Disclaimer- All JK's. All of it. And you know it too.
A/N- Thanks for being patient, here's the next fix for you all. Hope you
enjoy it.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN- An Angry Harry.
After lunch on Sunday, Hermione claimed she had some information she needed to research in the library, and left her friends in the Great Hall. Finding an empty classroom, Hermione used her amulet to get to the forest near the cabin. Looking around, she breathed deeply to calm herself.
"Why does this have to happen?" she asked in despair.
Casting her eyes skyward, Hermione found the blue sky and white fluffy clouds calming. She began to build the image of a Unicorn in her mind. When it was fully formed she felt the changes begin. A few minutes later, a pure white Unicorn stood in the clearing. Raising her head high, Hermione called to Credere.
Slowly walking into the patch of trees where Credere always disappeared into, Hermione continued to call to her. After a few minutes, a silvery gold head poked out from behind a large Glowing Oak, curiously.
'Yes?' Credere asked Hermione, stepping out to face her. 'Have you reached a conclusion?'
'We have, with the help of others.' Hermione answered, thinking of Derek and Esmerelda.
'And? Will you let me do it?' The adolescent unicorn asked eagerly.
Hermione sighed in resignation. 'Yes Credere. We must allow you to give your life to the Great Evil to assist in his death and to prevent ours.'
Credere moved forward and touched horns with Hermione. 'Thank-you. This is a great honor for me. Soon I will join my grandfather, who was killed by this monster years ago, in the havens.' She paused, reveling in the moment. Then she asked, 'What must I do?'
'We're not sure yet.' Hermione replied. 'But I'll tell you as soon as we know.'
'Thank-you, Hermione. I'll keep my eye out for you.' With that, Credere turned and disappeared into the emerald glow of the forest.
Returning to her human form, Hermione sighed and walked slowly out of the forest and into the clearing. She looked at the smooth surface of the lake for a few moments before deciding to dip her feet in the cool water. Hermione removed her shoes and walked up to the lakes edge. Sitting on a large boulder, she dipped her feet into the clear water and swirled them in lazy circles.
Sighing, Hermione leaned back and stared up at the sky with a small smile. Even with the Prophecy coming slowly to a close, she could still afford to relax in peace with the warm sun on her face.
***
"What are you doing? You have no right to barge into my house like this!" Lucius demanded of the group of masked men who had forced entry on his Manor. Not one of them replied, however one did step towards him in a threatening manner.
Lucius' face was white with rage as the Death Eaters slowly circled him, preventing him from escape. He was standing in his spacious lounge room with his wand in his hand. Hidden beneath his outward rage, Lucius' mind was full of doubt and uncertainty.
He wondered what was going on; why there was a large group of Death Eaters in his house all aiming their wands at him threateningly. He wondered if Draco's plans had been discovered, but more than anything he wondered who the short, stocky Death Eater was who stood smugly in front of him.
"I said, what are you doing here?" he asked again, now resorting to a deathly quiet voice.
"We have reason to suspect you, Lucius Malfoy and your son, Draco Malfoy, of treason against the Dark Lord." The leader told him.
"That is ridiculous." Lucius commented, acting as if he thought it was a joke. "The Malfoy's have always been loyal to the Dark Side, and I have always been loyal to the Dark Lord. I raised my son to be the same, and now you come in here accusing us of being disloyal? Where do you get your evidence?"
"I have reason to believe that your son has been fraternizing with a mudblood. In fact, she basically told me herself."
"Then she was lying. My son would never even look at a mudblood, let alone mix with one." Lucius stated firmly. "Now get out of my house."
"The Dark Lord will hear about this, then you and your son will be interrogated." The short man stated.
"You mean the Dark Lord didn't send you here? You just came because you felt like it? That means I can hex you all to next Halloween if you aren't out of my sight in a matter of seconds." Lucius sneered.
The majority of Death Eaters vanished immediately, leaving small popping noises behind them. Only a couple remained, surveying Lucius pensively. He glared at them, "You know I would never, ever betray Him. I can't believe that you were sucked in to that little mudbloods story. My son can't help stepping on a few people's toes, so she must be trying to get him in trouble. You know how idiots are."
The other Death Eaters nodded and disappeared save one; the leader of the group. He continued to glare at Lucius. He spoke, "I don't know what you and your son are playing at, but I will find a way to expose you. Trust me, I will." With that said, a loud crack sounded and he vanished, leaving Lucius breathing heavily and filled with worry.
***
Hermione spent the rest of Sunday with her friends. Talking, doing homework (her own and Ron's) and hanging out under the shade of the trees near the lake. The day passed quickly, and Hermione found herself cuddling under the covers early that night enjoying this rare occasion of a full night's sleep.
Harry and Ron sat up a bit later that night after Hermione and Ginny had both gone to bed. Harry turned to Ron, "I don't like it." he stated.
"Sorry?" Ron asked, not able to decide where Harry's train of thought had taken him.
"I don't like Hermione hiding things from us." Harry said, frowning.
"She can't help it, remember? She's working on 'secret business' with Malfoy." Ron said, using his fingers to form quotation marks in the air.
"I know. But I wonder what she's doing that is so important. I have tried to respect her and her privacy, but if it's something that we should know about."
"I'm sure she would tell us if it were life threatening." Ron told him. "Besides, it's been a year or two since there was a mystery to be solved around here. Maybe she's looking into things that are only slightly suspicious, trying to form an adventure."
"I doubt it." Harry said. "I just wish she'd talk to us. I don't like these lies she's giving us."
"She's not lying to us." Ron defended his friend. "She's just not telling us what we want to know."
"Keeping secrets from your friends is as bad as lying to them." Harry stated.
Ron sighed, realizing he was going to get nowhere with Harry in this mood. "I think we should just go to bed. If Hermione isn't sorted out by the end of the year, then we'll talk to her. But until then, just let her play her little mysterious games if it makes her happy."
"What about Draco?"
"What about him? He's done nothing wrong to her, and he seems to be civil when he's around us. Just let them be, Harry. Stop getting so worked up. I know you, and I know that when you get worked up, it takes you a while to calm back down again. So don't get to that point, Harry."
Harry nodded without much conviction.
"Harry." Ron said firmly. "She's our friend, and she's not stupid. You know she's not stupid. Until you are sure something is wrong, don't act."
"Alright. I suppose I am being overly suspicious." Harry smiled then. "You're right. It has been a few years since there's been some excitement around here, and I suppose I'm looking for it where I shouldn't be."
Ron smiled back. "It's been nice to have some peace and quiet, though."
Harry laughed. "I've actually been passing all my subjects recently; for a change."
"Odd that, isn't it?" Ron asked, standing up. "I'm tired, so its bed for me."
"Me too." Harry agreed. Ten minutes later as he lay in his four-poster, Harry calmed himself down. Hermione wasn't doing anything wrong. He was just overreacting. She was just trying to find some adventure in her now boring day-to-day life. That was it. It had to be.
***
Hermione filed into greenhouse three on Monday with Ron and Harry, for the last class of the day. She saw Draco moving in at the front of the class and sit down next to Pansy. Hermione sat between Ron and Harry, who were leaning back so they could continue their conversation with each other. It was either about Quidditch or broomsticks or something related, but Hermione had stopped listening ten minutes previously.
Professor Sprout moved to the front of the class and cleared her throat to get the students attention. "Good afternoon class, I hope you all had a good weekend. Today we will have a theory lesson, as we are running out of time before you will sit your NEWT's."
Hermione's back straightened and she listened on with rapt attention. Sprout talked about topics they had already covered to refresh their memories, then began on a new subject.
"There are a few plants that you should know the uses of for your exams, even if you never come across them in the world due to their rareness." Spout informed them. "The first is called the Droysline plant." Hermione's eyes widened and she looked across the room at Draco. He looked back at her and winked. There was a Droysline plant being kept in the Room of Requirement.
Hermione and Draco both turned back to listen carefully. "The Droysline plant grows entirely underground. The only way for a wizard to know that it is even there, is once a month, when it sprouts a single small blue flower."
Lavender put her hand up curiously. "Um, do we need to know what it is used for?"
"Oh, yes. Of course, you do." Sprout said. "The only known use of the Droysline plant is in Weakness potions. Its roots are skinned and chopped in to very small pieces. When added with a minimal amount of other ingredients, the result is very strong and can weaken even the most powerful wizards." Professor said this with a very direct look at Draco, then at Hermione.
"Another plant you must know about is the Klaque vine. It must have a maximal amount of sunlight to survive. It has large dark green leaves and spreads very quickly in summer. The uses of the Klaque vine are numerous. For your NEWT's you must name at least three, so listen carefully."
The class leaned forward with their quills raised over their parchment, waiting.
"One of the most common uses is for healing open wounds. If water and sugar is added with its leaves, finely chopped I believe, and spread as a paste over the wound, it will heal at a rapid rate. The second use is quite simple. The young leaves are used in tea, and have a very calming effect for the drinker for a few hours afterwards. The third use-" Professor Sprout paused and allowed the class to finish writing the second use. When all eyes were back on her, she continued.
"The third use is one that isn't really promoted. It can be used in transformations, to take away any pain that might be caused. Such as in an animal transfiguration, which you should all know is illegal. But, it is still a use of the Klaque vine. Fourth use is not recommended either. Some wizards find it entertaining to break open the Klaque's stem and collect the white liquid that flows out. They enjoy force-feeding it to muggles, and as soon as the liquid is consumed, the person immediately falls into a coma. Depending on how much they swallowed, the coma can last from a few days to a few years."
Professor Sprout waited again for the class to finish their notes. "There are more uses." She told them. "But I think it'll be easier for you to remember if there aren't too many to choose from."
She continued to inform them about various plants and their uses, and the class continued to take notes. By the end of class their hands were aching due to constant writing and their parchment was full of hastily written notes. When they were dismissed, the students traipsed across the grounds, heading for the castle.
Harry, Hermione and Ron made their way through the halls in the direction of the Gryffindor Common Room. They dropped off their books in their dorms then after a bit of chatting in the comfy chairs, they walked down to the Great Hall for dinner.
Ginny joined them after a while, and sat next to Ron who gave her a cheery smile.
She rolled her eyes and pulled a disgusted face. "Jeez Ron, you could at least swallow before you show me your teeth. I saw the entire contents of your mouth. Just lovely." She commented dryly.
"Sorry." He apologized, a grin still present on his face.
Harry nudged Hermione in the ribs a few minutes later. "Hey, Hermione. Is that Draco's owl that just flew in?" he asked, pointing to a large dark brown and black owl that was swooping in through the high windows of the Great Hall.
"Yes." She answered slowly, a frown crossing her face. "I wonder what is so important."
The beautiful dark bird landed in front of Draco, causing him to jump in alarm when it settled down on his plate and began picking at his food. Hermione watched Draco untie the parchment from his owls' foot and unroll it cautiously. He scanned the letter quickly, but folded it up when he noticed Pansy leaning over his shoulder trying to see who it was from.
He smiled at Pansy when she pouted at him in disappointment, but shook his head firmly when she pointed to the parchment he had just tucked inside his cloak.
"You finished eating, Hermione?" Harry asked her, when she turned back around.
"Yep." She replied. "Do you wanna head back up to the common room?"
"Sure." He replied. Harry looked at Ginny and Ron who were both still eating. "We'll see you guys up there when you're done."
Ginny nodded, but Ron gave Harry a stern look when neither of the girls was looking. Harry rolled his eyes at him and left the Great Hall behind Hermione.
Draco noticed Hermione leave the Great Hall and quickly excused himself to follow her.
***
"So Hermione." Harry started as they strolled down the second corridor. "You still busy with Draco?"
"What do you mean?" she asked him curiously.
"Well, with all the stuff that you can't tell us. All the secrecy. You done with that now?"
"Not exactly." She replied carefully. "We're nearly there though."
"Right." Harry said stiffly.
They continued silently down the hall until they heard a shout behind them. "Hermione!" They turned around to see Draco jogging towards them, a worried expression on his face. "Hermione," he said again when he caught up. "I need to show you something."
Hermione glanced at Harry, who was looking at Draco with an undecipherable expression. "Uh, actually I was going to hang out with Harry for a while. Can it wait for another time?"
Draco gave Harry a quick glance, then nodded. "Sure. I'll show you later then?"
Hermione smiled at him as they continued walking three-a-breast down the corridor. "That would be great. I'll see you later on then." Hermione was walking between the two boys, and as they turned the corner, she accidentally tripped over the hem of her robe. She tried to get her balance back by grabbing Draco's arm, but he had just started turning around to head towards the Slytherin common room, so he just made her stumble even more.
She fell to the ground and started laughing almost immediately. "I can't believe I just did that." She mumbled between giggles.
Draco and Harry exchanged a tolerant glance and each reached down to help Hermione to her feet. When she was hauled back up again, Harry smiled, and Draco pulled his sleeves up and brushed his hands together as if it had been tiring work.
"Hermione, you're getting heavier every day." Draco then wiped the back of his hand across his forehead in mock fatigue. Hermione slapped him on the shoulder, but Harry stood frozen on the spot. He was staring at Draco's now exposed forearm in shock. The Dark Mark stood out as clear as day, as it had still not toned down from its initial engraving.
Draco looked up at Harry to say goodbye before he headed back to the dungeons, but he stopped when he saw the look of near horror on his face. Draco glanced down to where Harry's gaze lay and paled when he saw the exposed emblem on his arm. He hastily pulled his sleeve down again.
"See you later Draco." Hermione said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Obviously she hadn't noticed anything. Draco hesitated, unsure of what Harry might do, but decided that Harry wouldn't do anything to Hermione, only to him.
"Uh, yeah. See you later on." He smiled at her then gave one last hesitant look towards Harry, before he walked back down the hall.
Hermione continued down the corridor heading towards the Gryffindor tower, still smiling about her clumsy fall. Harry followed darkly behind her, trying to get a grip on his anger. Draco had the Dark Mark on his arm. That could only mean one thing. Draco was a Death Eater. And there was almost no possibility that Hermione didn't know about it.
Surely she would have seen his arm exposed before. Harry looked at the back of Hermione's head as he thought quickly about what to do. All the secrecy, all the running around behind her friends' backs, all the lies. Maybe Hermione was-
"Harry? Are you alright?" Hermione asked him, interrupting his dangerous thoughts. She had turned around to find him staring at her with glazed eyes. She took a step towards him in concern, reaching out to touch his arm. Harry's eyes quickly darted towards the classroom door on their left, which stood slightly ajar.
Looking back at Hermione, he made up his mind quickly. Harry grabbed Hermione's outstretched wrist in his strong grip and pulled her into the empty classroom, slamming the door behind him.
Hermione gasped in surprise at the sudden action and quickly wrested her hand free. "Harry, what are you doing?" she asked in alarm, her smile gone and replaced by a worried frown.
Harry glared at her, the anger in his eyes clearly visible in the dimly lit classroom. Hermione started walking towards the door, not knowing why Harry was so angry with her, but not wanting to stay and find out. An angry Harry was irrational. An angry Harry was very difficult to calm down. An angry Harry could also be very scary.
Harry took a few quick steps and blocked the door. Hermione pulled back in shock. "Harry, what are you doing?" she asked him again.
He lowered his face so it was directly in front of hers, and whispered, "How long has Draco been a Death Eater?"
Hermione couldn't disguise the fear and dread that crossed her face, and tried to turn so Harry wouldn't notice it. He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her up against the wall, his strong body pinning her there. "I said," Harry repeated slowly. "How long has Draco been a Death Eater?"
"He's not." Hermione answered. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes you do." Harry said softly. "How could you not? I saw the Dark Mark on his arm, Hermione. I'm not just guessing."
Hermione closed her eyes, trying to think of a way to explain the situation to Harry. He thought that she had been betraying him. Knowingly dating a Death Eater. "It's not like that." She whispered.
"Not like what, Hermione?" Harry spat.
"Not what you think.he's not really a Death Eater. It's only for a while, then it'll all be over." She said, her eyes filling up with tears.
"People can't just be Death Eater's 'for a while' Hermione." Harry said through gritted teeth. "It's for life. So is fighting the dark side. I'm going to be fighting the dark side all my life.what are you going to be doing, Hermione?"
"I'll fight with you." She said, a few tears escaping and falling across her face.
"With me.or against me?" Harry demanded.
Hermione's eyes widened in shock at what Harry was suggesting. "What?"
"Has your boyfriend persuaded you to join his side? Is that why you're so accepting of him?" Harry asked, reached down for her arm. She struggled against him, but could not get free. His body was rock solid against her and completely immovable. He took her wrist in his firm grip and pulled up her sleeve. Her bare arm was clear in the dim light and Harry dropped it, staring into her face. "And I half expected to be greeted by the Dark Mark again."
"Harry, you don't understand." She told him.
"Oh." Harry said, his eyes widening in mock surprise. "I don't understand. Well, that puts me back in my place. I'll just let you go, and forgive and forget then."
"I didn't mean that. You don't understand what we're doing. We going to fight against Him." Hermione said, wishing she could tell Harry about the Prophecy.
"Against who?" Harry asked her quietly.
"I can't say."
"Oh. Of course you can't." Harry mocked.
"No Harry. Listen. I can't say. I can't mention his name. I must not say his name." She explained cryptically.
His eye narrowed, then he barked a laugh. "You're trying to tell me that you and your Death Eater are going to fight against Voldemort?"
She nodded.
"Why would a Death Eater betray his Lord?"
"Because it's what has to happen. It's been prophesized." She told him, realizing how stupid it sounded when it was spoken aloud..
"Really?" Harry asked, sneering. "How do you know that?"
"Because.we've read it." Hermione answered hesitantly.
"When must you fight Voldemort? According to this 'Prophecy?'"
"Very soon, apparently." She answered, wiping a few tears from her face.
"I don't know you anymore, Hermione." Harry told her in a pained voice. "You're dating a Death Eater, with whom you say you'll fight Voldemort? Come on.that's ridiculous. You can't even expect Ron to buy that story."
"But it's true." She whispered.
"Then prove it." Harry told her.
"I.how?" Hermione floundered. She wanted very much to convince Harry. The only reason she had never told any of her friends about the Prophecy, was the risk that somehow, by telling more people than absolutely necessary, Voldemort would hear of it. And he could not be warned.
"I will.if you promise, swear to me, that you won't tell another soul." Hermione said in a barely audible voice. "Because we can't risk any body knowing if it's to work."
Harry frowned. Hermione sounded as if she actually had a way to prove this ridiculous excuse. "You mean you're going to prove to me that you are in a Prophecy?"
"Yes. Only if you promise."
Harry swallowed hard, then stepped aside so Hermione could go free. She breathed deeply, then moved away from the wall on which she had been pinned. She looked at Harry once she had put a sizable distance between them. He nodded. "I promise."
"That.?" she prompted.
"I promise that I will never tell another soul about what I am going to see. I will tell nobody. You have my word." He said, laying a hand over the left side of his chest.
"Well then." Hermione took a deep breath. "Draco's going to kill me." she muttered to herself, then looked at Harry once more. "Don't get scared, Harry. I won't hurt you. I promise."
Harry backed away a few steps, now slightly wary of what Hermione was about to do. She stood in the middle of the classroom and closed her eyes. For a few moments, Harry thought she was planning on falling asleep standing up and wondered what that was going to prove. Then he noticed something very odd happening to Hermione's hair.
Her hair was slowly changing from brown to white. It was growing too, at a very rapid rate. Harry pulled his head back in surprise and shock when her arms also began lengthening. Hermione's torso thickened and her legs thinned. With her arms now almost double their original length, Hermione fell forward on to them, as if they were her third and fourth legs.
Harry stood, rooted to the spot in a mixture of horror and awe. When Hermione's forehead began looking as if it were about to sprout one of the biggest pimples in history, Harry took a few steps backward until he hit the wall. A small gasp escaped his lips when a long horn developed, and also when a white tail of hair grew out of Hermione's coccyx.
Her head changed shape entirely and her body thickened a bit more. When the changes slowed and stopped, Hermione raised her head and looked at Harry, who was almost cowering against the wall. She stepped forward on her dainty hooves, causing a 'click click' noise on the stone floor.
"Hermione." Harry said in awe. "You're.an Animagus?"
'Yes.' Her voice replied in her head. She continued to walk towards him until she was only a few feet away.
"You're a Unicorn?" he asked in disbelief.
'Yes.' She answered. 'Do you believe me now?'
"What does this prove?" Harry asked her in confusion.
'What?' Hermione asked him. 'What do you mean?'
"It's incredible, and I promise I won't tell anyone." Harry said quickly, eyeing her horn only feet from him. "But, why do you have to be an Animagus to defeat Voldemort?"
'I'm not sure yet. We're still figuring that out. I think it has to do with fooling him into thinking I'm someone else.'
"Oh right." Harry said, even though he didn't have a clue what she was talking about. He slowly took a few steps forward and reached out towards Hermione. He tentatively rested his palm on the side of her head. She nestled her face against him gently and Harry smiled. She was beautiful, a true reflection of her natural self. "Hermione.I'm sorry."
"So am I, but you can't tell a soul about this."
"I know, you've already said. I won't, don't worry so much. I still don't trust Draco as a Death Eater, but I'll deal with it." Harry promised her. She rubbed her face against his palm again, then backed away.
Harry watched her change back, and made the mental note that she looked as if she was a human stepping out of the melting body of a Unicorn. "That is so weird." He whispered to himself, shaking his head.
A fully human Hermione took Harry's arm in her own, and walked him out of the room and up to the common room. He didn't talk, just watched her as they sat on the couch in front of a large window. When his gaze shifted to the darkening sky outside, he spoke. "I still don't understand anything Hermione, but if I can help in any way.you know to just ask me."
"Ok. If I need you." She promised. "Oh, I nearly forgot. Please don't tell Draco that I told you. He won't be happy, so I'll make sure I think of a soft way to break it to him."
"Why won't he be happy?" Harry asked curiously.
"Because there is some kind of silent agreement between us that we wouldn't tell our friends about this. And I told you. He won't be happy. Trust me." Hermione winced, thinking about Draco's reaction.
Harry just smiled. "I'll let you have the honor then."
***
Remembering at the last minute that Draco had wished to speak to her that night, Hermione used her amulet to get to the cabin, the obvious meeting point, and quickly walked inside as ten o'clock was approaching.
"I thought you'd fallen asleep or fallen off a cliff or something." Draco's voice sounded from the couch. Hermione smiled and made her way over to him. She sat next to him and he wrapped an arm about her shoulders. "If that had been the case I would have been slightly upset, you know."
"It's nice to know you care." Hermione answered dryly. He answered that comment by kissing Hermione on the forehead and stroking her neck softly.
"You know I care, that's why you would disappoint me by falling off a cliff."
"Yes, because it would obviously be by choice." Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "Now," she sat up straight, "what did you want to show me?"
"Oh." Draco said, his expression turning serious. He reached a hand inside his robe and pulled out a folded letter. "I received this from father tonight and I think you should read it. It's a bit of a worry."
Hermione took the parchment from him and unfolded it. She looked at the small, neat handwriting that was Lucius', and read aloud.
'Draco,
I have disturbing news that I will keep brief. Earlier today, the Manor was raided by a small group of Death Eaters. They claimed that you are dating a mudblood, therefore betraying the Dark Lord as you swore to him that you hated mudbloods above all else. They also believe that if you have done this that I am also not to be trusted.
The Dark Lord has not of yet been informed, but I'm sure it will not be long before he'll send for you. I do not have any advice; aside from avoid being seen with the girl in and outside of school. I will notify you of any further developments in this situation. I will try my best to sort things out with the Dark Lord, claiming it to be a misunderstanding.
Lucius.'
Hermione looked up at Draco guiltily. He furrowed his eyebrows at her and said, "What?"
"This would be none other than Lex Slunk's doing." She said matter-of- factly.
"Of course." Draco snapped his fingers. "I'll notify father at soon as I get back to my dorm. Maybe he knows him and is able to work around him."
"I hope so." Hermione said.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, then Draco remembered something and turned quickly to Hermione in concern. "Hermione, has Harry said or done anything to you that may have regarded.me?"
"Why do you ask?" Hermione questioned him.
"Well.I think he saw the Dark Mark on my arm earlier." Draco confessed.
"Now that you mention it, yes he did. He spoke and acted rather aggressively to me just after you left." Hermione stated calmly.
"What! Did he hurt you? I'll kill him, I swear I'll kill him! If only I'd known sooner-"
"Draco, calm down." Hermione interrupted his ranting before it got out of hand. "He didn't hurt me, and he's fine now. You don't have to worry about Harry."
"Are you sure?" Draco persisted. "He didn't hit you or anything?"
"Why would he do that?" Hermione asked, not wanting to tell Draco how much Harry's actions had scared her. "It's not as if I burned the Dark Mark on you myself."
"No. But surely he assumed that you knew it was there. And for that, he might have thought you were wishing you were a Death Eater yourself."
"Perhaps he did." Hermione said evasively. "But he doesn't anymore, so we can drop it." she said quickly. Maybe a little bit too quickly. Draco slowly narrowed his eyes and turned to survey Hermione, who innocently kept her gaze directed out the window. Draco reached over and took Hermione's chin gently in his grasp and turned it so she was looking into his steely gray eyes.
"Hermione, how did you manage to get Harry to accept me being a Death Eater?" he asked her bluntly.
She blinked owlishly at him and answered, "I just told him.a few things."
"What few things?"
"Oh, nothing important." She said vaguely, continuing to avoid answering the question directly.
"Hermione, don't treat me like a fool." Draco said.
"But it's only fair that I treat you like what you are." She replied, sending him a devilish grin.
"You're calling me a fool?" Draco scoffed. "You're one to talk."
"I talk quite often. That was a rather obvious observation, Draco." Hermione said.
"Want to know another obvious observation?" he asked.
"Enlighten me."
"You're changing the subject."
"No. I already did."
"Well I'm changing it back." Draco said firmly. "How did you get Harry to accept me being a Death Eater?"
Hermione sighed, realising that Draco would continue insisting until he found out. "Fine. I'll tell you. You win."
"I always win." Draco stated.
"That's a very risky comment coming from a man who lost fair and square to a 'mudblood' in a duel not many months ago." Hermione said, raising her eyebrows at him.
"Just bloody tell me, it can't be that bad." Draco nearly yelled in exasperation.
"I told Harry about the Prophecy." Hermione said quickly, hoping to say it with Draco not picking up the worst. "I told him you had to be a Death Eater so we could defeat Voldemort, and I also.uh.."
She looked at Draco, but he didn't say anything, just stared at her with his piercing gray eyes. She lowered her head. "And.I turned into a Unicorn so he could see that I wasn't lying." She looked back up at Draco from under her lashes, slightly hesitant. "I'm sorry. But there was no other way. Please don't be mad."
Draco remained staring at her with an unreadable expression. Hermione sat uncomfortably next to him, not sure whether it would be safer to leave, or better to stay. Finally he spoke to her. "As much as I disapprove of you telling Harry about this.I also think it was the only way to avoid him telling others. If you made him swear to secrecy," Hermione nodded that she did. "Then I don't think he should be a problem. In fact, he might also come in handy when we need to get into the Dark Lord's company at the end. A bribe of bringing Voldemort Harry might get us in to see him."
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the stars that Draco was a literal person. At least with this matter. 'Thank you for seeing it this way." she said.
"It wasn't your fault anyway." He said. "I should have been more careful keeping it concealed, instead of flashing it around like Harry does his scar."
"There's nothing wrong with his scar." Hermione defended.
"No, of course not." Draco said sarcastically. "It's only immediate identification to anyone who sees him."
"Every one knows who Harry is anyway. And it's not like he can't take care of himself." She said.
"Oh yeah, powerful Harry Potter can do anything. I almost forgot." He said with a sneer.
"Don't you start." Hermione snapped at him. "You've been doing so well these past months. I don't want you to start picking on my friends again. They're wonderful and are not out to make themselves appear better than you. No matter how much you want to appear better than them."
"That is so not true. I never tried to appear better than them." Draco said incredulously, followed by the foreseeable comment, "I already am."
"Ever the egotist." Hermione muttered.
"You love me for it." Draco told her.
"I wouldn't say that." Hermione disagreed. "I find your-" she began to say, but was interrupted by Draco's lips suddenly on hers. His arm snaked around her waist and pulled her closer to him, and she wrapped her arms about his neck and moved so she was sitting on his lap. When he broke away, she raised her eyebrows questioningly.
"I just wanted to shut you up," he said. "Plus, you're really sexy when you're angry."
"I've never heard that before." She said with a smile.
"Really?" Draco asked in a shocked voice. "Well, have you heard that you're sexy when you are laughing?"
She shook her head and giggled slightly.
"You're also sexy when you're talking.when you're answering a question in class, when you're concentrating. And when you are walking, working and sleeping."
"Sleeping?" she interrupted. "You've never seen me sleeping before."
"Yes I most certainly have." Draco said, smiling at the memory. "I believe you were sleeping when I came here just Saturday night. Or perhaps it was Sunday morning by the time I got here." Then he laughed at one specific detail.
"What?" Hermione demanded. "I don't remember anything funny about Saturday night. It was very distressing to tell the truth."
"I'm sure it was. Distressing enough for you not to give a second thought to sleeping.uh, without clothes on." He told her as delicately as he could. Hermione's face paled when she realised that he was telling the truth, and Draco couldn't keep the mischievous grin off his face.
"Don't you look at me like that, Mr. Malfoy." She said. "I'm not in the mood for it."
"But I am." He said, shifting closer to her and kissing her neck. She couldn't help smiling at him, and he took this as encouragement. His fingers traced across her back and then along her stomach, causing Hermione to shiver. His kisses moved up her neck and stopped at her mouth, and Draco's hands now moved to unbutton her robe.
"Draco, don't." she whispered.
"Why not?" he asked. "I love you, Hermione."
"Are you going to use that as a reason, or an excuse?" she asked him.
"Neither." He said dejectedly. "I'm sorry."
Hermione paused, thinking hard and quickly. A smile slid across her face as she made a decision and leaned in so her mouth was only millimeters from Draco's ear. "I'll take it as a reason. It's as good as any. Even better. And I love you too."
Draco twisted so he was looking into Hermione's beautiful brown eyes. His gray eyes were full of surprise and concern. "Are you serious?"
"Cross my heart, hope to die." Hermione replied with a large smile and a hand over her heart.
"Never hope to die, Hermione." Draco told her, taking her hand and kissing it softly. "I could never lose you."
***
Hermione awoke with moonlight playing across her face and Draco breathing heavily by her side, a sure sign that he was deep in sleep. His breath was warm on her bare shoulder and she turned to watch him silently. Draco was curled next to her on the small bed that was situated in the cabin with his feet tangled in hers and his arm resting gently on her waist.
She leaned in and kissed him delicately on the lips, not wishing to wake him, but not being able to resist when they looked so soft and cool in the moonlight. He groaned and snuggled further under the rug and closer to Hermione. She couldn't help but laugh at him, then she noticed him move back slightly and look at her from under a lazy eyelid.
"You woke me up." he mumbled accusingly.
"Well pardon my intrusion on your dreams." She whispered.
"I suppose that's alright. Reality is just as good as a dream." He responded with a smile. "Waking up to find myself next to the most beautiful lady in all the world is a dream to me."
"Stop it." Hermione said with a smile. "I'm blushing."
"The moonlight hides it well, you have no need to worry." Draco told her. His eyes searched her face for a moment, then he said, "Are you feeling ok?"
"Yes." She replied truthfully. "I've never felt better." Hermione reached down to the covers that were a little low for her liking, and pulled them up to her chin.
Draco chuckled. "Oh, now you decide to show modesty."
Hermione blushed. "Keep quiet, you."
"My lips are sealed." Draco raised his hand and mimed zipping his lips together, then locking the corner with an invisible key. He then opened his mouth and put the 'key' in it and swallowed it. Hermione laughed and hit him playfully on the shoulder.
"You're not supposed to eat the key, you fool." She explained, not out of any real necessity, but just to talk to him. "If you had just locked your lips together, how could you possibly separate them to swallow the key?"
"Good question." Draco said. "But its explanation is beyond my reach. I do but have a simple mind."
"Shut up." Hermione said, kissing him to silence the mockery that she knew would follow. She separated herself from him as a thought occurred to her. "Oh no. Draco, it's Monday night. That means if I'm not in my dorm by morning, Parvarti and Lavender will send a search party after me."
"Are you always in your dorm on Tuesday mornings?" Draco asked curiously.
"Where else would I be?" she asked him.
"In a secluded cabin in the very heart of the Forbidden Forest, surrounded by Glowing Oaks and in the arms of your one true love." Draco said, in a mock whimsical voice.
"My true love?" Hermione questioned. Draco didn't respond, he just looked at her with a peculiar expression on his face. She laughed at how corny his statement had been, but kissed him fondly on the forehead. "I couldn't possibly imagine being with anyone else." She told him, and his face relaxed into a grin.
"You couldn't even imagine it?" Draco asked mischievously. "Your mind must be smaller than I thought. Strange, every one always calls you so smart."
"Oh, my mind's small, is it?" Hermione demanded, an equally evil grin spreading across her face. "At least it's not bloated like a hot air balloon due to an ever increasing ego."
"Ooh, ouch." Draco said, placing a hand on his heart. "That felt like an arrow piercing my heart."
"Couldn't have been Cupids arrow, could it? No. I don't suppose he'd ever go near you."
"Of course he won't. I've got umpteen enchantments surrounding me so that that freak in a nappy can't come anywhere near me."
"Don't start bagging freaks in nappies, Draco Malfoy, you only graduated from that position yourself a few months ago."
"That's enough." Draco said, though his smile hadn't left him. A thoughtful look crossed his face and he glanced at Hermione pensively. "I recall our insults being a lot more serious a few months ago."
Hermione nodded, causing a few locks of her hair to fall across her neck. "I despised you." She told him simply.
"As I, did you." He poked her in the stomach gently. "Strange." He commented.
"Time changes all things." Hermione said philosophically.
"Hey Hermione." Draco said, his eyebrows furrowed. "Did you realise what we've just done?"
Hermione cocked her head to the side. "What do you mean 'do I realise?' Do you think I fell asleep half way through? Explain your question, sir."
"Think about what the Prophecy said." Hermione strained to remember, but Draco quoted before she could place what he was referring to. "'Once these two lovers combine their powers, the Dark Lord will be no more.'"
"So?" she prompted.
"So, we just locked in a part of the Prophecy. I had forgotten about its reference to 'lovers.' But now we're getting closer to the end, the forces of the Prophecy couldn't afford we leave it any later." He pouted, his bottom lip jutting out in a very cute fashion. "I feel used."
Hermione laughed at him and prodded his lip back in with the tip of her finger. "So do I, but what's done is done." She shifted under the covers. "I think I should get back to the Gryffindor tower now, though."
"Don't go." Draco wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. "I want you to stay."
"Well you can't have everything you want, or else you'd be a spoilt brat." She commented, shrugging herself free of his hold and leaving the small bed to get dressed. When she was dressed fully, she turned to see Draco watching her harmlessly, his head propped up on his hand. "I'll see you tomorrow in class."
"Hermione." He said. "About the letter I received from my father."
She glanced at the parchment, sitting forgotten on the couch. "Should we do as Lucius suggested? Act as if we're not together anymore?"
Draco shrugged sadly. "I suppose it'd only have to be for a week or two. That way the Death Eaters will have nothing to base their suspicions on. Then Lucius and myself won't have to worry about the Dark Lord taking action against us."
Hermione sighed. "Ok. Do I tell my friends that we broke up, or what?"
"I s'pose so." Draco shrugged. "We'll come to the cabin every second night, around nine, incase there is anything we need to say to each other. Is that ok?"
"Yeah." Hermione looked at him. "We have to think hard over the next couple days, Draco, about how to get rid of Voldemort. We must use our resources and think of a plan. Then take action on it."
"Yes ma'am." Draco said with a wink. When she tilted her head at him disapprovingly, he quickly added, "I'm serious, I'm already thinking about it."
Hermione smiled and left the cabin with her amulet, appearing silently next to her four-poster bed. It would have been dangerous to appear in her dorm during the day, but at four o'clock in the morning, she was guaranteed her roommates to be sleeping. They were. Hermione quickly got changed into her pajamas, and crawled into bed. She fell asleep with a small, secretive smile on her face and thoughts of that night running through her head.
***
Draco was up early the next morning, despite the protests his body made at being put into action after so little rest. He scribbled a small note to his father, informing him that Lex Slunk was most likely the Death Eater who was causing all the trouble. He also wrote that Hermione and himself would no longer be together.
He closed the letter with a wax seal, and walked up to Owlery before breakfast to send it off. He entered the Owlery to see Pansy setting her small brown owl off into flight with a folded piece of parchment in its talons. He nodded at her in greeting and called his black owl down from the rafters.
"How are you this morning, Draco?" Pansy asked, watching him walk over to a window and set his owl off into flight. "You look tired."
"I am." He said, none to friendly.
"What's up with you?" Pansy demanded.
"Nothing.I just had a bad day yesterday." He said quietly.
"Did something happen?" she asked him.
"Well, Hermione and I- we're not.she told me that, um-" he struggled.
"She broke up with you?" Pansy said incredulously.
Draco nodded dejectedly and forced a sad expression on his face. Pansy said, "Don't you even think about her, Draco. If she was stupid enough to dump you, then she's too stupid to even think about. Bloody mudblood."
Draco spun around to glare at her, his face betraying his anger. "Don't you dare call her that." He spat through gritted teeth.
"But Draco-"
"We mightn't be together anymore, but I don't want you to curse her. Understand?" he took a threatening step towards her.
"Yes." She said slowly, then she smiled, knowing that Draco would never actually hurt her. "Now let's go down to breakfast. I'm sure it's just what you need to get over this."
He nodded mutely and followed her out of the Owlery. He allowed himself a very small smile when they entered the corridor. He had taken the first step to having the whole school know about his and Hermione's 'break-up.'
Pansy would spread it around like wildfire as soon as she left Draco's side.
***
Hermione stumbled into the Great Hall, yawning and rubbing her eyes so they would focus properly. She made her way over to the Gryffindor table and greeted Harry and Ron sleepily. Harry looked at her carefully, still trying to place all she had told him the day before. She looked tired, he noted. She must be busy working on the Prophecy. Harry furrowed his brow, thinking that it sounded really strange to have his best friend working on a 'Prophecy.'
Ron glanced up from his plate of waffles, and once he swallowed his massive mouthful, said, "Morning Hermione." Then set back to work, aiming to eat every last morsel on the plate.
Hermione, without even thinking, glanced over at the Slytherin table. Naturally Draco was there, but he seemed to avoid her gaze. When she didn't look away, Draco lifted his eyes to meet hers, and gave her a mock glare then tilted his head to the side, as if to say 'remember?'
She quickly turned in her seat, realising that they had 'broken up' the night before. Not exactly sure how to let people know that they had 'broken up', Hermione decided to just eat her breakfast with a sad expression on her face. Neither of her friends noticed, so she took to sniffling slightly as she ate her porridge. Still nothing. Hermione didn't really want to just tell them, because she wouldn't know how to bring the conversation around, so she took the next step and put her hand to her mouth to muffle a sob.
"You right there, Hermione?" Ron asked her, cocking his head to the side, trying to figure out what the reason was for the odd noise she had just made. "Porridge go down the wrong way, did it?"
Hermione shook her head and kept her hand over her mouth in what she believed to be a devastated fashion. Ron leaned down towards her a little, and frowned at her. Suddenly, a huge grin spread across his face and he leaned back on his seat. "You just burped, didn't you?" he laughed.
Hermione could help rolling her eyes at him, but kept her face straight. Harry turned around when he heard Ron's laughter, and looked at Hermione with raised eyebrows when Ron informed him that their friend wasn't as sophisticated as they had thought.
Attempting another sob, Hermione used her napkin to wipe away the 'tears' that had formed in her eyes. Harry then shook his head at Ron and pointed out that Hermione wasn't burping, but crying. Ron spun around and lowered his head so it was inches away from Hermione's, examining her face.
"Oh, Hermione!" he exclaimed. "I'm sorry, I didn't realise." He said guiltily, enfolding her in a massive bear hug. "What's wrong?"
She sniffled and rested her head on his shoulder. "I don't really want to talk about it." she lied.
"Oh, come on, Hermione. You're upset," he pointed out obviously. "And we're your friends. You can tell us. Maybe we can make it better."
Harry got up and moved to Hermione's other side, and rested a hand on her knee comfortingly. "Yeah, come on. We'll help if we can. And if we can't, we can take the day off classes, use my Invisibility Cloak and go to Hogsmeade for some butterbeers." He said persuasively.
"Ok, guys." Hermione said, with another sniffle. "Well.Draco broke up with me last night." She said, putting her face in her hands so she could pretend she was crying, without them realising there were no tears. "I suppose it's for the best, but-" and she broke down in sobs.
Ron was shocked at this and let Hermione cry on him, every now and then sending the Slytherin table menacing glances. Harry however, thought about all Hermione had recently told him, and figured this to be a ploy of some sort, for some reason or another. Concluding that he really didn't know much, Harry patted Hermione on the back and finished eating his breakfast.
When Ron had finished eating his breakfast- which he had done with much difficulty, because Hermione had been leaning on him in such a way that he couldn't really reach his plate, and ended up sprinkling crumbs all through her hair- he asked Hermione if she wanted to go to Hogsmeade.
"No thank-you, Ron." She declined. "I think classes will take my mind off him, and that's what I want." He seemed to sag slightly with disappointment, but accepted her answer as a typical Hermione response.
The days classes passed without event, and Hermione found herself wishing more than anything that she could sit next to Draco, or at least talk to him. But she had to act hurt when he walked in the room, and look away if he sent a glance in her direction.
Harry noticed something very odd in Potions, and what Ginny told him over dinner confirmed his suspicions. Hermione said Draco broke up with her, and acted very upset about it. But Ginny informed Harry that she heard through the Slytherin girls in her History class that Hermione had broken up with Draco.
Harry smiled and felt slightly smug that he picked up a flaw in their plan. Deciding to talk to Hermione when he saw her in the Common Room after dinner, Harry finished his dinner in the company of his wonderful girlfriend.
"Hermione." He said softly to her an hour later, when Ginny and Ron were engrossed in a serious game of wizarding chess. She looked up from her book and smiled. He sat down next to her and spoke quietly so he couldn't be overheard. "Draco broke up with you last night."
She nodded, and managed to look upset.
"Don't, for heaven's sake." He told her. "I know you've both arranged it for some reason that I can't know about, but I do know that it's not real. You're still together."
Hermione looked at her hands guiltily, and said, "You're right. But please don't tell anyone. Draco can't be attached to me anymore."
"One thing." Harry began. "You told us that he broke up with you, but Gin heard that you broke it off with him. I think you got your stories crossed."
Hermione's eyes widened, then she giggled. "Trust something like that to happen." She sighed. "Oh, well. It doesn't really matter. We'll just say that we broke up with each other, and leave it at that. It's not as if anyone really cares."
Harry nodded, and looked over her shoulder at the book she was reading. "'Ways to Weaken Wizards.'" He quoted. "That's quite a direct title, isn't it?"
"It's very interesting." Hermione commented.
"Why are you reading it?" he asked.
"Just a bit of back up research." She said.
"For.you know?" Harry asked, with 'you know' meaning Prophecy.
"Yes." Was the only answer he got, because before even a few seconds had gone by, she was absorbed in the book once more.
***
Wednesday night came, and around nine o'clock, Draco draped himself across the couch in the cabin and waited for Hermione to arrive. After only a few minutes wait, the door opened and in she walked. Her hair was carelessly tied, loose strands framed her face and Draco thought she couldn't have looked more beautiful.
"Hey." He said, a smile brightening his face.
"Hey yourself." Hermione said back, sitting down next to him. "I've been reading up on spells and potions that we might be able to use, and I've found a few possibilities."
"Good. I've just been thinking about different strategies that we could use to incorporate Credere disguised as you, but have you there too." Draco told her.
"What have you gotten?" Hermione asked, stretching and curling up on the couch with her head on Draco's lap. He looked down at her and smiled.
"Uh, not much, to be honest." He confessed. "But I think we have to perform a human Transfiguration on Credere, despite how dangerous or illegal they are. We have to change her from Unicorn to human, and the only way that I've found to do that is with the human, or Animal as it's sometimes called, transfiguration."
"Do you know how to perform a transfiguration of that complexity?" Hermione asked him. When he shook his head, she said "I remember Dumbledore mentioning something about this transformation, perhaps he could help us."
"Would Dumbledore really do something illegal for us?" Draco asked doubtfully.
"Yep." Hermione said without hesitation. "And I'll bet he knows how to do it. If you want, I'll go talk to Dumbledore tomorrow after classes and see if he can help."
"Great." Draco commented, then he continued, "I don't know how to get you in to Voldemort's presence without being seen though. When he kills Credere, the both of us need to be together to fight him. We can hope that by having you suddenly appear after Voldemort just killed 'you', will give us the element of surprise.does that make any sense?"
"I doubt it, but I knew what you were talking about." Hermione paused. "I have a few ideas."
"Tell, tell." Draco said curiously.
"Well, a weakening potion would be perfect for Voldemort. We can use the Droysline plant that is being kept in the Room of Requirement. Sprout told us that it can be very strong and can weaken even the most powerful of wizards. Voldemort is definitely a powerful wizard. We can also use a spell."
"Which spell?"
"Not one that already exists. I think I will be busy writing one that fits our exact purpose for the next couple of days." Hermione smiled. "We'll see how that goes."
"Problem number one: how do we get Voldemort to drink the weakness potion? We can't really hand him a vial and say, 'here, be a mate and swallow this, will you?' Problem number two: How will we find the time to brew a weakness potion? It will need to be watched and have ingredients added, and I'm sure the Professors will get slightly suspicious if I'm brewing a potion in their class."
Hermione only thought for a moment before she smiled at him. "Use your new cauldron. It had two layers, so you can make it in the bottom, hidden section. When you need to take it to class, just say you haven't been able to find time to get it to the common room, so you had to take it to class."
"And problem number one?" Draco asked.
"That's more difficult."
They spent a while sitting and talking about it. Draco turned the conversation to the final Quidditch match, which was to take place on Saturday. "I have training tomorrow night, but Friday we should have off to relax and get our minds concentrating on the game. I also think Gryffindor booked the pitch before we did." He added wryly.
"So Friday night, meet here again? Exchange ideas or- " Hermione broke off and her eyes widened. Her face went so serious that Draco thought she might be in pain. When he asked her if she was ok, she raised a hand to silence him, and her mouth started moving as she muttered the thoughts that were rushing through her head.
When she looked back at Draco, her eyes were shining with wonder. "Draco. I know how to get Voldemort to drink the weakness potion. I know exactly how to make it work."
***
A/N- Thanks you all for sticking with my story and reading it this far. I may not, in fact, get it done by Christmas, cos that's coming up quicker than I'd intended. But I hope you all are enjoying it so far, because I love writing it! 'swimcutie'- Happy Birthday to you! Until next time guys.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN- An Angry Harry.
After lunch on Sunday, Hermione claimed she had some information she needed to research in the library, and left her friends in the Great Hall. Finding an empty classroom, Hermione used her amulet to get to the forest near the cabin. Looking around, she breathed deeply to calm herself.
"Why does this have to happen?" she asked in despair.
Casting her eyes skyward, Hermione found the blue sky and white fluffy clouds calming. She began to build the image of a Unicorn in her mind. When it was fully formed she felt the changes begin. A few minutes later, a pure white Unicorn stood in the clearing. Raising her head high, Hermione called to Credere.
Slowly walking into the patch of trees where Credere always disappeared into, Hermione continued to call to her. After a few minutes, a silvery gold head poked out from behind a large Glowing Oak, curiously.
'Yes?' Credere asked Hermione, stepping out to face her. 'Have you reached a conclusion?'
'We have, with the help of others.' Hermione answered, thinking of Derek and Esmerelda.
'And? Will you let me do it?' The adolescent unicorn asked eagerly.
Hermione sighed in resignation. 'Yes Credere. We must allow you to give your life to the Great Evil to assist in his death and to prevent ours.'
Credere moved forward and touched horns with Hermione. 'Thank-you. This is a great honor for me. Soon I will join my grandfather, who was killed by this monster years ago, in the havens.' She paused, reveling in the moment. Then she asked, 'What must I do?'
'We're not sure yet.' Hermione replied. 'But I'll tell you as soon as we know.'
'Thank-you, Hermione. I'll keep my eye out for you.' With that, Credere turned and disappeared into the emerald glow of the forest.
Returning to her human form, Hermione sighed and walked slowly out of the forest and into the clearing. She looked at the smooth surface of the lake for a few moments before deciding to dip her feet in the cool water. Hermione removed her shoes and walked up to the lakes edge. Sitting on a large boulder, she dipped her feet into the clear water and swirled them in lazy circles.
Sighing, Hermione leaned back and stared up at the sky with a small smile. Even with the Prophecy coming slowly to a close, she could still afford to relax in peace with the warm sun on her face.
***
"What are you doing? You have no right to barge into my house like this!" Lucius demanded of the group of masked men who had forced entry on his Manor. Not one of them replied, however one did step towards him in a threatening manner.
Lucius' face was white with rage as the Death Eaters slowly circled him, preventing him from escape. He was standing in his spacious lounge room with his wand in his hand. Hidden beneath his outward rage, Lucius' mind was full of doubt and uncertainty.
He wondered what was going on; why there was a large group of Death Eaters in his house all aiming their wands at him threateningly. He wondered if Draco's plans had been discovered, but more than anything he wondered who the short, stocky Death Eater was who stood smugly in front of him.
"I said, what are you doing here?" he asked again, now resorting to a deathly quiet voice.
"We have reason to suspect you, Lucius Malfoy and your son, Draco Malfoy, of treason against the Dark Lord." The leader told him.
"That is ridiculous." Lucius commented, acting as if he thought it was a joke. "The Malfoy's have always been loyal to the Dark Side, and I have always been loyal to the Dark Lord. I raised my son to be the same, and now you come in here accusing us of being disloyal? Where do you get your evidence?"
"I have reason to believe that your son has been fraternizing with a mudblood. In fact, she basically told me herself."
"Then she was lying. My son would never even look at a mudblood, let alone mix with one." Lucius stated firmly. "Now get out of my house."
"The Dark Lord will hear about this, then you and your son will be interrogated." The short man stated.
"You mean the Dark Lord didn't send you here? You just came because you felt like it? That means I can hex you all to next Halloween if you aren't out of my sight in a matter of seconds." Lucius sneered.
The majority of Death Eaters vanished immediately, leaving small popping noises behind them. Only a couple remained, surveying Lucius pensively. He glared at them, "You know I would never, ever betray Him. I can't believe that you were sucked in to that little mudbloods story. My son can't help stepping on a few people's toes, so she must be trying to get him in trouble. You know how idiots are."
The other Death Eaters nodded and disappeared save one; the leader of the group. He continued to glare at Lucius. He spoke, "I don't know what you and your son are playing at, but I will find a way to expose you. Trust me, I will." With that said, a loud crack sounded and he vanished, leaving Lucius breathing heavily and filled with worry.
***
Hermione spent the rest of Sunday with her friends. Talking, doing homework (her own and Ron's) and hanging out under the shade of the trees near the lake. The day passed quickly, and Hermione found herself cuddling under the covers early that night enjoying this rare occasion of a full night's sleep.
Harry and Ron sat up a bit later that night after Hermione and Ginny had both gone to bed. Harry turned to Ron, "I don't like it." he stated.
"Sorry?" Ron asked, not able to decide where Harry's train of thought had taken him.
"I don't like Hermione hiding things from us." Harry said, frowning.
"She can't help it, remember? She's working on 'secret business' with Malfoy." Ron said, using his fingers to form quotation marks in the air.
"I know. But I wonder what she's doing that is so important. I have tried to respect her and her privacy, but if it's something that we should know about."
"I'm sure she would tell us if it were life threatening." Ron told him. "Besides, it's been a year or two since there was a mystery to be solved around here. Maybe she's looking into things that are only slightly suspicious, trying to form an adventure."
"I doubt it." Harry said. "I just wish she'd talk to us. I don't like these lies she's giving us."
"She's not lying to us." Ron defended his friend. "She's just not telling us what we want to know."
"Keeping secrets from your friends is as bad as lying to them." Harry stated.
Ron sighed, realizing he was going to get nowhere with Harry in this mood. "I think we should just go to bed. If Hermione isn't sorted out by the end of the year, then we'll talk to her. But until then, just let her play her little mysterious games if it makes her happy."
"What about Draco?"
"What about him? He's done nothing wrong to her, and he seems to be civil when he's around us. Just let them be, Harry. Stop getting so worked up. I know you, and I know that when you get worked up, it takes you a while to calm back down again. So don't get to that point, Harry."
Harry nodded without much conviction.
"Harry." Ron said firmly. "She's our friend, and she's not stupid. You know she's not stupid. Until you are sure something is wrong, don't act."
"Alright. I suppose I am being overly suspicious." Harry smiled then. "You're right. It has been a few years since there's been some excitement around here, and I suppose I'm looking for it where I shouldn't be."
Ron smiled back. "It's been nice to have some peace and quiet, though."
Harry laughed. "I've actually been passing all my subjects recently; for a change."
"Odd that, isn't it?" Ron asked, standing up. "I'm tired, so its bed for me."
"Me too." Harry agreed. Ten minutes later as he lay in his four-poster, Harry calmed himself down. Hermione wasn't doing anything wrong. He was just overreacting. She was just trying to find some adventure in her now boring day-to-day life. That was it. It had to be.
***
Hermione filed into greenhouse three on Monday with Ron and Harry, for the last class of the day. She saw Draco moving in at the front of the class and sit down next to Pansy. Hermione sat between Ron and Harry, who were leaning back so they could continue their conversation with each other. It was either about Quidditch or broomsticks or something related, but Hermione had stopped listening ten minutes previously.
Professor Sprout moved to the front of the class and cleared her throat to get the students attention. "Good afternoon class, I hope you all had a good weekend. Today we will have a theory lesson, as we are running out of time before you will sit your NEWT's."
Hermione's back straightened and she listened on with rapt attention. Sprout talked about topics they had already covered to refresh their memories, then began on a new subject.
"There are a few plants that you should know the uses of for your exams, even if you never come across them in the world due to their rareness." Spout informed them. "The first is called the Droysline plant." Hermione's eyes widened and she looked across the room at Draco. He looked back at her and winked. There was a Droysline plant being kept in the Room of Requirement.
Hermione and Draco both turned back to listen carefully. "The Droysline plant grows entirely underground. The only way for a wizard to know that it is even there, is once a month, when it sprouts a single small blue flower."
Lavender put her hand up curiously. "Um, do we need to know what it is used for?"
"Oh, yes. Of course, you do." Sprout said. "The only known use of the Droysline plant is in Weakness potions. Its roots are skinned and chopped in to very small pieces. When added with a minimal amount of other ingredients, the result is very strong and can weaken even the most powerful wizards." Professor said this with a very direct look at Draco, then at Hermione.
"Another plant you must know about is the Klaque vine. It must have a maximal amount of sunlight to survive. It has large dark green leaves and spreads very quickly in summer. The uses of the Klaque vine are numerous. For your NEWT's you must name at least three, so listen carefully."
The class leaned forward with their quills raised over their parchment, waiting.
"One of the most common uses is for healing open wounds. If water and sugar is added with its leaves, finely chopped I believe, and spread as a paste over the wound, it will heal at a rapid rate. The second use is quite simple. The young leaves are used in tea, and have a very calming effect for the drinker for a few hours afterwards. The third use-" Professor Sprout paused and allowed the class to finish writing the second use. When all eyes were back on her, she continued.
"The third use is one that isn't really promoted. It can be used in transformations, to take away any pain that might be caused. Such as in an animal transfiguration, which you should all know is illegal. But, it is still a use of the Klaque vine. Fourth use is not recommended either. Some wizards find it entertaining to break open the Klaque's stem and collect the white liquid that flows out. They enjoy force-feeding it to muggles, and as soon as the liquid is consumed, the person immediately falls into a coma. Depending on how much they swallowed, the coma can last from a few days to a few years."
Professor Sprout waited again for the class to finish their notes. "There are more uses." She told them. "But I think it'll be easier for you to remember if there aren't too many to choose from."
She continued to inform them about various plants and their uses, and the class continued to take notes. By the end of class their hands were aching due to constant writing and their parchment was full of hastily written notes. When they were dismissed, the students traipsed across the grounds, heading for the castle.
Harry, Hermione and Ron made their way through the halls in the direction of the Gryffindor Common Room. They dropped off their books in their dorms then after a bit of chatting in the comfy chairs, they walked down to the Great Hall for dinner.
Ginny joined them after a while, and sat next to Ron who gave her a cheery smile.
She rolled her eyes and pulled a disgusted face. "Jeez Ron, you could at least swallow before you show me your teeth. I saw the entire contents of your mouth. Just lovely." She commented dryly.
"Sorry." He apologized, a grin still present on his face.
Harry nudged Hermione in the ribs a few minutes later. "Hey, Hermione. Is that Draco's owl that just flew in?" he asked, pointing to a large dark brown and black owl that was swooping in through the high windows of the Great Hall.
"Yes." She answered slowly, a frown crossing her face. "I wonder what is so important."
The beautiful dark bird landed in front of Draco, causing him to jump in alarm when it settled down on his plate and began picking at his food. Hermione watched Draco untie the parchment from his owls' foot and unroll it cautiously. He scanned the letter quickly, but folded it up when he noticed Pansy leaning over his shoulder trying to see who it was from.
He smiled at Pansy when she pouted at him in disappointment, but shook his head firmly when she pointed to the parchment he had just tucked inside his cloak.
"You finished eating, Hermione?" Harry asked her, when she turned back around.
"Yep." She replied. "Do you wanna head back up to the common room?"
"Sure." He replied. Harry looked at Ginny and Ron who were both still eating. "We'll see you guys up there when you're done."
Ginny nodded, but Ron gave Harry a stern look when neither of the girls was looking. Harry rolled his eyes at him and left the Great Hall behind Hermione.
Draco noticed Hermione leave the Great Hall and quickly excused himself to follow her.
***
"So Hermione." Harry started as they strolled down the second corridor. "You still busy with Draco?"
"What do you mean?" she asked him curiously.
"Well, with all the stuff that you can't tell us. All the secrecy. You done with that now?"
"Not exactly." She replied carefully. "We're nearly there though."
"Right." Harry said stiffly.
They continued silently down the hall until they heard a shout behind them. "Hermione!" They turned around to see Draco jogging towards them, a worried expression on his face. "Hermione," he said again when he caught up. "I need to show you something."
Hermione glanced at Harry, who was looking at Draco with an undecipherable expression. "Uh, actually I was going to hang out with Harry for a while. Can it wait for another time?"
Draco gave Harry a quick glance, then nodded. "Sure. I'll show you later then?"
Hermione smiled at him as they continued walking three-a-breast down the corridor. "That would be great. I'll see you later on then." Hermione was walking between the two boys, and as they turned the corner, she accidentally tripped over the hem of her robe. She tried to get her balance back by grabbing Draco's arm, but he had just started turning around to head towards the Slytherin common room, so he just made her stumble even more.
She fell to the ground and started laughing almost immediately. "I can't believe I just did that." She mumbled between giggles.
Draco and Harry exchanged a tolerant glance and each reached down to help Hermione to her feet. When she was hauled back up again, Harry smiled, and Draco pulled his sleeves up and brushed his hands together as if it had been tiring work.
"Hermione, you're getting heavier every day." Draco then wiped the back of his hand across his forehead in mock fatigue. Hermione slapped him on the shoulder, but Harry stood frozen on the spot. He was staring at Draco's now exposed forearm in shock. The Dark Mark stood out as clear as day, as it had still not toned down from its initial engraving.
Draco looked up at Harry to say goodbye before he headed back to the dungeons, but he stopped when he saw the look of near horror on his face. Draco glanced down to where Harry's gaze lay and paled when he saw the exposed emblem on his arm. He hastily pulled his sleeve down again.
"See you later Draco." Hermione said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Obviously she hadn't noticed anything. Draco hesitated, unsure of what Harry might do, but decided that Harry wouldn't do anything to Hermione, only to him.
"Uh, yeah. See you later on." He smiled at her then gave one last hesitant look towards Harry, before he walked back down the hall.
Hermione continued down the corridor heading towards the Gryffindor tower, still smiling about her clumsy fall. Harry followed darkly behind her, trying to get a grip on his anger. Draco had the Dark Mark on his arm. That could only mean one thing. Draco was a Death Eater. And there was almost no possibility that Hermione didn't know about it.
Surely she would have seen his arm exposed before. Harry looked at the back of Hermione's head as he thought quickly about what to do. All the secrecy, all the running around behind her friends' backs, all the lies. Maybe Hermione was-
"Harry? Are you alright?" Hermione asked him, interrupting his dangerous thoughts. She had turned around to find him staring at her with glazed eyes. She took a step towards him in concern, reaching out to touch his arm. Harry's eyes quickly darted towards the classroom door on their left, which stood slightly ajar.
Looking back at Hermione, he made up his mind quickly. Harry grabbed Hermione's outstretched wrist in his strong grip and pulled her into the empty classroom, slamming the door behind him.
Hermione gasped in surprise at the sudden action and quickly wrested her hand free. "Harry, what are you doing?" she asked in alarm, her smile gone and replaced by a worried frown.
Harry glared at her, the anger in his eyes clearly visible in the dimly lit classroom. Hermione started walking towards the door, not knowing why Harry was so angry with her, but not wanting to stay and find out. An angry Harry was irrational. An angry Harry was very difficult to calm down. An angry Harry could also be very scary.
Harry took a few quick steps and blocked the door. Hermione pulled back in shock. "Harry, what are you doing?" she asked him again.
He lowered his face so it was directly in front of hers, and whispered, "How long has Draco been a Death Eater?"
Hermione couldn't disguise the fear and dread that crossed her face, and tried to turn so Harry wouldn't notice it. He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her up against the wall, his strong body pinning her there. "I said," Harry repeated slowly. "How long has Draco been a Death Eater?"
"He's not." Hermione answered. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes you do." Harry said softly. "How could you not? I saw the Dark Mark on his arm, Hermione. I'm not just guessing."
Hermione closed her eyes, trying to think of a way to explain the situation to Harry. He thought that she had been betraying him. Knowingly dating a Death Eater. "It's not like that." She whispered.
"Not like what, Hermione?" Harry spat.
"Not what you think.he's not really a Death Eater. It's only for a while, then it'll all be over." She said, her eyes filling up with tears.
"People can't just be Death Eater's 'for a while' Hermione." Harry said through gritted teeth. "It's for life. So is fighting the dark side. I'm going to be fighting the dark side all my life.what are you going to be doing, Hermione?"
"I'll fight with you." She said, a few tears escaping and falling across her face.
"With me.or against me?" Harry demanded.
Hermione's eyes widened in shock at what Harry was suggesting. "What?"
"Has your boyfriend persuaded you to join his side? Is that why you're so accepting of him?" Harry asked, reached down for her arm. She struggled against him, but could not get free. His body was rock solid against her and completely immovable. He took her wrist in his firm grip and pulled up her sleeve. Her bare arm was clear in the dim light and Harry dropped it, staring into her face. "And I half expected to be greeted by the Dark Mark again."
"Harry, you don't understand." She told him.
"Oh." Harry said, his eyes widening in mock surprise. "I don't understand. Well, that puts me back in my place. I'll just let you go, and forgive and forget then."
"I didn't mean that. You don't understand what we're doing. We going to fight against Him." Hermione said, wishing she could tell Harry about the Prophecy.
"Against who?" Harry asked her quietly.
"I can't say."
"Oh. Of course you can't." Harry mocked.
"No Harry. Listen. I can't say. I can't mention his name. I must not say his name." She explained cryptically.
His eye narrowed, then he barked a laugh. "You're trying to tell me that you and your Death Eater are going to fight against Voldemort?"
She nodded.
"Why would a Death Eater betray his Lord?"
"Because it's what has to happen. It's been prophesized." She told him, realizing how stupid it sounded when it was spoken aloud..
"Really?" Harry asked, sneering. "How do you know that?"
"Because.we've read it." Hermione answered hesitantly.
"When must you fight Voldemort? According to this 'Prophecy?'"
"Very soon, apparently." She answered, wiping a few tears from her face.
"I don't know you anymore, Hermione." Harry told her in a pained voice. "You're dating a Death Eater, with whom you say you'll fight Voldemort? Come on.that's ridiculous. You can't even expect Ron to buy that story."
"But it's true." She whispered.
"Then prove it." Harry told her.
"I.how?" Hermione floundered. She wanted very much to convince Harry. The only reason she had never told any of her friends about the Prophecy, was the risk that somehow, by telling more people than absolutely necessary, Voldemort would hear of it. And he could not be warned.
"I will.if you promise, swear to me, that you won't tell another soul." Hermione said in a barely audible voice. "Because we can't risk any body knowing if it's to work."
Harry frowned. Hermione sounded as if she actually had a way to prove this ridiculous excuse. "You mean you're going to prove to me that you are in a Prophecy?"
"Yes. Only if you promise."
Harry swallowed hard, then stepped aside so Hermione could go free. She breathed deeply, then moved away from the wall on which she had been pinned. She looked at Harry once she had put a sizable distance between them. He nodded. "I promise."
"That.?" she prompted.
"I promise that I will never tell another soul about what I am going to see. I will tell nobody. You have my word." He said, laying a hand over the left side of his chest.
"Well then." Hermione took a deep breath. "Draco's going to kill me." she muttered to herself, then looked at Harry once more. "Don't get scared, Harry. I won't hurt you. I promise."
Harry backed away a few steps, now slightly wary of what Hermione was about to do. She stood in the middle of the classroom and closed her eyes. For a few moments, Harry thought she was planning on falling asleep standing up and wondered what that was going to prove. Then he noticed something very odd happening to Hermione's hair.
Her hair was slowly changing from brown to white. It was growing too, at a very rapid rate. Harry pulled his head back in surprise and shock when her arms also began lengthening. Hermione's torso thickened and her legs thinned. With her arms now almost double their original length, Hermione fell forward on to them, as if they were her third and fourth legs.
Harry stood, rooted to the spot in a mixture of horror and awe. When Hermione's forehead began looking as if it were about to sprout one of the biggest pimples in history, Harry took a few steps backward until he hit the wall. A small gasp escaped his lips when a long horn developed, and also when a white tail of hair grew out of Hermione's coccyx.
Her head changed shape entirely and her body thickened a bit more. When the changes slowed and stopped, Hermione raised her head and looked at Harry, who was almost cowering against the wall. She stepped forward on her dainty hooves, causing a 'click click' noise on the stone floor.
"Hermione." Harry said in awe. "You're.an Animagus?"
'Yes.' Her voice replied in her head. She continued to walk towards him until she was only a few feet away.
"You're a Unicorn?" he asked in disbelief.
'Yes.' She answered. 'Do you believe me now?'
"What does this prove?" Harry asked her in confusion.
'What?' Hermione asked him. 'What do you mean?'
"It's incredible, and I promise I won't tell anyone." Harry said quickly, eyeing her horn only feet from him. "But, why do you have to be an Animagus to defeat Voldemort?"
'I'm not sure yet. We're still figuring that out. I think it has to do with fooling him into thinking I'm someone else.'
"Oh right." Harry said, even though he didn't have a clue what she was talking about. He slowly took a few steps forward and reached out towards Hermione. He tentatively rested his palm on the side of her head. She nestled her face against him gently and Harry smiled. She was beautiful, a true reflection of her natural self. "Hermione.I'm sorry."
"So am I, but you can't tell a soul about this."
"I know, you've already said. I won't, don't worry so much. I still don't trust Draco as a Death Eater, but I'll deal with it." Harry promised her. She rubbed her face against his palm again, then backed away.
Harry watched her change back, and made the mental note that she looked as if she was a human stepping out of the melting body of a Unicorn. "That is so weird." He whispered to himself, shaking his head.
A fully human Hermione took Harry's arm in her own, and walked him out of the room and up to the common room. He didn't talk, just watched her as they sat on the couch in front of a large window. When his gaze shifted to the darkening sky outside, he spoke. "I still don't understand anything Hermione, but if I can help in any way.you know to just ask me."
"Ok. If I need you." She promised. "Oh, I nearly forgot. Please don't tell Draco that I told you. He won't be happy, so I'll make sure I think of a soft way to break it to him."
"Why won't he be happy?" Harry asked curiously.
"Because there is some kind of silent agreement between us that we wouldn't tell our friends about this. And I told you. He won't be happy. Trust me." Hermione winced, thinking about Draco's reaction.
Harry just smiled. "I'll let you have the honor then."
***
Remembering at the last minute that Draco had wished to speak to her that night, Hermione used her amulet to get to the cabin, the obvious meeting point, and quickly walked inside as ten o'clock was approaching.
"I thought you'd fallen asleep or fallen off a cliff or something." Draco's voice sounded from the couch. Hermione smiled and made her way over to him. She sat next to him and he wrapped an arm about her shoulders. "If that had been the case I would have been slightly upset, you know."
"It's nice to know you care." Hermione answered dryly. He answered that comment by kissing Hermione on the forehead and stroking her neck softly.
"You know I care, that's why you would disappoint me by falling off a cliff."
"Yes, because it would obviously be by choice." Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "Now," she sat up straight, "what did you want to show me?"
"Oh." Draco said, his expression turning serious. He reached a hand inside his robe and pulled out a folded letter. "I received this from father tonight and I think you should read it. It's a bit of a worry."
Hermione took the parchment from him and unfolded it. She looked at the small, neat handwriting that was Lucius', and read aloud.
'Draco,
I have disturbing news that I will keep brief. Earlier today, the Manor was raided by a small group of Death Eaters. They claimed that you are dating a mudblood, therefore betraying the Dark Lord as you swore to him that you hated mudbloods above all else. They also believe that if you have done this that I am also not to be trusted.
The Dark Lord has not of yet been informed, but I'm sure it will not be long before he'll send for you. I do not have any advice; aside from avoid being seen with the girl in and outside of school. I will notify you of any further developments in this situation. I will try my best to sort things out with the Dark Lord, claiming it to be a misunderstanding.
Lucius.'
Hermione looked up at Draco guiltily. He furrowed his eyebrows at her and said, "What?"
"This would be none other than Lex Slunk's doing." She said matter-of- factly.
"Of course." Draco snapped his fingers. "I'll notify father at soon as I get back to my dorm. Maybe he knows him and is able to work around him."
"I hope so." Hermione said.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, then Draco remembered something and turned quickly to Hermione in concern. "Hermione, has Harry said or done anything to you that may have regarded.me?"
"Why do you ask?" Hermione questioned him.
"Well.I think he saw the Dark Mark on my arm earlier." Draco confessed.
"Now that you mention it, yes he did. He spoke and acted rather aggressively to me just after you left." Hermione stated calmly.
"What! Did he hurt you? I'll kill him, I swear I'll kill him! If only I'd known sooner-"
"Draco, calm down." Hermione interrupted his ranting before it got out of hand. "He didn't hurt me, and he's fine now. You don't have to worry about Harry."
"Are you sure?" Draco persisted. "He didn't hit you or anything?"
"Why would he do that?" Hermione asked, not wanting to tell Draco how much Harry's actions had scared her. "It's not as if I burned the Dark Mark on you myself."
"No. But surely he assumed that you knew it was there. And for that, he might have thought you were wishing you were a Death Eater yourself."
"Perhaps he did." Hermione said evasively. "But he doesn't anymore, so we can drop it." she said quickly. Maybe a little bit too quickly. Draco slowly narrowed his eyes and turned to survey Hermione, who innocently kept her gaze directed out the window. Draco reached over and took Hermione's chin gently in his grasp and turned it so she was looking into his steely gray eyes.
"Hermione, how did you manage to get Harry to accept me being a Death Eater?" he asked her bluntly.
She blinked owlishly at him and answered, "I just told him.a few things."
"What few things?"
"Oh, nothing important." She said vaguely, continuing to avoid answering the question directly.
"Hermione, don't treat me like a fool." Draco said.
"But it's only fair that I treat you like what you are." She replied, sending him a devilish grin.
"You're calling me a fool?" Draco scoffed. "You're one to talk."
"I talk quite often. That was a rather obvious observation, Draco." Hermione said.
"Want to know another obvious observation?" he asked.
"Enlighten me."
"You're changing the subject."
"No. I already did."
"Well I'm changing it back." Draco said firmly. "How did you get Harry to accept me being a Death Eater?"
Hermione sighed, realising that Draco would continue insisting until he found out. "Fine. I'll tell you. You win."
"I always win." Draco stated.
"That's a very risky comment coming from a man who lost fair and square to a 'mudblood' in a duel not many months ago." Hermione said, raising her eyebrows at him.
"Just bloody tell me, it can't be that bad." Draco nearly yelled in exasperation.
"I told Harry about the Prophecy." Hermione said quickly, hoping to say it with Draco not picking up the worst. "I told him you had to be a Death Eater so we could defeat Voldemort, and I also.uh.."
She looked at Draco, but he didn't say anything, just stared at her with his piercing gray eyes. She lowered her head. "And.I turned into a Unicorn so he could see that I wasn't lying." She looked back up at Draco from under her lashes, slightly hesitant. "I'm sorry. But there was no other way. Please don't be mad."
Draco remained staring at her with an unreadable expression. Hermione sat uncomfortably next to him, not sure whether it would be safer to leave, or better to stay. Finally he spoke to her. "As much as I disapprove of you telling Harry about this.I also think it was the only way to avoid him telling others. If you made him swear to secrecy," Hermione nodded that she did. "Then I don't think he should be a problem. In fact, he might also come in handy when we need to get into the Dark Lord's company at the end. A bribe of bringing Voldemort Harry might get us in to see him."
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the stars that Draco was a literal person. At least with this matter. 'Thank you for seeing it this way." she said.
"It wasn't your fault anyway." He said. "I should have been more careful keeping it concealed, instead of flashing it around like Harry does his scar."
"There's nothing wrong with his scar." Hermione defended.
"No, of course not." Draco said sarcastically. "It's only immediate identification to anyone who sees him."
"Every one knows who Harry is anyway. And it's not like he can't take care of himself." She said.
"Oh yeah, powerful Harry Potter can do anything. I almost forgot." He said with a sneer.
"Don't you start." Hermione snapped at him. "You've been doing so well these past months. I don't want you to start picking on my friends again. They're wonderful and are not out to make themselves appear better than you. No matter how much you want to appear better than them."
"That is so not true. I never tried to appear better than them." Draco said incredulously, followed by the foreseeable comment, "I already am."
"Ever the egotist." Hermione muttered.
"You love me for it." Draco told her.
"I wouldn't say that." Hermione disagreed. "I find your-" she began to say, but was interrupted by Draco's lips suddenly on hers. His arm snaked around her waist and pulled her closer to him, and she wrapped her arms about his neck and moved so she was sitting on his lap. When he broke away, she raised her eyebrows questioningly.
"I just wanted to shut you up," he said. "Plus, you're really sexy when you're angry."
"I've never heard that before." She said with a smile.
"Really?" Draco asked in a shocked voice. "Well, have you heard that you're sexy when you are laughing?"
She shook her head and giggled slightly.
"You're also sexy when you're talking.when you're answering a question in class, when you're concentrating. And when you are walking, working and sleeping."
"Sleeping?" she interrupted. "You've never seen me sleeping before."
"Yes I most certainly have." Draco said, smiling at the memory. "I believe you were sleeping when I came here just Saturday night. Or perhaps it was Sunday morning by the time I got here." Then he laughed at one specific detail.
"What?" Hermione demanded. "I don't remember anything funny about Saturday night. It was very distressing to tell the truth."
"I'm sure it was. Distressing enough for you not to give a second thought to sleeping.uh, without clothes on." He told her as delicately as he could. Hermione's face paled when she realised that he was telling the truth, and Draco couldn't keep the mischievous grin off his face.
"Don't you look at me like that, Mr. Malfoy." She said. "I'm not in the mood for it."
"But I am." He said, shifting closer to her and kissing her neck. She couldn't help smiling at him, and he took this as encouragement. His fingers traced across her back and then along her stomach, causing Hermione to shiver. His kisses moved up her neck and stopped at her mouth, and Draco's hands now moved to unbutton her robe.
"Draco, don't." she whispered.
"Why not?" he asked. "I love you, Hermione."
"Are you going to use that as a reason, or an excuse?" she asked him.
"Neither." He said dejectedly. "I'm sorry."
Hermione paused, thinking hard and quickly. A smile slid across her face as she made a decision and leaned in so her mouth was only millimeters from Draco's ear. "I'll take it as a reason. It's as good as any. Even better. And I love you too."
Draco twisted so he was looking into Hermione's beautiful brown eyes. His gray eyes were full of surprise and concern. "Are you serious?"
"Cross my heart, hope to die." Hermione replied with a large smile and a hand over her heart.
"Never hope to die, Hermione." Draco told her, taking her hand and kissing it softly. "I could never lose you."
***
Hermione awoke with moonlight playing across her face and Draco breathing heavily by her side, a sure sign that he was deep in sleep. His breath was warm on her bare shoulder and she turned to watch him silently. Draco was curled next to her on the small bed that was situated in the cabin with his feet tangled in hers and his arm resting gently on her waist.
She leaned in and kissed him delicately on the lips, not wishing to wake him, but not being able to resist when they looked so soft and cool in the moonlight. He groaned and snuggled further under the rug and closer to Hermione. She couldn't help but laugh at him, then she noticed him move back slightly and look at her from under a lazy eyelid.
"You woke me up." he mumbled accusingly.
"Well pardon my intrusion on your dreams." She whispered.
"I suppose that's alright. Reality is just as good as a dream." He responded with a smile. "Waking up to find myself next to the most beautiful lady in all the world is a dream to me."
"Stop it." Hermione said with a smile. "I'm blushing."
"The moonlight hides it well, you have no need to worry." Draco told her. His eyes searched her face for a moment, then he said, "Are you feeling ok?"
"Yes." She replied truthfully. "I've never felt better." Hermione reached down to the covers that were a little low for her liking, and pulled them up to her chin.
Draco chuckled. "Oh, now you decide to show modesty."
Hermione blushed. "Keep quiet, you."
"My lips are sealed." Draco raised his hand and mimed zipping his lips together, then locking the corner with an invisible key. He then opened his mouth and put the 'key' in it and swallowed it. Hermione laughed and hit him playfully on the shoulder.
"You're not supposed to eat the key, you fool." She explained, not out of any real necessity, but just to talk to him. "If you had just locked your lips together, how could you possibly separate them to swallow the key?"
"Good question." Draco said. "But its explanation is beyond my reach. I do but have a simple mind."
"Shut up." Hermione said, kissing him to silence the mockery that she knew would follow. She separated herself from him as a thought occurred to her. "Oh no. Draco, it's Monday night. That means if I'm not in my dorm by morning, Parvarti and Lavender will send a search party after me."
"Are you always in your dorm on Tuesday mornings?" Draco asked curiously.
"Where else would I be?" she asked him.
"In a secluded cabin in the very heart of the Forbidden Forest, surrounded by Glowing Oaks and in the arms of your one true love." Draco said, in a mock whimsical voice.
"My true love?" Hermione questioned. Draco didn't respond, he just looked at her with a peculiar expression on his face. She laughed at how corny his statement had been, but kissed him fondly on the forehead. "I couldn't possibly imagine being with anyone else." She told him, and his face relaxed into a grin.
"You couldn't even imagine it?" Draco asked mischievously. "Your mind must be smaller than I thought. Strange, every one always calls you so smart."
"Oh, my mind's small, is it?" Hermione demanded, an equally evil grin spreading across her face. "At least it's not bloated like a hot air balloon due to an ever increasing ego."
"Ooh, ouch." Draco said, placing a hand on his heart. "That felt like an arrow piercing my heart."
"Couldn't have been Cupids arrow, could it? No. I don't suppose he'd ever go near you."
"Of course he won't. I've got umpteen enchantments surrounding me so that that freak in a nappy can't come anywhere near me."
"Don't start bagging freaks in nappies, Draco Malfoy, you only graduated from that position yourself a few months ago."
"That's enough." Draco said, though his smile hadn't left him. A thoughtful look crossed his face and he glanced at Hermione pensively. "I recall our insults being a lot more serious a few months ago."
Hermione nodded, causing a few locks of her hair to fall across her neck. "I despised you." She told him simply.
"As I, did you." He poked her in the stomach gently. "Strange." He commented.
"Time changes all things." Hermione said philosophically.
"Hey Hermione." Draco said, his eyebrows furrowed. "Did you realise what we've just done?"
Hermione cocked her head to the side. "What do you mean 'do I realise?' Do you think I fell asleep half way through? Explain your question, sir."
"Think about what the Prophecy said." Hermione strained to remember, but Draco quoted before she could place what he was referring to. "'Once these two lovers combine their powers, the Dark Lord will be no more.'"
"So?" she prompted.
"So, we just locked in a part of the Prophecy. I had forgotten about its reference to 'lovers.' But now we're getting closer to the end, the forces of the Prophecy couldn't afford we leave it any later." He pouted, his bottom lip jutting out in a very cute fashion. "I feel used."
Hermione laughed at him and prodded his lip back in with the tip of her finger. "So do I, but what's done is done." She shifted under the covers. "I think I should get back to the Gryffindor tower now, though."
"Don't go." Draco wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. "I want you to stay."
"Well you can't have everything you want, or else you'd be a spoilt brat." She commented, shrugging herself free of his hold and leaving the small bed to get dressed. When she was dressed fully, she turned to see Draco watching her harmlessly, his head propped up on his hand. "I'll see you tomorrow in class."
"Hermione." He said. "About the letter I received from my father."
She glanced at the parchment, sitting forgotten on the couch. "Should we do as Lucius suggested? Act as if we're not together anymore?"
Draco shrugged sadly. "I suppose it'd only have to be for a week or two. That way the Death Eaters will have nothing to base their suspicions on. Then Lucius and myself won't have to worry about the Dark Lord taking action against us."
Hermione sighed. "Ok. Do I tell my friends that we broke up, or what?"
"I s'pose so." Draco shrugged. "We'll come to the cabin every second night, around nine, incase there is anything we need to say to each other. Is that ok?"
"Yeah." Hermione looked at him. "We have to think hard over the next couple days, Draco, about how to get rid of Voldemort. We must use our resources and think of a plan. Then take action on it."
"Yes ma'am." Draco said with a wink. When she tilted her head at him disapprovingly, he quickly added, "I'm serious, I'm already thinking about it."
Hermione smiled and left the cabin with her amulet, appearing silently next to her four-poster bed. It would have been dangerous to appear in her dorm during the day, but at four o'clock in the morning, she was guaranteed her roommates to be sleeping. They were. Hermione quickly got changed into her pajamas, and crawled into bed. She fell asleep with a small, secretive smile on her face and thoughts of that night running through her head.
***
Draco was up early the next morning, despite the protests his body made at being put into action after so little rest. He scribbled a small note to his father, informing him that Lex Slunk was most likely the Death Eater who was causing all the trouble. He also wrote that Hermione and himself would no longer be together.
He closed the letter with a wax seal, and walked up to Owlery before breakfast to send it off. He entered the Owlery to see Pansy setting her small brown owl off into flight with a folded piece of parchment in its talons. He nodded at her in greeting and called his black owl down from the rafters.
"How are you this morning, Draco?" Pansy asked, watching him walk over to a window and set his owl off into flight. "You look tired."
"I am." He said, none to friendly.
"What's up with you?" Pansy demanded.
"Nothing.I just had a bad day yesterday." He said quietly.
"Did something happen?" she asked him.
"Well, Hermione and I- we're not.she told me that, um-" he struggled.
"She broke up with you?" Pansy said incredulously.
Draco nodded dejectedly and forced a sad expression on his face. Pansy said, "Don't you even think about her, Draco. If she was stupid enough to dump you, then she's too stupid to even think about. Bloody mudblood."
Draco spun around to glare at her, his face betraying his anger. "Don't you dare call her that." He spat through gritted teeth.
"But Draco-"
"We mightn't be together anymore, but I don't want you to curse her. Understand?" he took a threatening step towards her.
"Yes." She said slowly, then she smiled, knowing that Draco would never actually hurt her. "Now let's go down to breakfast. I'm sure it's just what you need to get over this."
He nodded mutely and followed her out of the Owlery. He allowed himself a very small smile when they entered the corridor. He had taken the first step to having the whole school know about his and Hermione's 'break-up.'
Pansy would spread it around like wildfire as soon as she left Draco's side.
***
Hermione stumbled into the Great Hall, yawning and rubbing her eyes so they would focus properly. She made her way over to the Gryffindor table and greeted Harry and Ron sleepily. Harry looked at her carefully, still trying to place all she had told him the day before. She looked tired, he noted. She must be busy working on the Prophecy. Harry furrowed his brow, thinking that it sounded really strange to have his best friend working on a 'Prophecy.'
Ron glanced up from his plate of waffles, and once he swallowed his massive mouthful, said, "Morning Hermione." Then set back to work, aiming to eat every last morsel on the plate.
Hermione, without even thinking, glanced over at the Slytherin table. Naturally Draco was there, but he seemed to avoid her gaze. When she didn't look away, Draco lifted his eyes to meet hers, and gave her a mock glare then tilted his head to the side, as if to say 'remember?'
She quickly turned in her seat, realising that they had 'broken up' the night before. Not exactly sure how to let people know that they had 'broken up', Hermione decided to just eat her breakfast with a sad expression on her face. Neither of her friends noticed, so she took to sniffling slightly as she ate her porridge. Still nothing. Hermione didn't really want to just tell them, because she wouldn't know how to bring the conversation around, so she took the next step and put her hand to her mouth to muffle a sob.
"You right there, Hermione?" Ron asked her, cocking his head to the side, trying to figure out what the reason was for the odd noise she had just made. "Porridge go down the wrong way, did it?"
Hermione shook her head and kept her hand over her mouth in what she believed to be a devastated fashion. Ron leaned down towards her a little, and frowned at her. Suddenly, a huge grin spread across his face and he leaned back on his seat. "You just burped, didn't you?" he laughed.
Hermione could help rolling her eyes at him, but kept her face straight. Harry turned around when he heard Ron's laughter, and looked at Hermione with raised eyebrows when Ron informed him that their friend wasn't as sophisticated as they had thought.
Attempting another sob, Hermione used her napkin to wipe away the 'tears' that had formed in her eyes. Harry then shook his head at Ron and pointed out that Hermione wasn't burping, but crying. Ron spun around and lowered his head so it was inches away from Hermione's, examining her face.
"Oh, Hermione!" he exclaimed. "I'm sorry, I didn't realise." He said guiltily, enfolding her in a massive bear hug. "What's wrong?"
She sniffled and rested her head on his shoulder. "I don't really want to talk about it." she lied.
"Oh, come on, Hermione. You're upset," he pointed out obviously. "And we're your friends. You can tell us. Maybe we can make it better."
Harry got up and moved to Hermione's other side, and rested a hand on her knee comfortingly. "Yeah, come on. We'll help if we can. And if we can't, we can take the day off classes, use my Invisibility Cloak and go to Hogsmeade for some butterbeers." He said persuasively.
"Ok, guys." Hermione said, with another sniffle. "Well.Draco broke up with me last night." She said, putting her face in her hands so she could pretend she was crying, without them realising there were no tears. "I suppose it's for the best, but-" and she broke down in sobs.
Ron was shocked at this and let Hermione cry on him, every now and then sending the Slytherin table menacing glances. Harry however, thought about all Hermione had recently told him, and figured this to be a ploy of some sort, for some reason or another. Concluding that he really didn't know much, Harry patted Hermione on the back and finished eating his breakfast.
When Ron had finished eating his breakfast- which he had done with much difficulty, because Hermione had been leaning on him in such a way that he couldn't really reach his plate, and ended up sprinkling crumbs all through her hair- he asked Hermione if she wanted to go to Hogsmeade.
"No thank-you, Ron." She declined. "I think classes will take my mind off him, and that's what I want." He seemed to sag slightly with disappointment, but accepted her answer as a typical Hermione response.
The days classes passed without event, and Hermione found herself wishing more than anything that she could sit next to Draco, or at least talk to him. But she had to act hurt when he walked in the room, and look away if he sent a glance in her direction.
Harry noticed something very odd in Potions, and what Ginny told him over dinner confirmed his suspicions. Hermione said Draco broke up with her, and acted very upset about it. But Ginny informed Harry that she heard through the Slytherin girls in her History class that Hermione had broken up with Draco.
Harry smiled and felt slightly smug that he picked up a flaw in their plan. Deciding to talk to Hermione when he saw her in the Common Room after dinner, Harry finished his dinner in the company of his wonderful girlfriend.
"Hermione." He said softly to her an hour later, when Ginny and Ron were engrossed in a serious game of wizarding chess. She looked up from her book and smiled. He sat down next to her and spoke quietly so he couldn't be overheard. "Draco broke up with you last night."
She nodded, and managed to look upset.
"Don't, for heaven's sake." He told her. "I know you've both arranged it for some reason that I can't know about, but I do know that it's not real. You're still together."
Hermione looked at her hands guiltily, and said, "You're right. But please don't tell anyone. Draco can't be attached to me anymore."
"One thing." Harry began. "You told us that he broke up with you, but Gin heard that you broke it off with him. I think you got your stories crossed."
Hermione's eyes widened, then she giggled. "Trust something like that to happen." She sighed. "Oh, well. It doesn't really matter. We'll just say that we broke up with each other, and leave it at that. It's not as if anyone really cares."
Harry nodded, and looked over her shoulder at the book she was reading. "'Ways to Weaken Wizards.'" He quoted. "That's quite a direct title, isn't it?"
"It's very interesting." Hermione commented.
"Why are you reading it?" he asked.
"Just a bit of back up research." She said.
"For.you know?" Harry asked, with 'you know' meaning Prophecy.
"Yes." Was the only answer he got, because before even a few seconds had gone by, she was absorbed in the book once more.
***
Wednesday night came, and around nine o'clock, Draco draped himself across the couch in the cabin and waited for Hermione to arrive. After only a few minutes wait, the door opened and in she walked. Her hair was carelessly tied, loose strands framed her face and Draco thought she couldn't have looked more beautiful.
"Hey." He said, a smile brightening his face.
"Hey yourself." Hermione said back, sitting down next to him. "I've been reading up on spells and potions that we might be able to use, and I've found a few possibilities."
"Good. I've just been thinking about different strategies that we could use to incorporate Credere disguised as you, but have you there too." Draco told her.
"What have you gotten?" Hermione asked, stretching and curling up on the couch with her head on Draco's lap. He looked down at her and smiled.
"Uh, not much, to be honest." He confessed. "But I think we have to perform a human Transfiguration on Credere, despite how dangerous or illegal they are. We have to change her from Unicorn to human, and the only way that I've found to do that is with the human, or Animal as it's sometimes called, transfiguration."
"Do you know how to perform a transfiguration of that complexity?" Hermione asked him. When he shook his head, she said "I remember Dumbledore mentioning something about this transformation, perhaps he could help us."
"Would Dumbledore really do something illegal for us?" Draco asked doubtfully.
"Yep." Hermione said without hesitation. "And I'll bet he knows how to do it. If you want, I'll go talk to Dumbledore tomorrow after classes and see if he can help."
"Great." Draco commented, then he continued, "I don't know how to get you in to Voldemort's presence without being seen though. When he kills Credere, the both of us need to be together to fight him. We can hope that by having you suddenly appear after Voldemort just killed 'you', will give us the element of surprise.does that make any sense?"
"I doubt it, but I knew what you were talking about." Hermione paused. "I have a few ideas."
"Tell, tell." Draco said curiously.
"Well, a weakening potion would be perfect for Voldemort. We can use the Droysline plant that is being kept in the Room of Requirement. Sprout told us that it can be very strong and can weaken even the most powerful of wizards. Voldemort is definitely a powerful wizard. We can also use a spell."
"Which spell?"
"Not one that already exists. I think I will be busy writing one that fits our exact purpose for the next couple of days." Hermione smiled. "We'll see how that goes."
"Problem number one: how do we get Voldemort to drink the weakness potion? We can't really hand him a vial and say, 'here, be a mate and swallow this, will you?' Problem number two: How will we find the time to brew a weakness potion? It will need to be watched and have ingredients added, and I'm sure the Professors will get slightly suspicious if I'm brewing a potion in their class."
Hermione only thought for a moment before she smiled at him. "Use your new cauldron. It had two layers, so you can make it in the bottom, hidden section. When you need to take it to class, just say you haven't been able to find time to get it to the common room, so you had to take it to class."
"And problem number one?" Draco asked.
"That's more difficult."
They spent a while sitting and talking about it. Draco turned the conversation to the final Quidditch match, which was to take place on Saturday. "I have training tomorrow night, but Friday we should have off to relax and get our minds concentrating on the game. I also think Gryffindor booked the pitch before we did." He added wryly.
"So Friday night, meet here again? Exchange ideas or- " Hermione broke off and her eyes widened. Her face went so serious that Draco thought she might be in pain. When he asked her if she was ok, she raised a hand to silence him, and her mouth started moving as she muttered the thoughts that were rushing through her head.
When she looked back at Draco, her eyes were shining with wonder. "Draco. I know how to get Voldemort to drink the weakness potion. I know exactly how to make it work."
***
A/N- Thanks you all for sticking with my story and reading it this far. I may not, in fact, get it done by Christmas, cos that's coming up quicker than I'd intended. But I hope you all are enjoying it so far, because I love writing it! 'swimcutie'- Happy Birthday to you! Until next time guys.