Draco walked quickly down the hallway towards the Slytherin tower, unable to hide the spring in his step. Finally, for the first time in his life, he felt, he'd be doing something right- as ironic as it was, something good for another person. He didn't want Hermione to die, and he strongly believed that anyone left on Dumbledore's side of the unavoidable battle stood no chance. Even with Potter. And Hermione was worth saving for much more than her beauty- she could do wonderful things for Voldemort. Crabbe and Goyle were trailing him, a few steps behind as usual, but were quickly overtaken by Millicent and Pansy, who'd stayed behind to give their end-of-year presents to Snape.
"Draco, who's this new girlfriend my father's told me about?" Pansy asked bluntly, falling into step with him. She'd long since given up any pretense of politeness- all of the Slytherins knew each other too well for that. He sighed, preparing for more lies- she'd have found out sooner or later, but Pansy was the last thing he needed right now.
"Her name is Hermia Snape-LeFay. She's from Durmstrang- Professor Snape's niece. He had enough sense not to send her here, she's brilliant in battle magics and such."
Pansy's eyes lit up at that. She held a high respect for her Head of House, as almost all of the Slytherins did.
"Well, it sounds like we'll get along just fine then." she said brightly, already having forgotten whatever tinges of jealousy she might have felt. "It'll be wonderful to have some new female company, won't it Millicent?"
The larger girl nodded, with a small smile. She never spoke much, but Draco knew she had a kind, almost mothering heart inside that- hefty- frame. Pansy was more the organizer of their small group, but it was only because she always needed someone to boss around. Voldemort already had his eye on her, according to Lucius…
"I'm sure you'll love her- I can only hope my mother's the same. Now come on girls, Vince, Greg- we've got a bit of a celebration to set up."
"Not hungry, Mione?" Ron asked, eyeing her still full plate of steaming venison. The house elves went all out for the last meal of the term, preparing whatever exotic dishes they could get their hands on (in large quantities). The clinking of silverware was a telltale sign that the students appreciated it- the majority of them, anyway.
"Not really. I don't know what's wrong with me-"
"Maybe you're a vegetarian, Mione!" Ginny said brightly. She'd gotten a salad, as she did almost every night, though the house elves had managed to make even that elaborate. In her fourth year she'd declared herself a vegetarian- 'animals are people too', she admonish, to anyone who'd listen. This was usually only Harry, and ever-so-occasionally Ron. She reminded Hermione of herself with the SPEW campaign- foolishly thinking she could change the world on her own.
But really, wasn't that what
she was doing now? She assumed that once she'd passed through this summer with
Malfoy, she'd have a chance to show him the right side. And he'd cross, and
then perhaps others would cross. And Harry would be safe, and Ron, and Ginny,
her parents- everyone.
It was pretentious of her. But just by saving Harry a good few times, she reckoned she'd altered the course of history- at least in the wizarding world. And who was to say she couldn't do it by herself, without Harry's help?
"I don't think so, Ginny." Harry laughed. "I remember our soon-to-be Head Girl taking an astonishingly large steak on by herself last night."
"Well I was hungry!" she said, blushing, and failing to mention that Snape had instructed her to eat as much red meat as possible. A few of the potions he'd been giving her were so old they worked better with animal blood, and she'd flatly refused to drink what he'd had in stock in the dungeon, despite his insistence that it was fresh.
What was she doing? She couldn't even stand the sight of animal blood, never mind that of a human. And she'd be steeped in it this summer, shedding some herself most likely. And Draco- well, whatever she'd be forced to do, he'd be a hundred times worse off. She'd gathered that the rest of the Death Eaters, and even Voldemort expected a lot out of Lucius Malfoy's son.
And she expected a lot of him as well. He needed to protect her that summer- teach her, while watching out for her. Cover for her. Make sure his parents loved her, and make sure they believed that she was who she said she was. It was partly her responsibility, of course- but the brunt of the work would fall upon Draco.
As her friends stood, she made up her mind to make things as easy for him as possible. She wasn't sure what their relationship was- friends or otherwise, yet- but she was going to support him as best she could.
She was distracted by a round of cheers down the hallway, and she turned to find a cluster of seventh year Gryffindors, raising a banner towards their end of the hallway. 'Gryffindor Forever!' it read, shouting it at the same time. Ron, Harry and Ginny chanted along with it, and after a moment, she halfheartedly joined in.
She was changing already.
Hermione blindly felt her way through the poorly lit corridor, careful to stick close to the stone wall. She was feeling lightheaded- had a bit too much butterbeer at the party, most likely. Gryffindor had won the cup this year, after all, and Ron had filled it with butterbeer and chugged it all himself. Thankfully, Harry and Seamus were able to carry him back up to the boy's dormitory, but no one wanted to try and top him after that. The other girls had quickly fallen asleep- funny, the butterbeer seemed to keep her awake. She did feel just a bit shaky, though-
"Hermione?" a sharp voice cut through the darkness, and she blinked, struggling to stand up straight.
"Ish- is that you, Draco?" she asked, quickly cutting the slur out of her voice. It simply wouldn't do to have Draco see her this way, never mind Professor Snape.
"Who else would it be, this time of night?" he asked dryly, taking her hand and leading her towards the dungeon door. It was ice cold.
"Not so fast. I need to- collect myself." she said, stopping in front of the door. He sighed, annoyed, and turned to face her, putting one of his ice-cold hands to her forehead. She flinched, and he raised an eyebrow.
"Still scared of me, Hermione?"
"Don't flatter yourself." she said harshly. "Your hand is cold. In fact, you're always cold. It's a bit unnerving."
He stepped closer to her, chiseled featured outlined in the torchlight. His azure eyes seemed to burn, almost twinkle in pleasure. She felt her heart skip.
"Cold, am I?" he asked, wrapping an arm around her waist as honey-colored eyes met blue. He leaned down to kiss her, his tongue gently (for once) exploring her mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck as her ran his hands through her hair, no longer wild and bushy, thanks to Snape's spells. He was gentle with her… gentle, and almost affectionate. His mouth felt warm against hers, dispelling almost all of her reservations. After what seemed like an eternity, he stepped back, looking into her eyes.
"From tonight on, Hermione, you've got to be Hermia LeFay. I don't want to place you in any danger, and if you can't convince yourself, you've no chance."
She sighed, burying her face in his chest. She wanted this- wanted him, and wanted the knowledge. She needed to know most of all.
"Come then, dear." she said, trying to imitate his conceited smirk. By the look in his eyes, she'd been successful. "We've got a few last-minute adjustments to make."
Draco couldn't help but smile, following her inside the potions dungeon.
"Ah, there you two are." Snape said, greeting them from behind his desk. It was strangely neat, the usual clutter of paper and ingredients having been wiped clean. He walked around to their side of the desk, and if Draco didn't know better, he'd have said he had been fretfully wringing his hands.
"So this is it." he said, looking at the two. "Tomorrow morning, Miss Granger begins her new life as Miss LeFay. Are you sure that you're ready?"
"I'm ready." she said, looking to Draco, who nodded.
"I have taught you all that I can, Miss Granger, about how you should act when staying with the Malfoys. I mean no offense, Mr. Malfoy, but your family is cruel, and would not welcome a girl with Miss Granger's particular... temperament."
They'd heard it a hundred times, but it was comforting to hear it again.
"You must defer to Draco at all times, Miss Granger. Do not even consider trying to match Lucius Malfoy- the thought should not even cross your mind during the time you stay in the manor. It is unthinkable for Malfoy women to stand up to the men, and Lucius has chosen to stand by that particular family tradition."
Draco winced, mostly because it was true.
"Do try and be kind to Mrs. Malfoy. It may be difficult- again, Mr. Malfoy, this is no offense to you- the woman is quite simple. She was, at one time, a great woman- but years under Lucius has beaten all independent thought out of her. If you befriend her, Lucius will know, and it shall bode well for you
You will have to stay with Draco at all times as well, Miss Granger. You are there for him, and no other reason. It is only natural to have a curiosity about things- this they will expect, and tolerate. I daresay Lucius will enjoy having something new and intelligent to control. But, all in all, your purpose there as Hermia LeFay is to make a good impression. Your purpose there as Hermione Granger, I assume, is to observe."
His eyes softened, the older man easily reading the anxiety clearly written across Hermione's face. He looked to Draco, who seemed almost, if not more nervous.
"That's all I can give you in the form of words, then. I hope you will heed my advice. Drink this, Hermione." he said, handing her a very angry-looking bottle of black liquid. Draco eyed it suspiciously, looking up to Snape.
"What is it?"
"A distilled form of the Polyjuice Potion, Draco. To make her look a bit like me… or, more precisely, the women in my family. It shall serve only make the ruse more credible, especially to your parents."
Hermione picked up the bottle, willing her hands not to shake. So this was it? She truly would become Hermia LeFay- a girl training to become a Death Eater. More aptly, Draco Malfoy's girl training to become a Death Eater. Draco's eyes darkened at her hesitation- and something sparked inside of her. He didn't think she would do it. She wasn't sure if he thought she could do it.
She drank.
Hermione spotted Draco in the Great Hall instantly- he was the only boy there. Absently, she remembered it was about four in the morning- he'd said something about alternate transportation. Right now, though, she was much too tired to think about it. The parties, the potions, the bloody butterbeer… and the shock of waking up with a face full of jet-black hair that morning. Thank God the mirror had still been asleep, she didn't even want to know what she looked like.
"Ready?" he asked as she got within hearing distance. She nodded, unused to the waves of glossy, straight black hair that fell around her face at the slightest movement. He stared at her for a moment, and she scowled.
"What?"
"Nothing, you just-" he couldn't finish, gesturing to her face. She rolled her eyes.
"Oh come on, Draco, I can't look that much like Snape-" he pulled a small hand mirror out of his duffel bag wordlessly. She snickered, supposing he had to keep one nearby in case a hair fell out of place- he was more vain than most girls she knew. She raised it in front of her, fearing the worst- and finding the best.
"Oh." she breathed, green eyes darting back and forth across a pale ivory face. She was- beautiful. There was simply no other word to describe it. Her skin was smooth and creamy, unfreckled for once in her life… her nose was perfect- slightly pointed, but not too long or too short. She realized with a start that she'd inherited Snape's severe high cheekbones- but on her they were fragile, delicate and feminine. She saw Draco nodding out of the corner of his eye, but it barely registered.
She recognized that face. Recognized it from only a few weeks ago, that morning in the prefect's bathroom, with a few minor changes of course. But this wasn't just Snape. This is what she had been meant to look like.
"You look beautiful." he said quietly, wrapping his arms around her waist, and hugging her close to him. She smiled, still staring into the mirror.
"I know."