shocked at her apparent outburst.
'I'm sorry, I didn't mean for you to hear that.' She apologized.
'What is wrong with her? Maybe she's feeling a bit ill…'Hermione, are you alright?''
'I told you, I can hear your thoughts, and you can hear mine. Our minds are connected. I don't know what to do…' Hermione told him, getting slightly desperate now.
'Hermione, this is very unbelievable, you know.'
'Ladies and Gentlemen, Draco Malfoy, the next Einstein.' She thought dryly to herself.
'The next who?' he asked her.
'Ok, maybe not.'
'Hermione, I'm not understanding this. You're speaking very erratically'
'Draco, listen to me. I can hear your thoughts.'
'Prove it.'
'You have to think something first. Something that I couldn't possibly guess if I didn't hear it for myself.'
'Ok, hang on a second.' He told her. After a few moments, Hermione heard his train of thought begin. 'Well, this certainly is odd…got to think of something…uh, Hermione has the sexiest legs in school…or old people have way too many wrinkles…she'll never guess I thought that one…life's short, live while you can…ooh, very philosophical Draco…why thank you, I know…hehe…so Hermione is inside of me…that's odd, would have thought I'd be inside her first…oh well, the time will come soon enough-'
'Draco! That's…I don't like it when you think like that.' She told him, somewhat hesitantly. 'And I would have been able to tell you what you were thinking sooner if you'd just concentrate on one thought instead of jumping all over the place. And thank you. I didn't know my legs were that sexy…'
'Oh God.' Draco said softly. 'You heard all that?'
'Yes. I never knew you talked to yourself. I suppose it's obvious you give your own ego a boost now and then.' She answered him. Then, as it is the way with thoughts, they surfaced in her mind before she could stop them or block them. 'Is he really thinking about sleeping with me already? I should have known that. He is a guy, after all. At least he respects me enough not to say anything about it. But maybe he'll start to. I love him, but I don't want to do anything that could potentially ruin my youth. Damn Hermione, you think too much…shit. Draco can hear me.' Hermione attempted to block her thoughts, which didn't really work, but it stopped her train of thought, which was good enough.
Draco didn't speak to her. Or perhaps the correct term would be, didn't think to her. Hermione eventually directed her thought at him. 'Draco? Um…I didn't mean to offend you or anything…'
'I know.' He said. 'I'm sorry. You know that I can't control my own thoughts. No one really can. I didn't mean to get you worried…I won't make you do anything you don't want to. I love you, Hermione. I'm not just in love with your body. You should know that by now.'
'I do know, Draco.' She replied.
'So what are we going to do about this little problem?' He asked, understating the situation dramatically.
'I've got no idea. Where's Dumbledore?' Hermione asked, hoping that he was around somewhere.
'He's gone to a staff meeting. He showed me this room just a few minutes ago, saying you already knew about it. He told me I could look around, but that he had to go. He's not going to be coming back.'
Hermione's heart sank. Dumbledore would be the one person that would have an idea to help them get out of this mess.
Suddenly Draco's thoughts began running through her head. 'How did this happen? Hermione used her amulet, and ended up here. Maybe if she used her amulet again, she could get out…Hermione, did you catch that?'
'Yep. But I can't move, not unless you do. So there's no way that I can grab hold of my amulet.'
'Well, maybe if I use my amulet, then I'll go but you'll be left behind. Want to try?'
'Why not?' Hermione said. Draco raised his arm, moving Hermione's at the same time, and took hold of his snake and potion bottle amulet. Hermione saw the images that Draco built in his mind of a place just on the other side of the room.
They both suddenly felt their feet lift off the ground and with a great surge of disappointment felt a wave of nausea hit them as they appeared across the room next to the Blazeshooter. Hermione still felt oddly like water, and Draco continued to feel a seriously wrong sensation.
'It didn't work.' Hermione stated flatly, the panic beginning to rise once more. 'What do we do?'
'I don't know…should we try again?'
'Why bother?' Hermione asked in resignation.
'Well we have to do something.' Draco paused for a few moments. 'How about I go to the other side of the room again with my amulet, and at the point of disorientation, you try picture some other point in the room, and hopefully break free.'
'Let's give it a go.' Hermione said.
Draco wrapped his hand firmly about the amulet once again and pictured the spot he had been in a few moments earlier. Hermione concentrated as hard as she could, waiting for the right moment. Their feet lifted from the ground again, and for a few moments Hermione couldn't figure out which direction were up or down. She used this opportunity and as quickly as she could and pictured a place by the window. Just before Draco was set back on the ground, she felt herself pull away from him and appear just next to the massive window.
She opened her eyes and they met with Draco's across the room. A huge smile spread across his face and Hermione did a little squeal in relief. "Oh thank goodness! I was just starting to think of a life trapped inside you…and I am so glad I'm here."
Draco raised his eyebrow at that comment and looked at her with his cool gray eyes.
"I meant that I'd much prefer to be able to see you, then be you. That's all." She said defensively.
"Right." Draco said. "Well now that we're back to our normal separate selves," Draco tried not to concentrate on what had just happened and think rationally. "Uh…why did you come in search of me? Aside from the fact that my overpowering sex appeal called you to me."
"Uh-huh, aside from that…" Hermione rolled her eyes tolerantly. "I was in the forest just getting accustomed to my Unicorn form…" she continued to tell Draco about the Unicorn Credere and its' almost desperate offer to be the sacrifice. Draco didn't believe that it would do that, but Hermione was so serious about it that he tried to accept it. When he heard that this could be another option and that neither he nor Hermione would die, he took his side and stuck to it.
"I think we should try it." He told her.
"But we can't just let Credere give her life up for us." She protested.
"Why not? If it she's volunteering to, if she's asking to, if she is pleading to…than why not? This must be the change in events that made Derek so unsure about what he was Seeing. If this Unicorn…Credere, as she calls herself, poses as you and dies, then it is what he Saw. It is you dying, but we both live through it. This is it Hermione. I think it must happen."
"No, it can't." She whispered.
"Would you prefer to die yourself?" Draco asked bluntly.
"No, of course not." Hermione said.
"Would you prefer me to be killed?"
"No!" She exclaimed, mortified. "Never."
"Then, I think this is part of the Prophecy. It must be." Draco said. "But there's one way to know for sure."
"Which is?" Hermione asked.
"Check the journal. It would say something about it, surely." He said. Hermione nodded, realizing that this was the truth.
"We'll have to check soon than." Hermione decided. "How about tomorrow? I'm stuffed at the moment, and I need dinner before my stomach abandons me for someone who actually feeds it."
Draco smiled, reaching over and resting a hand on her stomach. "There, there, Hermione's tummy. Don't leave her just yet. She's going to feed you soon."
Hermione laughed and brushed his hand away. "Thanks Draco. I'm sure it's very reassured. Now let's go."
Walking out of the room together they went down to the Great Hall and ate the dinner they had both been craving for hours, Draco sitting next to Hermione at the Gryffindor table. Not many people were around, as they were fairly late. Half way through dessert Hermione remembered something from earlier that day.
"Draco, I have something I need to ask you." She told him quietly.
He raised his head from his chocolate pudding to look at her. "Sure. What's up?"
Hermione leaned forward so no one could overhear her, although the only remaining students in the hall were seated at the Ravenclaw table, and didn't seem to pose much of a threat. "I went into Hogsmede today with Ron, Harry and Ginny. While we were there, Ron and I went browsing in different stores. In one of them we came across a rather enthusiastic young shop assistant who became very interested in us, or more like interested in me, when he found out we attended Hogwarts."
"Right." Draco said. "So…?"
"So, he told us that he attended Hogwarts himself. Then he began asking me if I was going out with anyone."
"That's a bit strange." Draco commented with a frown.
"I know, that's what Ron and I thought. So I just told him yes, but didn't give a name."
"You ashamed of me?" Draco asked, his bottom lip jutting out slightly in a pout.
"Not at all, I just had a bad feeling about the guy. He kept pushing things, and eventually we found out that he was in Slytherin when he was here."
"Nothing wrong with Slytherin." Draco defended. Hermione raised an eyebrow at him and pursed her lips. He sighed. "Fine, there can be a few things not-so-good about Slytherin. But some people are just put in it because they have determination. Not because they're evil."
"This guy was, as we found out later. Harry and Ginny found us in there just as we were about to leave. Ginny gave your name away unknowingly, and the assistant looked all startled and triumphant at the mention of it. Later, Harry told us that he recognized the assistant-" Hermione broke off, unsure whether she was blowing the whole thing out of proportion.
"And…" Draco prompted.
"Well, he believes that he recognized his eyes and build and stuff from fourth year."
"Fourth year? What, this guy was one of the mermen he came across at the bottom of the lake?" Draco asked, just wishing Hermione would get to the point.
"No, don't be ridiculous. The end of fourth year…when Voldemort returned."
Draco froze, praying that Hermione didn't mean what he thought she did. "You don't mean that he's a-"
"Death Eater." Hermione finished for him. "That's exactly what I'm saying. I don't know if it means anything, but the guy got me all freaked out. Even Ron said he got a bad feeling about him. Is this a bad thing?"
Draco was silent for a few minutes. Hermione began wondering whether he had not heard her question, when Draco said, "I don't think this is good." He turned to Hermione. "Do you know what this guys name was?"
Hermione thought back. "Um…yes. Lex Slunk, I think he said."
Draco's face paled noticeably. "Oh no."
"What? What's the matter?"
"He hated me when he was at Hogwarts. I was a little pureblood who had everything, and he had been lucky to get into Hogwarts let alone Slytherin. He despised me and all that I stood for, and I recall it being common knowledge among Slytherin's that he was going to form a new dark side when he left here." Draco's tone turned sarcastic. "Obviously the return of the Dark Lord was good enough for him, so he took being a Death Eater as a career opportunity."
"But, does that mean anything? For now?"
"Yes, I think so. If he is a Death Eater, than he would have known that I am a new recruit. To have some dirt on me already must be Christmas come early."
"Dirt?" Hermione questioned.
"That I, hater of anything less than pureblood, am dating a mudblood. He will report it to the Dark Lord as soon as possible in hope that he will kill me."
"Kill you!" Hermione exclaimed.
"I am betraying all that Voldemort stands for by dating you. Surely you knew that. The Dark Lord won't hesitate to kill me. Anything that irritates him, even mildly, will be destroyed. I'm sure this will irritate him."
"What do we do?" Hermione asked fearfully.
"We hurry. This Prophecy might be coming to a close quicker than we intended. We must check the journal tonight to see what it says."
Hermione grabbed Draco's hand with her own. "I'm so sorry. I never should have gone into that store."
"You didn't know. It was just one of those awful coincidences." He paused. "What store was it?"
"A caul-" she broke off, realizing that she hadn't given Draco his birthday present yet. "Um…I'll tell you later on tonight." She stood quickly, and swayed slightly due to a wave of tiredness. "I'll meet you in the cabin in a quarter of an hour. I just have to get something first." And she left the Great Hall yawning.
***
Fifteen minutes later they both were seated in the cabin looking nervously at the journal sitting innocently on the table in front of them. Neither wanted to open it, in fear of discovering that the confrontation of good and evil the Prophecy talked about was just around the corner.
"We should open it." Draco said.
"Yep." Hermione agreed.
"Ladies first."
"No, no." Hermione declined. "You can have the honor."
"Beauty before brains." Draco insisted.
"Well, you've cornered me there." Hermione said sarcastically. "But this can be the exception."
"You're not afraid of a book are you?" Draco asked her.
"Never in my life. Only what the book contains."
"You might be scared for no reason."
"We'll never know unless you open it."
They both stopped and looked at each other. Hermione dropped her eyes and Draco smiled dryly. "We're being just a little stupid, aren't we?" Hermione asked him.
"Just a tad." He replied, reaching for the small book. He opened it and flicked through the pages. He stopped when he came across a page of newly visible writing. He lay it down on the table and they both leaned in to read:
'I'll just let you both know now, that I don't know precisely what is going on. Hermione- you have decided to be the sacrifice. And yet…it's not you…This is frustrating me, as I can't See every detail about what will happen. I can now See that Hermione will be the one to die, but afterwards she will still be alive…No, definitely too confusing.
I hope you two know what is going on, as we do not.
Continuing… your sacrifice Hermione, will cause the Great Evil to be weakened and he will turn to you to restore his strength and save his life. But you will be prepared and can counter this.
Draco, this weak point will be your chance to begin a spell. Apparently (this is my disgusted tone, if you haven't caught on) Hermione, you will help Draco say this spell.
But, Esmerelda and I have said to ourselves, Hermione you are at this point- unfortunately- uh, dead. I don't see how you can assist Draco.
I apologize. This is ridiculous. I can't help you. I'm sorry.
Be aware that the confrontation is drawing nearer, and you must work very quickly if you are to be prepared. Do not delay.
Derek.
and Esmerelda
xoxox'
Draco and Hermione looked at each other then reread it a couple of times. Draco looked back at Hermione and without much surprise, found her looking extremely sad. "Hermione. It seems that Credere, this Unicorn, has made the choice for us."
"It appears so." She said, her tone melancholy.
"It makes sense. If she somehow changes her form to look like you, and the Dark Lord kills her, then to Derek it would have looked like you dying."
Hermione nodded. "And Derek says here," she pointed to a sentence in the passage they had just read. "That Voldemort will turn to me- meaning Credere- to restore his strength and save his life. Obviously, Credere will die in her Unicorn form and Voldemort will drink her blood to keep himself alive."
They both shuddered at the thought of drinking blood, and quickly moved on.
"So, I'll have to find Credere tomorrow and let her know that she can…she will….she has to…die." Hermione said, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. Draco put an arm about her shoulders comfortingly, and she looked up at him. "I'm so tired Draco."
"Then let's go to bed." He suggested, giving her shoulder a squeeze.
As he said this, Hermione immediately remembered Draco's thoughts from earlier that day. She tensed slightly, and suddenly became aware of Draco's arm tight about her. She wasn't sure about what he had been implying; go to bed separately or together?
"Are you alright, Hermione?" Draco asked her in concern, fully aware of her now sitting rather rigid in the cushion next to him. Then he realized what her problem was. He sighed and said, "I've already been through this with you Hermione. I'm not making you do anything you don't want to. So stop thinking that I would."
Hermione nodded and relaxed, feeling almost ashamed of herself. "I'm sorry."
Draco said, "Don't sweat it. You said you were tired, so off you go."
"Actually Draco, I meant I'm tired of this. This Prophecy. There's too much I don't understand. Why are we the ones doing this? What are the plants going to be used for in the Room of Requirement? When is all this going to end? How is all of this going to end? I just want it to be over. I'm tired of it."
"Maybe bed will help for now." Draco suggested.
"I doubt it, but I do need sleep." She said, yawning just at the thought of bed.
"Then go." Draco told her, giving her a soft kiss and pulling her out of her chair then pushing her toward the door.
"I'm going, I'm going." she smiled, then she stopped short when she remembered something. "But first," she turned to face Draco, "I have something to give you."
Draco smiled at her. "What for?"
"I heard the strange rumor that it was your birthday yesterday." Hermione said with a smile. "So I got this for you." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, wrapped box. She handed it to him.
"Hmm." Draco smiled and raised to his ear, giving it a shake. "What could it be?"
They moved back into the cabin and sat down on the couch. Hermione told him that it was larger than it appeared, as a shrinking spell had been performed on it.
"Ooh." He commented. "How big is it?"
"Oh, about," she pulled out her wand and gave it a wave, causing the box and wrapping to expand to its original size. "So big."
Draco's eyes widened. "That's fairly large, Hermione."
"Yes, I know." She said.
"Can I open it now?" he asked her, pulling it towards him.
"No." she answered, quite serious. "You must wait until you're at least twenty four."
He cast her a sidelong glance, then shoved her slightly. "Shut up."
"It was a stupid question, Draco." She told him.
"Just shush so I can unwrap it in peace." He said, his hands inching towards the box.
"Whatever you wish." Hermione smiled. Draco pulled the paper off as quick as he could, but paused before her opened the actual box.
"Is it…bed sheets?" he asked her.
"No."
"Is it…a pony! You know I've always wanted a pony."
Hermione laughed. "Nope."
"Is it-"
"Draco I'm not going to tell you what it is, and stop guessing because you might get it right. Just open it."
Draco smiled and slowly opened the folds of the box. He peered inside and his expression turned perplexed. "What is it?"
"A cauldron."
"Yeah, no duh. I meant, what's so special about it? I know you wouldn't get me a normal cauldron."
"I've noticed the cauldron you have now is looking a bit out-of-sorts, so it seemed appropriate. But it also has a hidden layer, so you can make two potions at the same time. All the while, keeping one concealed."
Draco raised his eyebrows. "What a bloody brilliant idea." He looked at her. "Hey, this might come in handy with the potion I have to make for the Prophecy."
Hermione stopped. "Draco." She said slowly. "No one's said anything about you making a potion."
He paused too, and after a moment his brow creased. "That's true." He shook his head. "I just got this feeling that I have to. I feel as if I know I'm going to make a potion for this. I don't know why."
"Maybe it' s a…what do you call it? A premonition? You do have the same gifts that Derek had. Maybe you saw into the future without realizing it."
"Maybe." Draco turned to her and smiled. "Thank-you. I think it's brilliant."
Hermione smiled and leaned in to kiss him. When she pulled back, she gave a massive yawn that told her it was definitely time she went to bed. "By the way Derek sounded, I think its going to be a busy next couple of weeks." She said. "So I'm going to bed."
"Goodnight Hermione." Draco said.
"Goodnight." She kissed him again on the cheek. "I love you."
"Love you too. See you tomorrow." Draco smiled at her, then at the spot from where she had vanished. His smile slid off his face however, when he remembered the problem to do with Lex Slunk and his dislike of Draco. He would tell Voldemort surely, then there would be trouble. Draco shook his head in resignation. So much was happening at the one time.
He'd have to owl his father in the morning. Maybe Lucius could give Draco a solution that would help him get around Voldemort. He did know him well. Perhaps Lucius could talk to Voldemort and clear Draco, claiming that Lex had misheard or something.
Draco used his amulet to get back to his dorm, and he crawled into bed. He fell asleep within minutes, believing that his father could solve everything.
Little did he know that by morning, Lucius would be as much a suspect against Voldemort as Draco. Lucius was a man that could meddle in people's minds and solve all sorts of problems. But when it came to being suspected by Voldemort, nothing could help him avoid suspicion.
***
A/N- Hi everyone! Thanks for all sticking with my story this far; it's been a long haul. I've taken months and months, and I've still got more to do. I hope this chapter was long enough for you, because I was going to end the chapter after about six thousand words, but I thought you'd appreciate double it with the time it's taken me to get it up. I've got just a few answers to some questions that reviewers have asked me.
I've been asked a few times and I keep forgetting to write my answer to this question. 'Why is the cabin posted in the R section?' My answer is…sorry! When I first posted this fanfiction I had intended to have more violence and swearing, but as I wrote it I realized that I don't need to have serious cursing to improve the story line. I know that I should move it to the PG. section, but I don't want to lose any of my reviewers. Plus I can't be bothered. If you think I should bother moving it at this point, let me know please.
I'd like to answer the question. 'Am I a girl or a boy?' I am indeed a girl. Either that or an alien from a similar race on the other side of the galaxy who lost its way in Z-space and crashed into earth, adapting immediately to the human lifestyle…let's go with girl.
To a couple reviewers who questioned my reasoning about the small reference to Melbourne, Spaced Out Space Cadet & Eli10, I am indeed a Melbournian. Sorry Eli10, I'm not gonna bag my hometown…maybe I can think of a few about Sydney though.hehe.
I'm nearing the end of my fanfiction, so not too long to go now. I hope to finish it before Christmas, but I might have to do overtime! Please review.
I hope I haven't gone a little bit too far with the whole Hermione in Draco's mind thingy. If I have, then whoops, it's too late now! ( Love you all, and I hope I haven't given too many 'lame' excuses to taking a while in between chapters.