I know this chapter is quite long compared with the others... but I got really inspired and I wanted to include all this information in this chapter...:P
Sara: Thanks for your review!!! I really appreciate your comments... and about the author notes... hehe... sometimes I get a bit carried away with that... I'll try not to... ;) This chapter is quite different from the others, because even if this is important in a way to the story, it's more like a preface for chapter 18...
Chapter 16: "Hermione's dream"
Dumbledore took them through a narrow secret passage that led them into the Shrieking shack. (A/N: For those who read the story in Spanish, the Shrieking Shack is the place where Sirius used to hide when Harry discovered him. It's the place where the Whooping Willow leads to... (The tree with which Harry and Ron crash into with Ron's dad car in book 2)).
The whole Order was waiting for them (A/N: including Snape, you can imagine Harry's face when he saw him...: S) and seemed really worried about something.
"Black, follow me." Snape said.
"Why should I, Snivellus?" Sirius replied.
"Professor Dumbledore, shall I say it in front of Potter and his fan club?"
"There's no reason for them not to know the news, Severus..." Dumbledore answered coolly. Harry didn't like his tone.
"What happened, professor?" Harry asked.
"You certainly must remember that Voldemort" Everyone flinched at the sound the name, "killed Draco's parents... well, we know who the next people are going to be..."
"Who is it?" Draco asked, and with one of Hermione's typical reprimanding looks, he added. "Sir?"
"Miss. Granger's parents and Mr. and Miss. Weasley's parents."
"But, we need to save them! Do something!" Hermione shouted looking frantic. She then turned around and looked for Draco's chest, in which she put her head crying. Draco hugged her, touching her hair.
"I know, Hermione, I know. I brought them here; it's the safest place for them all to be. Your parents as well as the Weasley family, will be escorted everywhere. They won't be alone; even in their sleep, there will be someone watching them. Don't worry, you'll be able to see them everyday, and you will have to help your parents get used to this new place."
"Thank you so much professor." Ginny said sobbing. Ron hugged her. Luna didn't seem disturbed at all.
"Don't give details, Albus, it can cost you..." Luna said. Everyone looked at her in surprise.
"You're right, Luna... again your predictions surprise me." Dumbledore said calmly. "Someone can be hearing us here; we'd better get back to the castle."
Dumbledore told the kids to go first. Harry and Luna went first, Ron and Ginny followed, Neville went after them, and finally, Malfoy and Hermione got through the passage. Then the adults got through it. Dumbledore was the last to leave the place. When they all got to the castle, Dumbledore lead them to his office.
Tonks was there and she obviously tripped over something... but this time it was something important.
"What the heck?" She said. She had tripped over Hermione who had fainted.
"Mione! Hermione! Are you all right?" Draco asked worried.
"Yes, Yes, I'm ok. I just feel dizzy, that's all." Hermione said getting up.
"You haven't been getting enough sleep, Mione!" Draco told her angrily.
"I had to study! I can't fail my exams!"
"Just sleep a bit more all right?"
"Tomorrow you'll be excused from your classes, Miss. Granger. You need to rest, Mr. Malfoy, you're excused too. Take care of her." Dumbledore said surveying them with his blue eyes.
"But..." She said.
"Yes, Sir" Draco interrupted. "I will make sure she sleeps well and doesn't leave her bed."
"Thank you Draco." Dumbledore said. "I think we have done enough. Go to your rooms, and tomorrow, training will begin at the same time."
"All right" They all said.
"Oh, I almost forget, Mr. Potter. Miss. Lovegood and Miss. Weasley will have to sleep in yours and Mr. Weasley's room for tonight."
"No problem, professor." Harry answered before Ron could say anything.
"Now I'll wait 'till you're fast asleep or I'll give you a potion to sleep, all right?" Draco told Hermione as they opened the door of their room.
"You're not my father, don't you play bossy with me!" Hermione said angrily.
"I may not be your father, but I'm a person who loves you and cares about you. I don't want anything bad happening to you, Mione... you're the only thing I have and I don't want to lose you. You're by far the best thing that happened to me in years." He said. His eyes were sparkling with tears. She kissed him... (A/N: how sweet!!! Strange thing coming from Draco, but anyway, I love this couple... and c'mon you people! He's not soulless... ¬¬)
"Now get into bed, c'mon. I'll stay with you 'till you fall asleep. C'mon." He said pulling the covers from Hermione's bed. When she had lied down, he kissed her on the forehead. She closed her eyes, and Draco started telling her sweet things in her ear.
"I love you, I'll never leave you. I love you, Mione. You're the reason I live for." Draco kept telling her, until he realized she had fallen asleep. He kissed her and she smiled. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to wake you up." He said.
"It's ok. Hug me please; I need to feel you near me. I don't want to lose you." She said.
"Why would you lose me?"
"I don't know, I just don't want to"
"I've always love you, and I always will"
"Liar" She said laughing and hugging him harder around the waist. "You hated me when we first met."
"Why do you say that?" He said sarcastically, looking at her with a fake surprised face.
"Haha, c'mon, you would call me a Mudblood every time you had the chance to do so."
"Can I ask you something?" He said
"Yeah, sure, what is it?"
"Could you please not say that word? It makes me remember, and the last thing I want to do is remembering." He said playing with the hair in her forehead with his fingers.
"I'm sorry." She mumbled looking down and loosening her grip on Draco's waist.
"It's all right, love, don't worry. And about... that... that thing I used to call you..." He lowered his head and kissed her. "It was my way of saying 'I love you, but I just can't tell you directly'"
"Really?"
"I guess..." Draco said. He still didn't like to show his feelings so openly and he had just realized that he had just been doing so...
"I... I just thought you hated me, that's why I obliged myself to hate you"
"So you didn't really hate me? Not even a little?" He asked with a mock concerned face.
"Well, I have to admit that at first, yes, I hated you. But then I thought you were somewhat cute, and I don't know... after our third year, you had lost your touch... there was something wrong it seemed as if you didn't mean exactly what you said... I don't know, maybe it was just me." She said motioning him to lie down with her. He did so.
"It wasn't just you... I really didn't mean it... and I haven't lost my touch..."
"Yeah, sure!" She said mockingly. "C'mon, Draco, you can't insult me anymore... it's just not one of your gifts anymore."
"Oh yeah? Oh really? Let me see... mmm... you're a know-it-all, teacher's pet... and... oh yes! You worship scar-face every night before going to sleep." He said laughing.
"All right! You win, now I'm mad! Go to your own bed! You really are annoying!" She said pretending to be mad at him.
He laughed. "Well, I guess being a git is one of Malfoy family's greatest gifts... don't you think so?"
"Yeah..."
He started tickling her.
"All right, ok! I give up! No please! Ahhhh! Don't! No! Stop! Really! You're a git... but that's one of the reasons I love you for" She said turning red.
He stopped.
"Thank... you..." She said panting. "I guess you'll make me go to sleep now, am I right?"
"Yes, young lady. C'mon, if you sleep all night, tomorrow I'll let you go out in the grounds and have some fresh air. Deal?"
"Deal. But don't you break your promise, all right? I get really nasty when I'm mad..."
"I promise, now let's sleep, c'mon. I have listened to you long enough... you little know-it-all bookworm!" He laughed.
"All right. You fake blond!" She kissed him.
He lied his head down next to hers and they fell asleep within seconds.
Meanwhile, in Harry's room...
"Take a pillow, pick a bed, shut up, and go to sleep." Ron told Ginny and Luna.
"Anything else?" Ginny said.
"C'mon Ron! Now I know why you don't have a girlfriend! If you treat women like that!" Harry said half laughing at Ron's attitude. "Ladies, feel free to have fun in here. Well, as much fun as you can get with Mr. Police officer here."
They all laughed and went to sleep, not without throwing a considerable amount of socks at Ron first...
"Good morning." Draco said kissing Hermione on her cheek.
"Hi there." She said smiling at him. "What time is it?"
"It's either too late or too early, depending on the way you look at it."
"Which way are you looking at it?"
"Mmm... I dunno, a little bit of both I guess. What about you?" He asked her.
"I guess I'll say too late... when can't get to class now... so, yes, I'll go with too late."
Draco laughed. "Are you sure you didn't hit your head last night? I can't believe you're not getting all worked up because you can't get to class..."
"There's nothing I can do... you wouldn't let me go anyway... would you?" She asked tentatively.
"No, I wouldn't, but I'm glad you're back to normal... I kinda like that bookworm stuff you've got."
"Well, thank you! I don't know whether to kiss you or slap you!" She said acting as if she were angry.
"I'd go with option number one, but well, it's your choice..."
Hermione kissed him.
"What about a quick breakfast?" He said.
"Let me change my clothes and we'll go down to the Great Hall."
"Ah ah, no no no... you're not leaving this room... well, not for breakfast anyway." He said and with a swish of his wand, food appeared in front of her.
"This is so cute! Thank you." She said kissing him.
"You deserve it, and besides, if I don't treat you well, Harriet and Weasel would kill me... and how will Hogwarts survive without beautiful Draco around?"
"Yeah, your fan club would tear apart... c'mon!" She said as she ate her breakfast. "Aren't you going to eat?"
"Nah, I've already done so... before you woke up..."
"So, what are you planning to do today?" She asked eating a toast.
"Surprise..."
"Come on! Tell me! Please?" She said imploringly.
"Good Lord..." He sighed. "You always convince me..."
"I know..." She said grinning. "Just tell me what you're planning."
"Ok, I thought of having a quick breakfast, which I see you don't seem to have any trouble at..."
"Shut up!" She said smiling.
"Then we can go to the lake and spend the afternoon in a secret place I know."
"Where is it exactly?"
"Well, Mione! That's my surprise!"
"Ok, ok... just tell me when we are going and I'll be ready."
"As soon as you finish your breakfast."
"Ok, let me have a bath and I'll be ready." She said getting up. "Just give me half an hour and I'll be back."
"Ok..." He said smiling. Being left alone, he smiled to himself. He had never been this happy in his life; well, to be more precise, he had never been happy in his life at all. She had this power to make him happy even in his darkest moments. She was beautiful, fun, and most of all, he loved her... even if she had been as ugly as a person can ever be he would love her anyway. He realized that she had changed his life. Since their first kiss, she had shown him a completely new world. He had never loved or been loved in such a way. His own feelings scared himself. Did she feel the same way? Was she faking? Was she taking revenge of all the things he had done to her? Every insult, every teasing, could this be revenge? He needed to know. Suddenly coming out of the bathroom, Hermione interrupted his thoughts.
"Mione..."
"Yes, tell me." She said smiling and kissing him.
"I... I need to know something..." He sighed. "Do you love me? I mean... do you really love me?"
"Of course I love you! Why do you ask that?"
"I was just thinking that... maybe as I used to tease you a lot, this would be like a kind of revenge or something."
She sighed and took his hands in hers. "Look, first of all, I don't give my first kiss to anyone just like that. Second, the fact that no one has ever loved you doesn't mean no one will... Yes, I love you, I always will and no, this is not revenge. If I had wanted to take revenge I would have used a more effective method, than putting that stupid smile you boys have when you fall in love..."
"And that method would be..."
"Cursing you, then putting a bit of poison in your drink and then tear your body apart... to name a few."
"Well, now I know what's awaiting me if I cheat on you." He said smiling. "Ok, let's go."
They had been walking for twenty minutes and this 'special' place was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, Draco stopped walking.
"Here it is." He said.
The place was hidden behind a secret passage through a tree near the lake. In fact, they were underneath the lake. There was a small waterfall and the place was covered in flowers of every colour.
"What do you think?" He said.
"It's so beautiful! It's actually gorgeous! How did you find it?" She said looking around at every single detail.
"The first day of my third year, I knew I felt something towards you, right? So, I was looking for a place to think in peace, and when I say in peace, I mean away from Crabbe and Goyle. Those gorillas were unbearable. Well, the thing is I wrote to my father, and he told me all about a place where he used to... he used to bring mum... I'm... I'm sorry..." He said, his voice shaking.
"It's all right." She said hugging him.
They just sit there all afternoon. Hermione fell asleep in Draco's arms. He just played with her hair. After a few minutes, he fell asleep too.
Hermione was having a dream. She was walking through the forbidden forest. She was looking for Draco, but he was nowhere to be seen. Then she heard strange noises. It seemed as if someone was being tortured. Then, to her horror, she saw someone was attacking Draco.
"Mione! Run! Get away from here! Ahhhhh!!!!" He yelled.
"No! I won't leave you alone! No! Come back!" She yelled as she saw how the attacker dragged Draco's unconscious body towards the deep part of the forest. She ran as fast as she could... but she could never reach him. He seemed so near, but yet so far away. She fell to the ground. Someone was shaking her.
"Mione! Hermione! Are you all right?" She heard a concerned voice ask. Suddenly she found herself again in Draco's arms. It was getting dark. She turned around and hugged him, crying.
"Oh my God! It was horrible!"
"What was horrible, Mione?" He asked. "It's all over now, you were just dreaming."
"No! This wasn't like any other common dream!"
"Why?"
"Voldemort was in it! He was torturing you!"
"Ok, ok... now, Mione... tell me... where were Voldemort and I?"
"In the Forbidden Forest."
"Don't you think Dumbledore or Potter would know if Voldemort is near?"
"Yes, I guess you're right." She said, but he could notice she was not entirely convinced.
"Ok, let's do something, tomorrow morning we'll go and tell Dumbledore about this, ok?"
"No, let's tell Harry, he has already experienced this kind of thing, he'll know how to handle it."
"As you wish." He said smiling and kissing her head. "We should get going. Don't you think?"
"Yes, you're right. Let's go."
They had a quiet dinner in their room and fell asleep after a few hours. (A/N: This time Draco slept in his own bed.)
The days passed by without many eventualities or important events... except well... one strange event that took place one night. They were all training, and Ron had been paired with Luna. They had been fighting a whole hour until Ron got tired and yelled at Luna several things that he didn't want anyone to know...
"What's wrong with you?" She yelled.
"Nothing! You're the one with something wrong!"
"You know what Ron? I'm sick of you! Could you please tell me why do you hate me so much?"
"I don't hate you!" He interrupted.
"Then why are you always taunting me! I didn't do any..." She was made to shut up by Ron... he was suddenly kissing her. She was so confused she just stayed there, like a stone.
Ron turned as red as his hair. "I have to... to go. I'll... I'll go to bed now... I'm tired... bye." He muttered to Harry and went through the passage. Luna was left there, her usual calm aura was now completely gone... she was stunned... Ginny put an arm on Luna's shoulder to see if she reacted to human contact... but she didn't.
"Luna... Are you all right?"
"Yeah, yes... I guess I am... I'll go to bed too... come with me?" Luna asked Ginny.
Ginny looked instinctively at Harry and Professor Dumbledore. "I think this training session is over, people... I think it's enough for one day." Dumbledore said "Please, Miss. Lovegood, tell Mr. Weasley he's not as idiotic as he is just now thinking he is..." He told Luna in a faint whisper.