A/N: Okay. So basically, due to a combination of exams and computer troubles, I haven't been able to update in a really REALLY long time. I know I'm a pathetic sod, and I'm SO sorry about this ... but I'm going to be updating often once again. I'm reaching the end of the story, and with regular updates it should be finished soon.
---
At break, I went up to the library to read Malfoy's note. I had barely pulled it out of my pocket when I heard Professor McGonagall say my name behind me.
I whirled around, and stuffed the note hurriedly back into my pocket.
"Yes, Professor?"
McGonagall gave me a grave look, and told me to follow her. One look at her face told me that it was serious, so I followed without question.
---
Before I realised it, we were in Dumbledore's office. He was eying me expressionlessly across his desk.
"Have you had any more of your dreams lately, Miss Granger?"
I swallowed. How did he know?
"Yes. I had one last night. I tried to tell Malfoy about it in potions but-"
"What was in this dream of yours?"
At that moment, Snape stormed into the office. He was thin lipped and angry looking. I swallowed, trying to make my voice sound controlled.
"I ... I heard about a plan that Wilder has to get to Malfoy."
Dumbledore moved forward slightly in interest, and I continued.
"He's going to send Peter Pettigrew into the school, as a rat, to take one of my hairs or fingernails ... then make a polyjuice potion with it."
"A polyjuice potion?" Dumbledore prompted me.
"Yes. Then he wants to try and make Malfoy follow him out of the school."
"Why would Mr Malfoy follow YOU out of the school, Miss Granger?" Snape asked, sneering.
I felt my cheeks heat up.
"I don't know. Maybe they just assumed that, because I was having the dreams and helped find him last time, I must-"
"The most important question, Miss Granger," Dumbledore interrupted. "Is, would he follow you?"
I looked at the floor. Would he follow me? Surely he would know I wouldn't try and force him to do anything against the school rules.
"I ... I really don't know, Professor."
A silence rang out in the office, making me feel intensely uncomfortable.
"How did you know that I'd had another dream?" I asked, to break the silence.
Dumbledore's face turned sad, and he took off his glasses and placed them on the desk.
"I didn't know you had had another dream, Miss Granger, I merely hoped that you had. You see, despite our best efforts, Mr Malfoy appears to have gone missing once again."
---
I couldn't hear anything. Only the rushing of my own blood in my ears. I had known, I could have warned everybody. But I hadn't.
And now Malfoy was missing again.
He could be dead by now.
And it was all my fault.
I could hear Dumbledore saying something, although it sounded like he was miles away from me. His voice was muffled and distant. I could vaguely feel somebody taking my elbow, trying to steer me out of the room, but I couldn't move my own feet. I was rooted to the spot.
The hand on my elbow was tugging harder now, but I still wasn't moving. I wanted to move my head to face the owner of the hand, to tell them to let go, but I couldn't.
It was all my fault ...
---
At break, I went up to the library to read Malfoy's note. I had barely pulled it out of my pocket when I heard Professor McGonagall say my name behind me.
I whirled around, and stuffed the note hurriedly back into my pocket.
"Yes, Professor?"
McGonagall gave me a grave look, and told me to follow her. One look at her face told me that it was serious, so I followed without question.
---
Before I realised it, we were in Dumbledore's office. He was eying me expressionlessly across his desk.
"Have you had any more of your dreams lately, Miss Granger?"
I swallowed. How did he know?
"Yes. I had one last night. I tried to tell Malfoy about it in potions but-"
"What was in this dream of yours?"
At that moment, Snape stormed into the office. He was thin lipped and angry looking. I swallowed, trying to make my voice sound controlled.
"I ... I heard about a plan that Wilder has to get to Malfoy."
Dumbledore moved forward slightly in interest, and I continued.
"He's going to send Peter Pettigrew into the school, as a rat, to take one of my hairs or fingernails ... then make a polyjuice potion with it."
"A polyjuice potion?" Dumbledore prompted me.
"Yes. Then he wants to try and make Malfoy follow him out of the school."
"Why would Mr Malfoy follow YOU out of the school, Miss Granger?" Snape asked, sneering.
I felt my cheeks heat up.
"I don't know. Maybe they just assumed that, because I was having the dreams and helped find him last time, I must-"
"The most important question, Miss Granger," Dumbledore interrupted. "Is, would he follow you?"
I looked at the floor. Would he follow me? Surely he would know I wouldn't try and force him to do anything against the school rules.
"I ... I really don't know, Professor."
A silence rang out in the office, making me feel intensely uncomfortable.
"How did you know that I'd had another dream?" I asked, to break the silence.
Dumbledore's face turned sad, and he took off his glasses and placed them on the desk.
"I didn't know you had had another dream, Miss Granger, I merely hoped that you had. You see, despite our best efforts, Mr Malfoy appears to have gone missing once again."
---
I couldn't hear anything. Only the rushing of my own blood in my ears. I had known, I could have warned everybody. But I hadn't.
And now Malfoy was missing again.
He could be dead by now.
And it was all my fault.
I could hear Dumbledore saying something, although it sounded like he was miles away from me. His voice was muffled and distant. I could vaguely feel somebody taking my elbow, trying to steer me out of the room, but I couldn't move my own feet. I was rooted to the spot.
The hand on my elbow was tugging harder now, but I still wasn't moving. I wanted to move my head to face the owner of the hand, to tell them to let go, but I couldn't.
It was all my fault ...