Disclaimer- Yeah yeah, it's hers, it's hers.
A/N- Here's the next one, have fun.
CHAPTER TWENTY – Lex Slunk.
Hermione moved slowly so she wouldn't wake Draco. His arm was wrapped around her waist and his head rested on her shoulder. Gently lifting his arm and slipping out from under it, Hermione stood up and put her robe back on. Draco mumbled something to her and sleepily opened his eyes, but Hermione just told him to go back to sleep, and he willingly complied.
Smiling at him, Hermione walked around the cabin for a few minutes with no real purpose. She sat down at the small table, which had two empty butterbeer bottles on it and a few crumbs of chocolate cake. Draco had finally eaten late that afternoon, and now he slept after a long day.
After a few minutes of looking out the window at the starry sky and drumming her fingers on the table, Hermione frowned and stood up. She walked over to the bookshelf and retrieved the journal from amongst the scrolls. Sitting on the couch, she opened it and flipped through the pages. Reaching a page that had previously been blank, but now held writing in a spidery text, Hermione paused to read it.
'Hermione and Draco,
I've just had a vision that has worried me greatly. You both have to move quickly, immediately. Hermione, I know that you are reading this journal right now, (obviously) but you must get away from the cabin. Both of you. The Dark Lord is going to send some of his followers to look for Draco, as he believes Draco has betrayed him in one way or another. The brand, which Draco has on his arm, will draw them to him. You must leave the cabin, as it cannot be discovered.
You're both doing the correct thing so far, and your time draws ever closer. Hermione, tell Draco that the Dark Lord has no proof, and trusts him as a Malfoy, more then he does the young Slunk fellow who has accused him. Tell him to stand firm, and he'll be fine. You can use this to your advantage when the time comes.
Now wake him up, and get out.
Derek.'
Hermione sat frozen in disbelief, until she remembered that Derek had been the most powerful Seer of his time. He had not been wrong yet. He probably wasn't wrong about this. Hermione quickly stood and moved towards Draco to wake him, but found she didn't need to.
Draco mumbled something, and suddenly sat bolt upright in bed. He turned quickly to look at Hermione. "We have to leave. They're coming for me." Draco got up and dressed as fast as possible, then he looked at Hermione, who had been standing there watching him in shock. "I had a vision." He explained, then repeated, "We have to leave.
"Derek wrote in the journal." She said hastily. "Voldemort doesn't think you've done anything wrong. He likes the Malfoy's better than to trust Lex Slunk's word. Stand firm, and you'll be fine."
Draco looked at her doubtfully, and Hermione wondered what his vision had been. Then he whispered, "Go quickly. I'll talk to you as soon as I can." She stayed where she was, shocked at what was happening. Or at what she'd been told was going to happen. "Go now." He said more urgently.
Hermione fumbled under her robe to grab her amulet. Draco moved forward and kissed her brow, before hastily grabbing his own amulet and disappearing from sight, his anxious expression clear on his face. Hermione pictured the edge of the forbidden forest and was transported there within seconds. The moonlight filtered down through the trees, and lighted Hermione's path until she was out of the forest. Moving quickly across the grounds, Hermione wondered where Draco had gone. His dorm would be the safest, and the least suspicious.
As she neared the doors, Hermione heard footsteps from across the grounds and small whispering noises. Slipping into the castle, she moved off to the side of the Entrance Hall, and hid in the shadows. A few silent minutes past, before the castle doors opened again.
The face of a masked man peered in and looked around. Believing the hall to be empty, he opened the door further and walked in, with three other masked men behind him. As it was late at night, this seemed the best time to enter the castle unnoticed. The Death Eaters gathered silently and whispered to each other.
"He's in his dorm." One of the men said.
"How do you know?" asked another.
"Because that's where the Dark Lord said he was." The first man snapped. "He can sense where Draco is by the Dark Mark. Now," he continued. "We have to be quiet. If we're seen…I don't know what Dumbledore would do. We go in, get him, and bring him back out again. He won't make a fuss if he knows what's good for him."
The others nodded, and they moved silently across the hall and down the dungeon steps. Hermione breathed deeply, but couldn't stop herself from shaking. She had no idea what was going to happen, but believed that it would happen as soon as possible. If Draco was found innocent of sneaking around behind Voldemort's back with a 'mudblood,' he would be returned to Hogwarts before classes resumed on Monday. That gave them one day for interrogation.
Running as fast as she could, Hermione sped through the dim, empty corridors of the castle until she reached the Gryffindor tower. Stumbling through the portrait hole, Hermione made it to the couch by the wall before breaking down in silent tears.
After spending an afternoon wrapped up in Draco's arms, being separated so abruptly left a hole in Hermione that she hadn't felt before. He had needed her, and they had finally found time to be together, only to be torn apart by Voldemort. Anger rose in Hermione and she felt more then ever an urge to kill Voldemort. To make him suffer. To see him fall with shock and pain and mortification in his eyes, when he realizes that he has lost.
A sound from across the room startled her out of her thoughts. Hermione looked up to see Harry creeping softly down the staircase from the dorms. In her distressed state, Hermione was happy just to watch him move across the room without a sound, until she realized that he had come from the girls' dorm.
"Harry!" she called quietly, her astonishment getting the better of her.
Harry stopped mid step and turned slowly to look at Hermione, whom he hadn't noticed before. She noticed his face redden even in the dim light and he gave her a weak smile. "Oh." He said. "Hello there, Hermione."
Hermione brushed away her tears and grinned at him, her mind completely taken off Draco. "What where you doing up there? And how did you get up there? There's a charm preventing any guy entering that staircase."
Harry's blush didn't leave his face. "Uh, apparently the charm doesn't work if a girl accompanies him up there." He didn't answer her other question.
Hermione couldn't keep a small giggle escaping her lips, despite her best efforts. "And which girl accompanied you up there, Harry?"
"Ginny." He replied, looking at his feet and grinning foolishly.
"I see." Hermione said, and laughed at his embarrassed face. "Come over here, Harry. Don't worry, I'm not about to ask you questions, or tell you off."
Harry grinned at her, and moved to sit by her side on the couch. "You've embarrassed me, Hermione. If I had known you were out here I wouldn't have- wait. Hermione, it's really late, what are you doing up?"
"Oh. Um, I was just thinking." She lied. Harry looked at her closely and noticed her tears streaked face.
"You were thinking about something that was making you cry." Harry pointed out. "Tell me what's wrong." When Hermione remained silent, he asked, "Has it got something to do with Draco?"
Hermione nodded. Harry continued guessing, "Has he hurt you?"
"No." she replied softly.
"Then has he been hurt?"
"Not as yet."
"Has he done something that might get him hurt?" Harry asked, trying his best to pinpoint what was upsetting her.
Hermione nodded.
"Hermione." Harry scolded gently. "You're really not helping me out here. Can't you just tell me why you were crying?"
"Fine." She said softly. "But it goes without saying that you're not to tell anyone."
"Of course." Harry said firmly. "You know I wouldn't tell. You're giving me your trust by telling me, why would I betray that trust?"
Hermione just smiled faintly at him. "Well, Draco and I have been together all afternoon. But just a few minutes ago, Draco got a message, almost like a premonition, saying that Death Eaters were coming here to look for him." Harry's face portrayed his shock at there being Death Eaters in the castle as they spoke. Hermione continued, "They're going to take him away and question him. I hope they don't hurt him."
"Why are they taking him?" Harry asked.
"Because he's been accused, by that stupid Lex Slunk from the cauldron store, of going behind Voldemort's back to be with a mudblood. To be with me. And Voldemort doesn't take kindly to being lied to."
"How would being with you, be lying to Voldemort?" Harry questioned.
"When Draco became a Death Eater, he swore that he hated mudbloods above all else. Aside from you and Dumbledore of course."
"Of course." Harry said, somewhat uncertainly.
"He was lying Harry." Hermione told him. "But Voldemort can't know that. Or else he'll probably kill him. And I'm not ready for him to die. I never will be." With that, Hermione began crying again. Harry put his arm around her comfortingly and let her cry on his shoulder.
"If there's anything I can do." Harry told her. "Just let me know, and I'll do it."
Hermione nodded and sniffed, and wiped her face with the sleeve of her robe. Harry tried to change the subject so Hermione's thoughts were somewhere less upsetting. "So, what were you and Draco doing this afternoon?"
Hermione colored slightly and said, "Nothing."
Harry narrowed his eyes mischievously, noting her blush. "The same nothing that Ginny and I were doing before?"
Hermione shifted uncomfortably next to him, and felt her cheeks grow hot. "It's a possibility."
Harry laughed wickedly. "Ha! Needed a bit of, how should I say it…cheering up, did he?"
Hermione whacked him on the shoulder with a grin. "You shut your devious little mouth, Harry Potter." She said as sternly as she could. "Or you will no longer be known as The Boy Who Lived, but the…The Boy Who Didn't Shut Up In Time, So He Is Now A Toad."
Harry's grin didn't leave his face, but he stopped teasing his friend. "Fine." He stood up and sighed. "Well, I'm stuffed, so I'm off to bed. You make sure you get some sleep and don't worry about things. Everything will be all right."
"How do you know?" Hermione asked him in a hopeless voice.
"Because Draco is very smart. He's deceived Voldemort once before, and he'll do it again. He'll be back Monday morning, mark my words." Harry gave her shoulder a little squeeze, then walked off to his dorm.
Hermione sighed, and tried to make herself believe what Harry had just told her.
***
Draco lay awake in his four-poster, fully dressed, awaiting the Death Eaters' arrival. He didn't have to wait very long. In the silence, he heard a muffled whisper that clearly wasn't Goyle sleep talking. Footsteps followed the whispered command, and after only a moment, Draco's bed curtain was pulled back.
A masked man stood before him triumphantly. The man reached down, as if to shake Draco awake, but to his surprise, his wrist was suddenly grasped by Draco and thrown aside. Draco sat up, with his eyes glinting in the moonlight and stared at the masked man. He assumed this was Lex Slunk, the stupid man who was attempting to blacken the Malfoy's name in Voldemort's eyes.
Standing up so he was eye to eye with Lex, Draco whispered, "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I was sent for you. You're coming with us." The man smirked, grabbing Draco's upper arm and dragging him across the room to where another Death Eater stood waiting. Draco's other arm was grabbed by this man, and he was taken out of the room. Draco made not a sound. Another Death Eater met them in the common room and a fourth in the dungeon corridor.
Draco was led through the castle by the four Death Eaters in silence, and then across the grounds. They left Hogwarts and only when they had passed the big stone gates did they stop. Draco was shoved to the ground as the men talked quietly to one another.
"We have to apparate now." One of them said. "It's not as if we can walk back."
"I know that." Lex Slunk replied sharply. "Don't tell me what we have to do." He turned to Draco, and noticed that he had stood up and was glaring at him with steely gray eyes. "What are you doing? I told you to stay where you were."
"You have no right to tell me what to do." Draco said quietly. "I demand to know what is going on here."
"You have lied to Voldemort, and will be punished." Lex told him viciously.
"Lied, have I?" Draco asked, looking defiant. "What exactly have I lied about?"
"The filthy mudblood you've been screwing with. I hope she gave you what you wanted, because you won't have a chance to get it again." Lex said with a grin. "I'm sure Voldemort will be happy to see you suffer. Not only with physical pain, but emotional as well. No one betrays him without suffering the consequences. I'm sure your pretty piece of filth will suffer along side you."
Draco kept his face under tight control. "There are hundreds of mudbloods at Hogwarts. I don't care if you kill them all. In fact, life would be much easier if you did."
"Have you used the cauldron yet?" Lex asked with narrowed eyes, trying a different tactic. "It's very durable. And handy, what with two layers and all."
Draco frowned and looked at Lex like he was on something. "Are you aware that you just started talking about a cauldron?" Lex just raised his eyebrows. Draco cleared his throat. "So, you've written with those quills, I hear. Helpful, the way they write what you're thinking. And that parchment, wow, the way it just absorbs nasty ink blotches. Incredible."
"Shut it." Lex hissed, turning back to the men. "Make sure he goes to the right room. I'll go ahead and tell Him that we're coming." Lex waited until the men nodded then disappeared with a pop.
The three remaining men were silent for a few moments, then one said loudly, "One day I'm gonna bash that loser's head in so hard."
The others laughed their agreement then approached Draco. "The Dark Lord is waiting for you at the Malfoy Manor. You can apparate, can't you?" One of them asked him.
"Of course I can." Draco snapped, sounding offended.
"Good. He's in the lounge. Appear there. Understand?" A different man asked in a halting speech.
"Yes. I understand. I'll appear there. In the lounge." Draco shot back, mocking him.
"Watch yourself, boy." The masked man threatened. "Now get moving."
Draco glared at him, then apparated to the Malfoy Manor with a loud pop. Draco looked about him, taking in the few Death Eaters that lined the room, the dark cloaked figure standing in the middle of the room with glowing red eyes, and the smaller man who stood beside him, whispering.
"Mr. Malfoy." Voldemort spoke. "Come here."
Draco swallowed and moved forward, noticing Lucius standing not far from Voldemort. Draco bowed his head when he reached Voldemort in a sign of respect, but did not speak.
Voldemort looked at him piercingly. "I have been told that you've been seeing a mudblood. If this is true, then you are a disgrace to the name Death Eater. You put yourself in a very awkward position of death, along with the piece of filth you have taken to your side." Voldemort reached out and grabbed Draco by the wrist. A sharp pain shot through Draco's left side, but he made no show of it. "Now tell me, is this true?"
Draco stared hard into Voldemort's disgusting red eyes. "No." he said firmly. "I would never even touch a mudblood, unless it was to kill one under you instruction. They are vile beasts who contaminate all those purer than them. Which is everyone." He added.
"I see." Voldemort said, turning to Lex Slunk who stood by his side. "Speak your evidence of this accusation and then we'll see what Mr. Malfoy has to say."
Lex stepped forward almost eagerly. "Last Sunday, two students from Hogwarts came into my cauldron store. But they weren't just any students, I recognized them as Potter's friends from when I was at Hogwarts myself. I asked some questions, hoping to find out something that Harry wouldn't us to know, and the little wench confirmed that she was Potter's friend. The mudblood." Lex spat the word 'mudblood' with such distaste, and such venom, that a few specks of spit landed on Draco's face. He pulled back in disgust and almost raised his fist to punch Lex out of pure annoyance. Instead he just wiped his face with the back of his robe.
Voldemort was watching Draco closely, and it seemed that he thought nothing amiss. "Continue, Mr. Slunk."
Lex nodded and said, "Hermione Granger is her name. She told me that she was going out with someone from Slytherin. Then her friend came in and asked if Hermione had found a present for Draco yet. I must say, 'Draco' isn't a very common name, and we all know that is was his birthday just last week, a perfect reason for his girlfriend to buy him a gift."
The room was silent. Draco remained silent, his expression devoid of emotion. Voldemort did not speak, but looked at Draco shrewdly. Draco had no idea what to say. What could he say that would be believable enough to get him out of trouble with Voldemort? He waited for Voldemort to speak accusingly or ask Draco to explain, but he never did. Suddenly Draco realized what he was doing. Voldemort was searching Draco's mind for evidence.
Quickly concentrating on his own mind, Draco realized there was an extra presence there. An evil presence was searching and sifting through his every thought with no consideration to Draco's privacy. Draco quickly gathered all thoughts of Hermione and shoved them to the back of his mind and placed a wall in front of them just like he had done at his Death Eater ceremony. Bending the wall so it fit against the back crevices of his mind, Draco made it so Voldemort wouldn't sense that thoughts were being hidden from him.
And not a moment too soon. Draco felt his memories being played through. Knowing that he shouldn't speak even as he did, Draco said, "What are you looking for in there, my Lord?"
Voldemort's presence disappeared momentarily from Draco's mind, and he looked at him in something resembling shock. Obviously Voldemort had never been picked up on when sifting through another's mind. Narrowing his eyes, Voldemort ignored the question and reentered Draco's mind sharply, causing Draco to flinch in pain.
Voldemort searched for minutes without finding anything to prove Lex's story correct. When it seemed he was about to pull out, a dangerous thought occurred to Draco. If Voldemort could view Draco's memories so easily, then he could probably be shown things. Draco could make up a scenario, and shove it in Voldemort's direction, and have him view it. Draco could make it seem like it was a real memory, and have it so Lex was lying.
Concentrating as hard as he could, Draco formed a 'memory' and placed it in his mind where he knew Voldemort would stumble across it. After only a few seconds, Draco felt Voldemort pick it out and play though it with interest. Draco's concentrated on keeping it firm and unwavering.
Draco was walking down a street in Hogsmeade, pleased that he could get away from the castle. Away from Dumbledore's presence. He was alone, as his friends were visiting the new lolly store, which Draco had no interest in whatsoever.
Unexpectedly, Draco heard a sound from behind him. He turned and saw a young man who he recognized from attending Hogwarts a few years ago. Lex Slunk came out of a store and noticed Draco watching him. He sneered and said, "Well, if it isn't Malfoy junior."
Draco narrowed his eyes and tried to remember who this man was, and why he would have a problem with Draco walking down the street. "You don't recall who I am, do you? Stupid little oblivious brat." Lex spat in disgust.
"You were at Hogwarts. I know that." Draco replied.
"I'm a respected and feared man." Lex said, his tone turning smug. "Exactly the type of person you want to be."
Suddenly it occurred to Draco that this man must be a Death Eater, and had witnessed Draco's ceremony. He must view me as a threat to his position in the Death Eater society, Draco thought. "I'd say I'm respected and feared already." He replied.
Lex glared at him. "Just because your father is close to Voldemort doesn't mean you will be. You can't just come along and replace people. I've been a Death Eater for years. You know nothing about respect. Or pain…"
Draco frowned, thinking this man a overly large grudge against him, considering Draco had never even spoken to him before. "You are…?"
"Lex Slunk, but I don't expect you to remember. Too busy scheming to be a devious bastard like your father, no doubt." The man replied viciously.
A sound was heard behind them, further down the street, and they both turned to look. There a brunette girl walked with Potter and Weasley. They laughed and chattered with each other, barely noticing Draco and Lex watching them. They were soon out of sight, and Draco turned to look back at Lex, only to notice an evil grin spreading his face. "What's wrong with you? Never seen Potter in the flesh before?"
"Shut up. Tell me, who was the girl?" Lex inquired rudely, now staring at Draco.
Draco spat, "A mudblood. Not worth anyone's time, that one."
"Her name?" Lex pressed.
"Why? Are you interested in her? You're not supposed to fancy mudbloods, they're bad for you." Draco answered.
"Tell me her name." Lex took a threatening step towards Draco, who didn't feel threatened in the slightest, but replied disgustedly, "Hermione Granger. The Gryffindor. The mudblood. The filth and shame of the school."
Lex just smirked, turned on his heel, and had retreated into his store before another word could be spoken. Draco shrugged his shoulder's, muttered something about a "weird freak." And continued on his way.
The memory faded, and Draco kept his face impassive as he felt Voldemort retreat from the crevices of his mind. Voldemort turned his blazing red eyes on Lex's triumphant form. He spoke in a deadly whisper, "I do not accept liars in my service."
Lex's smile faded only slightly, then it grew again. Lex believed Voldemort was referring to Draco, and was about to thank him for exposing him. That belief didn't stay with him very long, however. "I have proof," Voldemort continued, "that you Mr. Slunk, have been the one lying to me."
The small man's face fell in disbelief and he stared at Voldemort, then at Draco. "He's…he's lying!" Lex protested, pointing at Draco. "Whatever he told you, it's not true! I know what I saw, and what I was told. He's been going around with that bitch, Hermione Granger!"
"I don't think you need to yell." Voldemort continued. Slowly he extended his hand, and pointed it at Lex. Quickly, Lex fell to the floor screaming as some unknown pain seared through him. His scream caused a few of the watching Death Eaters to shift slightly, but no one spoke. Wise choice on their behalf, but Lex wasn't known for his wise choices.
He screamed in pain and protest. "Draco's lying! Listen to me, I wouldn't lie to you, my Lord. You should know that, if you don't then you're-"
They never got to find out what Voldemort was exactly, because Lex found himself squirming on the floor, unable to speak through his agony. Draco glanced at Voldemort, who stood calmly, watching the young man dying in front of him. "Do not think I won't find out these things. I always do." He then turned to the Death Eaters who stood silently. "Does anyone else think I am wrong? Do any of you believe that Mr. Malfoy has indeed been with a mudblood?"
No one spoke. Another wise choice.
"Good." Voldemort turned back to the Lex, whose withering was slowing as the dark magic gripped his heart. He pointed his finger once more at Lex and muttered something under his breath.
Before the curse killed him, Lex turned his bloodshot eyes to stare at Draco in disbelief. He shuddered in intense agony as Voldemort's curse hit him, and as he took his last breath, the corner of Draco's mouth turned up in a tiny smile and he held Lex's dying eyes with his own. No one would get away with trying to hurt Hermione. Not a soul would ever try have her killed, (or try have Draco killed, for that matter) and live to see a victory. His smile was gone in a heartbeat and when Voldemort turned to face him, Draco's eyes were grave once more.
No one spoke, and Draco thought they were all waiting for him to say something. But since he didn't have the foggiest idea of what would be appropriate, he remained silent. Voldemort gave a tiny flick of his hand, and all the Death Eaters disapparated seconds later. Voldemort remained behind long enough to say,
"I would be quite disappointed to discover you have lied to me, Mr Malfoy. So soon after welcoming you to my service, too. Make sure you don't disappoint me. I have eyes everywhere." And he disappeared.
Draco was left wondering whether Voldemort had truly believed his 'memory,' until his father interrupted his doubtful thinking. "You must be careful."
Draco turned to face Lucius, whom he had forgotten was still in the room. "I know that. I will be."
"You can be seen with her nowhere. The Dark Lord does indeed have eyes everywhere. Nowhere is safe."
Draco decided not to mention that the cabin was the safest place that anyone would ever find. "Yes father. We know."
"Then you'd better get back to Hogwarts before you're found missing." Lucius strode forward and clasped Draco's shoulder tightly. "The time's drawing closer. Good luck."
Draco nodded and smiled slightly, then disapparated to the Hogwarts gates. Draco sighed and looked up at the dawning sky, and felt a wave of fatigue flow over him. Remembering that he had only had a few hours sleep earlier that night, since waking for the Quidditch Final, Draco conceded that he should be tired.
He had thought to walk back to the castle, but now all he wanted to do was go to sleep in his own bed. No, all he wanted to do was curl up with Hermione in her nice warm bed. But his bed would do for now.
Draco sleepily raised his hand to his amulet and formed the picture of the Astronomy Tower in his mind. He felt the momentary disorientation that accompanied travelling via the amulet, and opened his eyes to see the Hogwarts castle looming up behind him and the forbidden forest stretching out before him. He yawned loudly and dragged himself through the halls and into his cold, lonely bed.
***
Draco woke early afternoon on Sunday and remained in bed staring out the window for another half-hour. He slowly dragged himself out of bed, still feeling as exhausted as he did at dawn. He concluded, as he rummaged through his chest for some clean clothes, that concentrating so hard on the powers of the mind definitely took its toll.
He slumped into the bathroom, stripped and got into the shower, turning the water up nice and warm. He stood there letting it rush over him for a few minutes without moving, before washing himself thoroughly with a nice smelling soap. Not too nice, mind you. He didn't want to smell like a girl.
Getting out, he wrapped a towel around his waist, and used a small hand towel to wipe the fog from the mirror. As he looked at his own reflection, he noticed that he didn't look as tired as he felt. Hardly any sign of bags under the eyes, skin wasn't too pale, and his eyes still looked bright and sharp. Draco turned to grab his clothes and was moving to remove his towel when he heard a distinct sound from behind him. The distinct sound of someone who had come in and unintentionally found him half-naked. And Draco knew exactly who this someone was. This situation wasn't the first of its kind.
"My body must call out to you when it's half dressed. That's the only explanation for this." He turned to see Hermione standing on the other side of the bathroom with her hand over her mouth trying to stifle a giggle. Her cheeks were slightly red at the sight she had been greeted with, but it's not as if she hadn't seen it before.
"Sorry." She apologized with a grin.
"No seriously. Your timing is impeccable. You must share a wave link with my chest, and whenever it's uncovered it calls to you. That's the only explanation."
Hermione laughed softly. "I just wanted to be sure you were safe. I didn't see you at breakfast this morning, so I thought you might still have been with the Death Eaters. I thought of you, and let the amulet do the rest. At least I didn't end up inside you this time."
Draco's face turned hard. "So you came looking for me? How could you be so stupid?"
Hermione frowned. "Excuse me?"
"There was the possibility that I was with Death Eaters, even Voldemort for Merlin's sake. How could you risk your life by coming to look for me? If I was still with them they would have killed you without even thinking." Draco stared at her in disbelief. "Even after I told you how much I was scared to ever lose you, you still came looking for me?"
Hermione nodded. "I know you said you couldn't live without me, Draco. But doesn't it go unspoken that I feel the same way? Draco, you were missing. Or, at least, I thought you were. I couldn't stand thinking that you may be in trouble, and I was just sitting back letting it happen. I had to come searching for you. Understand that, and don't be angry."
Draco sighed. "All right. Fine. I'm not angry."
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Yes you are. But thank you for pretending not to be." She moved over to him and hugged him tightly to her. "I was worried sick, you know that, don't you?" he nodded into her hair as he wrapped his arms around her delicate figure. They stood like that for a moment, until Hermione giggled into his bare chest. He pulled away from her.
"What?" he asked her.
"It's a good thing I didn't come any earlier, or I might have actually embarrassed you." She smiled, looking at his barely covered body, and thinking that if she'd come a few minutes previously, it wouldn't have even had a towel.
Draco grinned. "I think that would have embarrassed you more then me, my love." She laughed, and moved forward to kiss him. He gathered her in his arms and held her to him. Their hands wandered over each other's bodies, and they continued to kiss until neither of them had any air left in their lungs. Breaking apart and breathing heavily, Hermione glanced at Draco. She then realized that he was beginning to blush. Watching him curiously, she frowned slightly when his color deepened even further.
"What's wrong with you? You basically just said you weren't one to get embarrassed, and here you are the color of a tomato." She told him. Draco didn't respond, just looked down at his feet. Hermione followed his gaze, but didn't find anything particularly embarrassing about his toes. Her eyes lingered up his body and when they reached the towel covering his more personal body parts, she finally realized what he was blushing about. Her eyes snapped to meet with his and a devilish grin spread across her face.
Draco looked at her bashfully and he quickly turned around to hide himself. "Want to help me out?" he asked her hopefully.
Hermione tried to keep herself from laughing. "I don't think that's a good idea, Draco. This isn't a private dorm. You do share with two roommates, and that wouldn't be the greatest situation for them to walk in on."
Draco looked almost crestfallen, but understood where she was coming from. "I suppose you're right. But they are down at lunch, and you know sometimes eating takes them hours…"
Hermione, with great difficulty, swallowed the laughter that was still threatening to burst out and spoke, "I still don't think it's a good idea." She paused. "What's with you anyway? It was just yesterday afternoon that we…you know." she trailed off.
"It's nothing to do with me." Draco said, quickly pulling his pants on, hoping it would help with his current problem. "It's your fault. If you hadn't come in here and touched me like that, this wouldn't have happened."
"Oh, sorry." But she continued to smile. "I'd better go now, then." and she reached for her amulet. "I'm glad you're safe Draco." She added.
"Wait a second." Draco said, turning to face her once again. "You're just going to leave me here like this?"
"There's nothing that I can do." He raised an eyebrow at her. "Well, nothing that I feel comfortable doing in here anyway. Sorry." She smiled at him, moved forward and whispered in his ear. "I love you, my Draco."
Her breath was warm on his ear and he groaned in frustration. "Get out of here, will you? You're no help whatsoever. I thought you said you didn't want to see me suffer?"
Hermione laughed wickedly. "See you in class tomorrow." Wrapping her hand around her amulet she disappeared, but not before saying in a more serious tone, "You'd better start your potion, by the way." then she was gone, and Draco was alone in the bathroom.
"Ugh! Witch woman. That was definitely pure evil." He muttered to himself, pulling a shirt over his head and dragging himself out of the bathroom.
***
Once Hermione rejoined her friends after making sure Draco was back and safe at the castle, they wandered down to the lake in the afternoon sun. Ron and Harry had brought their brooms down and Ginny and Hermione decided to take the time to talk.
"Hermione." Ginny began, as the conversation on how old Mrs. Norris was ended. (Hermione believed her to be of the half-magical breed of cat, Jefferies, which sometimes lived to be 100 years, and Ginny said simply 'I dunno. Older than me, I suppose.')
"Yes, Gin?" Hermione asked. They were lying on their backs on the shore of the lake, gazing up into the azure blue sky. Harry and Ron were flying over the lake, laughing hard, trying to knock each other off their brooms and into the water.
"Can I ask you something?" Ginny questioned, somewhat hesitantly.
"Sure can." Hermione replied, turning on her side to face Ginny, who did the same towards Hermione.
"Well, you might not approve of me asking you this." She warned. "But, do you miss Draco?"
Hermione looked at Ginny without speaking for a few minutes. Ginny thought that her question must have been out of order, due to the silence, and apologized quickly. "No, don't be sorry. Why did you ask that question?"
Ginny said, "I know that you've only been apart since Tuesday, and that you only publicly got together a few days before that, but I don't know how long you were-" Ginny broke off, trying to phrase question properly. "I don't know how long you two had been hiding your relationship, or at least your feelings before that. It must have been awful."
"You know from experience." Hermione stated, looking across the lake at Harry. She turned her attention back to Ginny and said, "You're right. I do miss him."
Ginny sighed, and lay back to stare at the sky again. "How long did you two have feelings for each other before you had the courage to tell the school?"
Hermione thought about it, "I don't know. It came on so slowly, that I didn't realize I had feelings for him until he kissed me."
"Do you still have feelings for him, Hermione?" Ginny asked quietly, and Hermione could tell from her tone that this was only the first question of a set.
"Yes." Hermione whispered back.
"Did he ever tell you that he loved you?" was the next question.
"Yes." Hermione replied softly again, deciding there was no reason to keep this information from her friend. Ginny then asked,
"Did you say it back?"
"After only a few seconds." She answered. Hermione knew exactly what the next question was, but had no idea how she was going to answer it. She thought quickly while Ginny asked,
"Do you still love him, Hermione?"
"I don't know." Was the easiest reply.
"I don't understand your relationship." Ginny said, causing Hermione to smile. "You go around behind our backs to be together, claiming you're working on something 'secret.' Load of bollocks, if you ask me. Next I catch you talking tolerantly to each other on the Astronomy Tower. Then, I could tell by the way you looked at each other, that you were kind of friends. Next, you're kissing in front of a whole classroom, but only a few days later you've broken up with each other. Which didn't seem completely acceptable to me, because you claimed Draco broke up with you, and he claimed you broke up with him. Sounded like a plan gone wrong, to me."
Hermione stared at Ginny, knowing there was more. She realized that she had completely underestimated her friend and how well she observed Hermione's behavior. When Hermione didn't reject what she had said, Ginny continued quietly.
"Since Tuesday, I've seen you two when you pass in the halls. If you know people are looking, you'll glare, throw an insult or simply ignore each other. But if you think no one's watching, you'll smile, whisper something or just get lost in each other's eyes. I've seen it all happen. It's painful to watch you both deny your feelings for each other, when it's obvious you need to be together. Who cares if you're from opposing Houses? I don't, and stuff anyone who does."
Hermione tried to keep the tears from filling up her eyes at Ginny's talk. "It's not that easy. We just can't do it. It's not safe to be together."
Ginny frowned. "What do you mean, 'it's not safe?' Where's the danger in it?"
Hermione remained silent, not trusting herself to speak. She had already told Harry all this and she was sure Draco wouldn't approve if she started going around telling her friends everything. Especially this close to the end. Just a little bit longer and she could tell Ginny and Ron everything, but not yet.
"I see." said Ginny, waving at Ron, who had stopped flying briefly to see how the girls were going. Harry noticed Ron's distraction, and took this as the golden opportunity. Flying quickly, he swerved into Ron's side, causing him to topple off his broom and fall down into the lake. But not before Ron grabbed on to Harry's cloak and pulled him down with him.
The girls laughed at the two guys, who emerged dripping wet and laughing so hard they weren't making any noise at all, just doubling over, and motioning that they couldn't breathe.
"Will you ever get back together? Maybe after Hogwarts?" Ginny continued the conversation when Harry and Ron mounted their brooms once more and went zooming across the lake.
"I hope so." Hermione replied.
"So, you loved each other." Ginny was stating the facts, so everything was clear in her mind. Hermione nodded. "And, in my opinion, love doesn't disappear whether you want it to or not, so I think you still love each other." To this, Hermione made no comment. "And," Ginny suddenly grinned mischievously, "You've seen him without his shirt on."
"What?" Hermione almost shouted, a blush rising to her cheeks. "Why on earth would you say that?"
Ginny surveyed Hermione closely. "Well, Harry told me."
"Harry told you? I thought I could trust him with a secret like that." Hermione said, suddenly feeling she had judged Harry incorrectly. "When I caught him sneaking out of your dorm last night, I thought that if I didn't tell anyone about that, he wouldn't tell anyone about Draco and myself sleeping to-"
"Hermione." Ginny interrupted, her eyes going wide. "You and Draco slept together?"
Hermione froze. "Isn't that what you were saying Harry told you?"
A slow smile spread across Ginny's face. "No. I was talking about a small thing in your Charms class. Harry told me that you were helping Draco with a charm and his shirt disappeared. I never thought that…" she started laughing. Hermione managed a weak smile, and thought that if her mind was standing in front of her, she would have slapped it silly. How stupid was she? Of course Harry wouldn't tell Ginny that. He wouldn't tell her anything secret between them. Hermione could trust Harry.
Ginny noticed the expression on Hermione's face. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." She said.
"You promise? About all of this, I mean?" Hermione said firmly. "I don't want people knowing that I still like him. Please, keep it to yourself?"
"Of course." Ginny promised, ending their conversation.
***
Walking passed the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy for the third time, Draco turned to see a door that hadn't been there before. He opened it and quickly closed it behind him. Facing the room and sighing, Draco pulled out his parchment that had the Weakness potion written on it, and checked the ingredients again. It was a very small potion, hardly any ingredients but incredibly powerful. Draco had no idea how Credere would cope, but decided to worry about that later.
Draco walked over to a pot that appeared to be empty, save for a whole lot of soil. Grabbing a small spade from a nearby shelf, Draco began to dig up the Droysline plant that he knew grew here. After only a few minutes he had exposed the pinkish roots and began to sever chunks off it. Not too many, because he only wanted enough for the potion to fill one vial.
Moving over to another plant, he stripped it of its small lavender colored leaves, and stuffed them in his pocket alongside the roots. Draco then grabbed a handful of odorless flowers from a shrub call a Folve and put them in his other pocket. They had to be kept separate until it was time to add them.
Looking around him to make sure there was nothing he had forgotten Draco noticed a plant in the corner that hadn't been there a few weeks ago. A rose bush with small red blooms on it, sat basking in the sun. There were plenty of flowers, enough so no one would notice if some went missing. Not that Dumbledore or Sprout would really mind. Draco moved over to it and examined it closely, making sure he would choose the nicest ones.
Once he had a small bunch, he placed them carefully inside a pocket of his robe, then used his amulet to get to the clearing near the cabin. The sun shone on his back as he followed the small stream into the trees and up to the cabin. He entered, and after closing the door, emptied his pockets on to the table. His new cauldron sat on the floor where he had placed it earlier; heating up due to the fire he had created underneath it.
Draco skinned and chopped up the Droysline roots very finely as he waited for water to come to the boil in the hidden section of the cauldron. He then added the small pieces into the simmering water and closed the lid to the section, causing the cauldron to look empty.
In his writing of the potion, Draco had allowed exactly three days time for the Droysline to soften and slowly liquefy. He looked at his watch. That meant he had to add the small lavender colored leaves at two thirty on Wednesday, at which time he would be in Transfiguration. Bugger. He'd have to come up with some excuse to carry a seemingly empty cauldron into McGonagall's class.
Sitting back on the couch for a few minutes of peace and quiet, Draco's thoughts went back to the previous night. Voldemort had believed Draco's fictional memory, which was incredible. He had killed Lex Slunk instead of Draco, and though it sounded awful to think, Draco was extremely relieved that Lex was now out of the way.
After such a big day on Saturday; Quidditch, an afternoon of Hermione and then being dragged across the country to face Voldemort, and only a few hours rest, Draco's eyes closed and he drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
He was woken a few hours later when the door to the cabin burst open and Hermione walked in, looking quite happy. She noticed him glaring groggily at her from the couch and she smiled, "Sorry. I didn't just wake you up, did I?"
"Of course not. You'd never do that." Draco replied dryly, sitting up and looking at her questioningly. "Why are you here?"
"I just went looking for Credere to tell her that her time is coming closer. Dumbledore will try have everything ready by next Sunday. So hopefully we can do it then. I also let her know that now was her last chance to back out, but she said no. She's very set on doing this. I really hope it works, for her sake as much as ours."
Draco yawned and held out his arms to Hermione, beckoning her over for a hug. She smiled again and sat next to him on the couch, leaning over and resting her head on his chest. He draped his arms around her and held her close. "So, you just went Unicorn?"
"Yes." Hermione said. "I just 'went Unicorn.' Interesting phrase that one. Don't hear it all that often."
Draco agreed. "So what else have you done today?" he asked her. "Aside from 'going Unicorn' to speak to Credere and interrupting me this morning when my naked chest called to you, then leaving me quite alone?"
Hermione laughed, remembering their encounter that morning. "I'm sorry about that. I just had to know you were safe. I didn't mean to cause any problems." She giggled slightly, and looked up at him. Draco looked down at her with a mock glare on his face, but his eyes were smiling.
"Hmmm. It wasn't very thoughtful of you." Then he smiled almost naughtily. "But I do like your timing. Perhaps I'll have to use your watch one night when I decide to pay you a visit."
Hermione's eyes widened and she slapped him on the arm. "Don't you dare. I won't have you appearing in my dorm. It's much too dangerous with Lavender and Parvarti around." Draco continued to grin at her. "I'm warning you. If you even think about looking for me, hoping to catch me in just a towel…"
"Too late. I already did." Draco replied easily.
"Well, in that case…" Hermione raised her hands and wiggled her fingers slightly as if preparing them for something. Then she grinned and began tickling him. She did not stop, even when he begged her to between fits of laughter. Draco laughed so hard, that it made him realize he had never been so ruthlessly tickled before in his life. It wasn't the kind of bonding he had ever shared with his parents, and all of his Slytherin friends were too cool for such activities.
When Hermione finally pulled back to allow him to breathe, Draco turned to her. "In my opinion, that wasn't a bad consequence for thinking about you in just a towel. I might have to think it more often."
Hermione laughed despite herself. "Fine, do what you want."
"I plan on it." Draco's arm snaked around her waist and he pulled her to him. He used his other hand to hold her chin gently and tip it up so he could kiss her. She kissed him back deeply, but after a few moment pulled away to look at him.
"If I have to take back my previous comment then I will." She told him. "Don't get yourself worked up, because you'll only be as frustrated as you were this morning when I tell you no."
"Why will you say no?" he asked her, his hands moving under her robe, and he leaned forward to kiss her neck softly.
She colored slightly and didn't look at him. Draco stopped when she didn't answer, took hold of her chin once more and made her look at him. "Why?" he asked her, almost in concern.
She sighed. "Because I can't."
"Why can't you?" he pushed.
"Because, Draco, I would be uncomfortable doing so at this time of the month." Hermione told him, looking at him quite directly. Draco frowned at her, obviously not grasping the reason all too quick.
"I don't see why now's different then any other time of the month. I mean, it's not as if you've got your-" he broke off, then lowered his head as the reason occurred to him, and muttered a soft, "I see. Sorry."
Hermione smiled, "Don't be sorry. It's not as if it's your fault."
"I know that." He said. "But I just didn't think about…" he raised his eyebrows and inclined his head in the general direction of her stomach. "It's not really something a guy has to think about."
Hermione leaned over and gave him a very tight hug. "I love you." She whispered in his ear.
"You know I love you." He mumbled with his face buried in her hair.
They sat for a few hours, talking or just holding each other. Hermione commented on the smell of the Droysline roots, saying they smelled nice. She also stated that Draco didn't small all bad either.
"Do I usually?" he asked in mock offence.
"No. But today you smell noticeably nice." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Why?"
"What do you mean 'why?'" Draco asked. "I have a beautiful girlfriend whom I want to smell nice around."
Hermione laughed. "That's just stupid." She sniffed. "It smells like flowers."
Draco's eyes widened when he remembered the roses. He reached into an inside pocket and slowly pulled out the slightly squashed flowers. Handing them over to Hermione silently, he wished he had remembered them before he went to sleep.
But Hermione didn't seem to notice that they were squashed. Her eyes brightened and she smiled so wonderfully that Draco's heart swelled at the sight of it. Watching her as she took them from him, carefully so as not to get pricked by the thorns, Draco marveled at how he could have gotten the most glorious woman in all the world.
"Oh, Draco." She whispered, her eyes now looking a little damp. "They're beautiful. Where did you get them?"
"That's a secret." He said, not wishing to tell her that he had stolen them from the Room of Requirement. "I hope you like roses?"
"Of course I do. I don't mind jonquils either." She informed him with a smile. She kissed him gently, barely touching his lips with hers. "They're as beautiful as you."
"I was thinking the same thing."
Hermione smiled. "Modest, aren't we? Although, I suppose I can see a little bit of rose in you. Just around the eyes." she traced a faint line around his face.
"What?" Draco asked, now confused. "Oh! No, I meant that I was thinking they were as beautiful as you were. Or less than." At this Hermione moved forward and kissed him deeply and passionately, her hands closing in about his middle and holding on firmly so she could be as close to him as possible. Draco's hands wandered her body and soon she had to force her self to pull back and stand up weakly.
"Don't do that." She reprimanded him, trying to catch her breath. "It's not fair on either of us."
Draco looked at her longingly. He sighed, and said, "Sorry. You'll have to promise to sit on the floor then."
Hermione smiled then remembered something. "I have to go back to the castle now."
"Why?" Draco asked. "Just stay with me for a while. I won't touch you again, I promise."
"It's not that. I have to use the bathroom, that's all." Hermione explained, slightly embarrassed.
Draco looked out the window. "There's plenty of trees out there to hide behind. And I promise I won't look."
Hermione gave him a look bordering on repulsion. "Draco, that's disgusting. Only guys do that. Besides, I need the bathroom for my present situation."
"Oh right." Draco said, trying to figure out how he should act when discussing this particular topic. "I forgot about that. Well then, off you go."
Hermione shook her head at him and laughed softly. "You're wonderful." She kissed him gently on the forehead, before reaching up to grab the amulet that sat around her neck. Draco watched her raise the roses to her face and smell them just before she vanished from sight.
Hermione appeared in her dorm, knowing Lavender and Parvarti were spending the day catching up on their homework in the library. Conjuring up a vase filled with water, she placed the roses in it and made her way towards the bathroom. As she closed the door, her irritation finally got the better of her, and she cursed, "Bloody period."
***
Classes on Monday and Tuesday passed quickly, and before she knew it Hermione was packing her books away at the end of Herbology, the last class of the day. Before she could turn to leave with Harry and Ron, her name was called out by Sprout, and she waved them on, saying she'd meet them in the common room later.
Hermione turned back to find that Professor Sprout had asked Draco to remain behind also. This caused a few odd glances from other students, but no one was stupid enough to comment on it. At least, not in Draco's presence. They both reached Sprout at the same time as the last student left the greenhouse.
"Ah," Sprout said, turning to face them. "Now, there was something I wanted to ask you two."
Hermione looked at her inquiringly and Draco said, "What?"
"I went into the Room of Requirement yesterday after classes to check that everything was still in order, and I noticed that the Droysline had been hacked into and a few other plants were missing things that had been attached to it before."
Sprout smiled at Draco, and continued. "I just needed to make sure that it was one of you who had taken from the plants, and not Peeves or another set of mischievous twins that have been overlooked."
"It was me." Draco told her. "I took the ingredients I needed to make a Weakness potion. I'm sorry if I didn't clean up after myself too well."
"No, you were quite tidy." She assured him. "I was also wondering if you needed help with anything? I'm always willing to assist if you need advice or instruction."
Hermione smiled at the Professor's kindness. "We're going fine for the moment. But if we have any queries in the future, then we'll take you up on the offer."
Sprout smiled at them. "You two are so capable. I don't think two better students could have been chosen for this task. It's a shame it had to be now, so you both had to miss out on being Head Boy and Girl. You would have been, otherwise. Dumbledore had you both lined up then he suddenly changed his mind at the last minute. I thought it odd, until he informed me that your attention would be needed elsewhere."
Hermione frowned and Draco looked at the teacher incredulously. "We would have been Head Boy and Girl?"
Sprout covered her mouth, but nodded. "I don't suppose I should have told you that, though. Ooh." She looked grumpy with herself. "Dumbledore will kill me if he finds out. Don't let on that I told you, please?"
"Of course not." Hermione promised. Draco nodded his agreement.
"Good. Now, I'd best be off. I've got a few plants I must attend to." Sprout smiled at them both, then bustled out the door, humming to herself.
Hermione and Draco faced each other. "Well, that's a bugger." Hermione commented. "Head Girl would have looked pretty damn good on a résumé."
Draco chuckled, "And I suppose 'Defeated Voldemort' won't?"
Hermione looked slightly shocked. "Oh. Yes, right. I forgot about that. And if we don't end up defeating him, then we wouldn't really be in a situation where we need résumés."
Draco frowned. "That's true. Not all that cheery a thought, but true all the same."
Hermione smiled at him, and offered her hand. "Now, why don't you hold my hand until we reach the door? It wants to be held by yours."
"Of course, my lady." Draco took her hand and brought it up to his lips. Kissing it softly, but lovingly enough to make Hermione bite her lip, he then began to walk with her slowly towards the door. They made such a point at walking slowly, that when they reached the door after only half a minute, they both glared at it. "Stupid small greenhouse." Draco muttered.
They faced each other and Hermione sighed. "I'll see you tomorrow." She said, forcing herself to smile.
"Don't do that." Draco told her. "Don't act happy when you're not. I'd prefer to know what you're really feeling, not what you want me to think you're feeling."
The smile vanished and she nodded. "Ok." She looked into his perfect eyes and said, "So tell me what I'm feeling."
Draco assessed her for a moment, before smiling slightly. "You're feeling disappointed that you haven't heard the call of my sexy chest for nearly three nights. Or at least you haven't felt the need to respond to it, for some reason unknown to me. I have stood in just my towel uninterrupted for a few nights now, so don't you go thinking that I haven't showered or anything, just because you two are having transmission problems."
Hermione smiled, this time sincerely. She loved it how he was trying to cheer her up, even when he didn't know why she was upset. Hermione didn't want to leave him. She wanted to walk up to the castle, still hand in hand. She didn't want them to go their separate ways. And she most certainly didn't want Draco thinking about her in her towel, or he might come looking for her at the precise moment that she was only in a towel. Perhaps she'd have to take her clothes into the shower with her and just dry them with a spell.
"That's the smile I love." Draco commented, kissing her on the temple. "Bye now. I'll see you later on." Then he opened the door while assuming a neutral expression and crossed the grounds with Hermione following a few paces behind, hoping that he had meant tomorrow and not later on as in inside her bathroom.
***
A/N- well bugger me. That's two chapters up in about a week. I'm impressed with myself J I've been writing so much that these chapters should tide you over till I get the next one finished and up.
I would like to know your opinions on some things, if you don't mind answering these in your reviews, (if you would please review this chapter, I will love you forever!)
I have been extending these recent chapters a lot, so if you would like me to just get to the end of the story, let me know. There are a few things I have up my sleeve to add in, if you don't want it to end just yet. So let me know which way you want my fic to go, so I don't extend or end it unnecessarily. I have had a few ideas for a possible sequel. If you think I should write a sequel, (It wouldn't be nearly as long nor have as big a plot, but I can think of a few things…) then let me know if you would be interested. It would be set directly after Hogwarts, so it won't be with them all old or anything. Yeah…your opinion here too, please. This one is just out of curiosity on my behalf. I want to know a bit about my reviewers, because you're all so cool! So, just tell me a little bit about yourself that you wouldn't mind me knowing. Maybe what country you're from, (I'm from Australia) whether your at school or have a job, (Student here) and what your favorite Harry Potter book is and your favorite characters. (CoS and OotP. Aside from Harry; Ron, the twins, McGonagall, Lupin, Dudley (Big D), and the new and confident Ginny in OotP. Oh! And Luna Lovegood, of course.)Thanks everyone! omfg, I can't believe I have over 900 reviews, that's just out of this world! When I started I was like, 'Yep, I think I'll aim for 200 before the end.' Ha! I'm laughing at my past self now. You're feed back is great, I love long reviews, they make me so happy. (And I need to be happy, because I just started back at school, and I'm all bummed out that summer holidays are over for another year. Bugger bugger bugger.)
So, until next chapter, "May the stars always shine a path for your footsteps." –Star Drifter, The Wayfarer Redemption.