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Chapter 8: The Plan
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The first few days of the reunion consisted of normal classes. Just as they had during their years at Hogwarts, the Slytherins and Griffindors were in classes together. This gave Draco a lot of time to make passes at Hermione and for her to remember that she still needed to talk to him. Every time she tried to sit down and talk it out with him again, someone always interrupted or they ended up making out. It seemed their teenage hormones hadn't left yet.
So after three days of this it was time to lay down the facts.
"Draco?" Hermione reluctantly pulled away from his sweet kiss.
"Hmm?" He mumbled, kissing her neck since she had taken away her lips.
"I… We…" she stuttered, getting a little flustered when Draco moved the neckline of her sweater so he could kiss her shoulder. "Stop for one second…please."
He stopped and turned to meet her eye. She could see it in his eyes that he wasn't to please about this.
"Don't you think we need to talk to Dumbledore about your father?" Hermione bit her lip waiting for Draco to reply.
Draco sighed and dropped his head. "Ah, Granger." He looked up at her and smirked. "I thought you had something important to tell me."
Hermione answered with a queasy smile. "This isn't important?"
"No, it is," he gently kissed her forehead. " You're right, we should get this all solved, to make sure that no one else makes a threat on our relationship."
"You think they're still out there?" she asked nervously.
"I don't know for sure but I lost you once and I'm not going to take a chance," Draco gave her a confident smile and took her hand in his. "We'll go see him right now."
They walked hand in hand through the empty corridors. The hallways were oddly vacant for an afternoon but Hermione could see most of the students outside on the lawns.
Draco halted in front of the large gargoyle.
"Lemon Meringue." It creaked and moved to reveal the staircase that lead to Dumbledore's office.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore greeted them warmly from behind his desk. "What brings you in here on such a beautiful day?"
"There's something we've been meaning to talk to you about for the last few days but didn't seem to find the time," Hermione answered blushing a bit as she said it.
"It's good to see you two together again," Dumbledore's eyes shown with happiness from behind his half moon shaped glasses.
"Again?!?" questioned Hermione looking from Draco to Dumbledore and then kept her eyes on Dumbledore.
"As you know Miss Granger, I like to keep myself informed of my students well being," Dumbledore replied calmly. "I knew you and Mr. Malfoy here had a relationship during your seventh year here."
"Does that mean you know why we're here as well?" Hermione did all the talking since Draco seemed mute.
"That I do not, so you'll have to inform me as to why I'm have the pleasure of your visit."
Draco gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Hermione took a deep breath and spilled the whole story of what happened the night of their commencement when Lucious Malfoy had threatened her. Or at least who she thought was Lucious Malfoy at the time.
"Who would disguise themselves as Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore contemplated after Hermione was finished.
"Why not just tell him? He would have done it himself if he knew about us," Draco said bitterly.
"That is very true there must have been more to it then just keeping the two of you apart," Dumbledore concluded.
"But no one knew," Hermione protested. "We never told anyone and were very careful about being seen together. People did notice that we were getting along but no one ever expresses suspicions of us being a couple."
"Well they could have assumed that you would break up but you didn't so they took measures into their own hands," he replied. "Who do you think would want you apart?"
"Everyone," Draco rolled his eyes. "All of my friends would be angry that I would even dare be associated with someone who wasn't a pureblood and Hermione's friends hate me."
"That does make it hard to narrow down the culprit now doesn't it?" Hermione could see Dumbledore smirk slightly behind his long beard.
"Is there some way we could flush them out of hiding?" Hermione asked.
"There could be but we have no way of knowing if the person is here." Hermione nodded glumly. "But we could try it anyway."
"What do you suggest we do?" Draco asked, curious about what he had planned.
"Be open about your relationship," Dumbledore said plainly. "If the culprit is here then they are sure to still have a problem with it and try to break you two apart again."
"That's it?" questioned Draco.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore nodded. "The simplest plans are the best. And I'm sure it won't be hard for you two to carry out your part."
Hermione blushed. Draco squeezed her hand and she turned to face him. He gave her a wink.
"Shouldn't be a problem professor," Hermione assured him with a weak smile.
"That's good to hear. I will be monitoring the school and please inform me if anything strange takes place." Draco and Hermione nodded. "Now I believe you two have one more class before dinner and it is starting momentarily."
They left Dumbledore's office and heading down the hill to the Quidditch Pitch. Their last class was advance flying or what we would call gym class.
"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, if you would please hurry up and change. There are robes in the designated change rooms," Madam Hooch said briskly as they neared their classmates. "I want to get a game going and you are holding us up."
Hermione noticed the looks they were getting from the class. Some of the guys were smirking while the girls were whispering to each other. It was just what she had expected to happen.
Hermione quickly changed into her Griffindor Quidditch robes and dashed back to the pitch. Madam Hooch had divided them by house and had already begun the game. Hermione took a seat on the bench beside Ginny.
"What are you playing at?" Ginny whispered harshly into Hermione's ear.
"What are you talking about?" Hermione was a bit taken aback by her friend's accusation.
"Coming to class with Malfoy!?!" Ginny snapped loud enough that the rest of the Griffindors were craning their necks to listen.
"What's the big deal Gin?" Hermione asked brushing it off like it was no big deal.
"He…he's Malfoy," Ginny stammered, not sure what else to say.
"So what if he is, he's a good guy," Hermione answered, turning away from Ginny to watch the match.
Harry was soaring high above them looking for the Golden Snitch. Ron was in front of the scoring rings on the Griffindor side, playing Keeper. But Hermione's eyes stayed on the Slytherin Seeker, dressed in green and silver robes, his blonde hair blowing in the wind as he flew.
Ginny followed Hermione's eyes, who were resting on Draco.
"Alright spill it," Ginny demanded, bringer Hermione's attention away from Draco. Hermione gave Ginny a mock surprised look.
"I don't know what you're talking about Virginia Potter," Hermione smirked, remembering to use Ginny's married name.
"What's the deal with you and the ferret?"
"He's not as bad as you think," she answered defensively.
"Could have fooled me," Ginny replied cynically. Hermione frowned. "I'm sorry Mione, it's just that…well I don't have the best memories of being with Malfoy. And you're going to tell me about the two of you and I will make no snide remarks."
"I wouldn't tell you if you weren't going to listen…quietly," Hermione said.
"So when did this happen?" Ginny asked, moving closer so they wouldn't be overheard. "It better not have been this week cause we've only been here three days and that's a little fast."
"Calm down Gin," Hermione smiled. "It was in seventh year."
"And you didn't tell me?" Ginny folded her arms across her chest and gave a small pout.
"No one knew," she answered quickly. "It was between us and us only."
"And you were happy?" Ginny had a suspicious look in her eyes.
"Yes, I was very happy," again she was quick to respond.
"Then why leave?" It was the one question Hermione was dreading. She knew if there was ever to be a good friendship between her and Ginny again, she would have to know what had happened to make Hermione leave the wizarding world.
It would be the second time she would be telling the story that day. She sighed and told Ginny exactly what she had told Dumbledore only an hour before.
"Bloody hell," Ginny gasped when she was finished. "No wonder you left."
"Try telling Draco that," Hermione sighed. "I wanted to tell him I really did but there wasn't time."
"Don't fret about it," Ginny brushed off her concern. "He's obviously gotten over it."
"Yeah I guess he has forgiven me," Hermione looked up to see him flying overhead.
"It wasn't your fault and you were saving the lives of you, him and your baby," Ginny concluded rationally.
Hermione's head snapped back to look at her friend. " Baby!?!"
"Don't look so surprised," Ginny chuckled. "It wasn't that hard to figure out."
"I guess not," Hermione agreed. "But don't tell anyone okay? I don't want it spread around"
"You mean he doesn't know?" Ginny's jaw fell open.
"Shhhh!" Hermione hissed.
"You didn't tell him?" Ginny hissed, trying to keep her voice down.
"I will," Hermione said defensively. "I just haven't found the time yet."
"Well you better find the time before he finds out from someone else," Ginny wagged her finger in Hermione's face.
Hermione nodded. He had to hear it from her.
"And here's your chance," Ginny nudged her. Draco had landed and was walking over to where her and Ginny were seated.
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Chapter 8 is finally done!! Yayness! Sorry about the long wait…hope you still want to read on. Is Hermione gonna tell him or chicken out yet again??? Well you'll have to wait and see. Thanks for reading please review!
~Miss Wright~