a/n: Here's updated version of chapter two. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did editing it! Cheers!
Impossible Love
By: A. J. Seawiel
Chapter Two
Draco Malfoy sat alone in his room, finishing up some last-minute homework Professor McGonagall had assigned for the summer holidays. "Stupid hag," he mumbled as he stared at a very complicated chart. "I hate Transfiguration!" He swore under his breath.
From below him, Draco heard footsteps and knew his father had arrived home; for his mother was resting on the sofa in the overhead room. If she had had even the slightest inclination to walk around Draco would've heard about it. The floorboards were old and creaked at the slightest amount of weight put on them.
During supper, Lucius Malfoy had received a sharp pain through his right arm and leapt from the table. Draco and his mother had been left to finish their supper alone.
"Probably another fucking raid – God, I can't stand him sometimes," Draco muttered as he crumpled up the parchment and began to redraw it on a fresh piece of parchment. He threw his quill down angrily; he just couldn't concentrate. Folding his arms, he heard whispers from outside his room and curiosity got the better of him. Rising from his spot on the bed, he tip-toed to the landing and crept down a few steps so he could hear the argument.
"But Lucius! He's only seventeen! He can't become a Death Eater now! Can't you wait until he's finished school? Or can the Dark Lord not wait ten months for another follower? He's got -"
"Narcissa! I will not abandon the Dark Lord in his time of need. If he wants my son, he will have my son."
"But -"
"No more. I will talk to him in the morning."
Draco crept quickly back into his room and closed the door. He jumped onto his bed and punched his pillow a few times to vent his anger. "So now he needs me, eh? Fuck him! I don't think I want to be a Death Eater anymore. I don't want to murder innocents for him – I want to do it myself." he joked with a smirk. Ever so quietly, he shuffled around his room and threw a few quills, rolls of parchment, and various textbooks into his trunk, along with a few personal items.
Draco had thought this over for the past two years; he knew this would happen eventually. Each year his destiny became clearer to him; he knew he'd take no pleasure in serving the Dark Lord as his father did. The thought of dying for a man he barely knew and would never completely know was appalling. Draco had formulated a plan to keep himself from the terror he knew he'd become if he bended to his father's will. He'd run away and leave what he knew behind forever. No more fearing what he might become, no more chance of obeying orders he found horrifying.
Since seventh years were allowed to use magic, he bewitched his trunk and took his new Firebolt that he had bought himself, opened the window and flew into the night. Maybe Blaise would take him in…. He thought so and flew in the direction of London.
- & -
Hermione was packing items into her school trunk when a flutter and the tapping of nail on glass were heard. She whipped around to find Hedwig, Pig, and a beautiful barn owl hovering outside the glass of Jessica's bedroom window. Hermione rushed to the window and opened it, letting them in.
"Hey, Hedwig - you have Harry's answer, don't you? Pig has Ron's too, right?" she added to the tiny owl flying around her head. Hermione laughed and grabbed his leg, untying the parchment. Hedwig ruffled her feathers haughtily and stuck out her leg so Hermione could untie hers too. Hermione ripped opened Hedwig's letter and read:
Hey Hermione,
Hope you're all right, sorry about your mum and dad. I only hope you see the light at the end of all this and grab it while it's still there. Try and think of the good times you had with them and don't dwell on the thoughts of what you could've done better. Trust me, it does help, and they wouldn't have wanted you to suffer.
Dudley actually lost some weight, which is a real shock to you, I'm sure. Yeah anyway... I think Ron is writing to ask if you could stay at his house with us. I hope so; it's not much fun there without you. Hope to see you soon. Take care of yourself.
Much love,
Harry
Her eyes welled up with tears at his thoughtfulness and she turned to Ron's letter:
Dear Hermione,
I'm really sorry to hear about your parents, I don't know what to say to help. I can't imagine what you're going through right now, I wish I could understand and help you through it as a best friend should.
Mum says you can come anytime you want. I really hope you can, Harry and I will be very lonely without you. Who else would tell us not to forget our wands? Hope to see you as soon as you're ready. Don't worry about it and keep your mind away from what happened. Love you.
Love,
Ron
Hermione let happy tears fall. Harry and Ron were so thoughtful and kind. Jessica was too - Hermione just loved her friends. Then she turned to the final letter, the one the barn owl carried. She recognized the crest on the letter; it was from Hogwarts. Hermione took a quick breath and exhaled - surely this was from Dumbledore, as he, or anyone else at Hogwarts for that matter, hadn't been in touch since she became an orphan. Wondering what on earth he wished of her, she slit the envelope open with trembling hands and took out the yellowish parchment. Her eyes narrowed in concentration as she read.
Dear Miss Granger,
I cannot express the amount of sorrow I am feeling for you. I hope you will be able to accept my most humble and heartfelt apologies for not aiding you during your time of crisis. The Ministry has just informed me that I am to notify you of this information.
Since you will be turning of age very shortly, they have decided (with my counsel) that you are not to wander about near your old home. There are certain dangers even I am uncertain of, for your own safety may you heed my instruction. You will stay at your friend Jessica Jenkins' home until you leave for the Burrow. From the Burrow you will be in Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's care until your return to Hogwarts. When you leave Hogwarts, you shall do as you please as you will be of age.
Remember, if you ever need anything, I am always here for you to ask of assistance.
Again, I am dreadfully sorry for your tragedy.
Yours truly,
Albus Dumbledore
Jessica appeared at the doorway and knocked on the frame, just as Hermione finished reading. "Can I join you?"
Hermione nodded and Jessica sat down beside her. "Who are those from?" she asked with interest, pointing towards the two letters beside Hermione.
"Oh, Ron and Harry; I never showed you pictures of them, did I? I think I have one here somewhere..." Hermione rummaged around in her trunk and found a picture of the three of them from last year. "That's Ron," she said, pointing at the redhead, "and that's Harry." She pointed at the mop of messy jet-black hair.
"They're cute! Do you like either of them - or just as mates?" Jessica asked hopefully.
Hermione laughed. "You're in luck! Harry and Ron are both single and I wouldn't kill you for liking either of them."
"I think I should go to Hogwarts. Are you absolutely sure I'm not a witch?" she asked.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes! I'm positive." Jessica looked a bit crestfallen but smiled all the same.
"Well, I hope you end up with one of them and not that Malfoy character," she replied, handing the picture back to her best friend.
Hermione stared at Jessica. "What makes you think I'd end up with him, of all people?"
Jessica fiddled with the bedcovers, "Well, I don't know. My mum has said, 'Hate always makes way for passion.' I thought... maybe…"
Hermione shook her head looking somewhat disturbed. "Don't you worry; Malfoy and I despise each other. You mark my words; it'll always stay that way." She stood up and hugged her friend. "I'm really going to miss you. I'll owl you, don't worry."
Jessica sniffed and broke the hug. "I'll miss you too. Take care of yourself, all right?"
Hermione nodded and grabbed her trunk, walking to the corner of the room. She smiled and waved before disapparating.
- & -
She appeared some forty miles north of where she should have arrived. "Damn! Not again! Why can't I get this right?" She concentrated again and disapparated.
"Hermione!" she heard a familiar voice call and knew she had gotten it right this time. She turned around just as a lot of straight red hair whooshed into her face.
"Ginny! How are you?" Hermione exclaimed; she had ended up in Ginny's bedroom.
"Oh, fine. I should be asking you that, though! Are you okay? About your parents and everything - Dad's helping sort it out at work. He told us before you did. Are you hurt? Do you need anything?" Ginny rambled, but Hermione put up a hand to shut her up.
"I'm just fine, Ginny. Where are Ron and Harry and everyone?"
"Outside - I'll call them, hold on." She ran to the window and yelled, "HERMIONE'S HERE!" Suddenly popping noises were heard and four males stood before her, all but one with flaming red hair.
"Hermione!" Ron and Harry yelled and ran to embrace her tightly. Bill and Charlie stood back to shake her hand afterwards.
Bill got to her first. "Great to see you, Hermione. Fred and George'll be along in a minute." Charlie gave her a brief hug and disapparated with Bill after hearing Mrs. Weasley call them to help with supper.
Harry and Ron beamed at her.
"How's life?" Hermione asked, making the three left laugh.
"Oh, not too bad; how are you, though? I'm so sorry, Hermione, that never should've happened to you." Harry said and gently squeezed her again. Ron nodded in agreement and hugged her too. Two faint popping noises were heard and then a voice -
"Sorry, are we interrupting something?"
"Yeah, we just heard Hermione was here, so we thought we'd say hello."
"But we'll leave if you want privacy, Ron."
Ron's face went bright pink and he let go of Hermione, who was crimson. Fred clapped her on the back and George grinned widely at her.
"Great to see you Hermione; sorry 'bout your mum and dad, though."
"Any ideas on who did it?"
Hermione shook her head, upset that the topic had changed around this way so early in her arrival. Clearly realizing Hermione didn't want to discuss the past events, Harry and Ron gave the twins identical dark glares. Fred noticed first and hastily changed the subject, slightly embarrassed about bringing it around.
"Well then! Better be off to the shop, eh George?"
"Yeah, Hogwarts students start arriving soon, don't want to keep them waiting, do we?" George answered catching onto the plan. With a wave of Fred's hand and two faint pops they had vanished.
Ginny turned to Hermione. "C'mon, mum'll be frantic. Best go see her now." They followed her down the steps.
- & -
Draco arrived at Blaise Zabini's house early in the morning. Draco had always enjoyed spending his summers with Blaise in his younger years. The house was abnormally cozy for a family of three who were of cold Slytherin decent. However, Blaise's parents had always been kind and loving towards him, treating him as their own son, which quite an odd trait for Slytherins; he was prepared to bet it was because of his father. The suck ups.
As he flew closer towards the street leading to his friend's home the sound of sirens and horns echoed throughout the early sunrise. Blaise lived only twelve streets from the busiest muggle highway. He rounded the final bend and flew past the old Victorian houses to the largest one at the end of the street, the Zabini residence.
Draco flew in through the open window and landed softly on the carpet at the end of his best friend's bed. Smirking, he walked over to him and whispered in his ear, "You're going to be late for your date! Wake up!" Blaise sat straight up with a look of horror on his face. For a few seconds he sat there, pale-faced, but then he saw Draco laughing in the corner.
"That wasn't funny! You know I pride myself in never being late!" he said angrily and threw a pillow at Draco's face.
"Hey!" Draco exclaimed, catching it, "Don't screw my face up. You know this is what the women go for! What would I be without it?" Blaise snorted and got out of bed to shake his hand.
"What's up?"
Draco shrugged. "The usual, hate my father, hate the Dark Lord, hate my homework, hate Hogwarts, and I ran away 'cause I overheard my dad tell my mum about planning for me to become a Death Eater tomorrow," he said, ticking the excuses off on his fingers.
Blaise's mouth was open in shock and he dropped the pillow. "Really, this soon? Don't you think that's a bit odd?" Draco nodded and dragged his trunk to a corner.
"Yeah, so I'm going to stay with you till school starts and then I'll find a place of my own after I graduate, okay?"
"Sure. What about Pansy, though?"
Draco groaned. "What about her?"
"She would've expected you to come to her, not me. She'll be frantic when she finds out," he replied, sniggering.
"Can it, Zabini, or you'll get more than pimples on your forehead!" Draco threatened.
"Okay, okay. No need to get angry."
- & -
Hermione was welcomed into the Burrow with hugs and kisses, but soon it was time to leave for Hogwarts. As she had arrived later than they had expected, they would go to Diagon Alley for their things and leave for the train from the Leaky Cauldron tomorrow morning. At twelve-thirty, after a few helpings of chicken sandwiches each, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley left in the Weasley's new car for Diagon Alley.
When they arrived in the Leaky Cauldron, they were greeted by Nymphadora Tonks, Mad-Eye Moody, and Mr. Weasley, who had just arrived there from a late night at work. Tonks ran and hugged each of them in turn and Mr. Weasley smiled brightly at each of them. Moody simply stood around not bothering to greet them until he pulled Hermione and Ginny aside while the rest went to put their trunks in their rooms.
"I need to talk to you two in private. C'mon." Hermione and Ginny looked at each other and followed Moody past the stairs, puzzled. When they reached the entrance to the restrooms, Moody told them to be very quiet and listen.
"Look, you two wanted to be part of the Order last year so listen up, this is your practice assignment." He turned to Hermione. "I don't know if you've gotten your Hogwarts' letter yet or not, but you've been made Head Girl." Hermione beamed and Ginny whispered a congratulations. "Yes, well done. Now, Dumbledore will tell you the details of this job at school, I'm guessing, but I also have to tell you to keep an extra close eye on the Head Boy. He's from Slytherin and we suspect he had something to do with your house-fire, but we have no evidence - yet. I want you to be really careful around him. Now Ginny, I need you to keep a closer eye on Harry than you did last year. We don't want him getting away from us again." Ginny nodded and frowned. "Good. That's all, so you can head off and join the others."
When Moody had left, Ginny burst out, "It's not fair! You get a cool job! I get to watch over Harry. He's got everyone looking out for him! Why can't someone else do it?"
Hermione giggled. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you still liked Harry." Ginny looked at her oddly and shook her head.
"No. I just don't like watching over people. I'm not a babysitter!"
They joined up with the others as Moody had instructed and walked through the magical barrier into Diagon Alley. As Harry and Ron's robes were now three inches too short, they got new ones at Madam Malkin's while Hermione and Ginny insisted they needed more parchment and quills. After she visited Gringotts, Mrs. Weasley bought their potion kits during which time Ginny took off to visit Fred and George and the trio headed to get their new books. Harry, Hermione, and Ron walked into Flourish & Blotts' to the sight of a very familiar, but unpleasant, face: Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini had their backs turned to them as they were checking out the books on the upper level. Hermione, Harry, and Ron walked quietly to blend in with the other customers and quickly bought their books. They exited the store five minutes later, clutching their shopping bags.
"One day I swear I'm going to…," Ron trailed menacingly as they walked down the alleyway.
"Ron." Hermione warned.
They met up with the others at half-past four and walked back into the pub for an early supper.
- & -
At a quarter to ten the following morning, they dragged their trunks out the back door of the Leaky Cauldron and stood them upright in order to disapparate properly to Kings' Cross Station. Tonks grabbed Ron's and Ginny's trunks and vanished. Mrs. Weasley grabbed Hermione's and Harry's, also disapparating and leaving the four to say good-bye to Mr. Weasley, Fred, and George.
"We'll send you loads of fun stuff," Fred whispered in each of their ears while hugging them. Soon after many goodbyes, Hermione and the others disapparated to Kings' Cross Station to await the Hogwarts Express.
- & -
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny got a compartment all to themselves and sat down across from each other. When the food trolley arrived at one o'clock, all Harry and Ron could think about was stuffing candy into their mouths. Hermione whipped out a book and Ginny started humming a popular song by the Weird Sisters. Just then, a head of dark hair and another of sandy colour came into view in the doorframe.
"Hi Seamus, hey Parvati. What's up?" Ginny asked as they sat down together. Seamus Finnigan and Parvati Patil had been dating since last year.
"Not too much. What 'bout you blokes?" Seamus replied with his deep Irish accent. Soon the six of them were into a full-blown conversation about their summers. Hermione told them about her parents, and both Parvati and Seamus sympathized and commiserated with her over and over.
"It's alright. No, seriously I'm fine," Hermione said, smiling, even though her heart was mourning. After a few more commiserations, Seamus and Parvati left for their own compartment.
No sooner had they eaten all the snacks did the train came to a stop outside Hogsmeade. They ran for the cover of the carriages as it had started to rain ten minutes ago.
- & -
Harry, Ron and Hermione finished their last bites of food at the welcome feast when Dumbledore stood up to make announcements. "I am pleased to inform you that a Halloween Ball as well as an Easter Ball will be held this year, as well as five Hogsmeade trips, due to last year's events." When he added this he looked straight at the three best friends.
What a way to start the year... wonder if he'll mention who's Head Boy? Hermione thought, looking around at the Slytherin table. As if he had read her mind, Dumbledore spoke again.
"I have nothing more to say except that would the new Head Boy and Girl please meet me up here after I have dismissed the rest? Thank you. Now off to bed with you!"
Hermione hung back while all the other Gryffindors took off out of the Hall. Harry and Ron said they would meet her back in the common room when she was finished. She started to make her way to the High Table when she saw a familiar blond head already standing in front of Dumbledore with his back to her, decked out in green and black robes. Hermione groaned inwardly and sighed - oh well, she had better get used to it. She slowly made her way to where the boy was standing and faced him.
"Hello, Malfoy...good summer?" she asked, anger in her every word.
He turned to her and she got a blast of his actual features. He was slightly taller then last year - his messy long blond hair fell, interestingly into his gray eyes. Hermione couldn't help but part her lips in slight surprise; she had never before noticed he was quite this attractive, having never been this close to him – save the time she slapped him. Then she shook her head slightly - what had gotten into her? This man had killed her parents, and she thought he was attractive!
"No need to stare, Granger, I know I'm good looking," he said smoothly. Hermione groaned and thought to herself, Hotter appearance with the same annoying attitude.
Hermione sneered at him and turned to Dumbledore who appeared in front of them after finishing his discussion with Professor Flitwick. "Congratulations to both of you on your newly appointed positions, I'm sure you will work very well together," he added with a twinkle in his eye. "Now, I need to lay down some, well, ground rules before I let you sleep tonight. One: you are to check every house each night at midnight to see all is well - here are the passwords." He slipped a piece of parchment into each of their hands and Hermione opened hers to find five passwords. Malfoy seemed to have noticed this too because he looked back at Dumbledore with a confused glance.
"Oh, yes Mr. Malfoy, thank you for reminding me. You will each have your own dormitory, but you will have to share a common room. That is what the fifth password is for. The entrance is located on the sixth floor behind that portrait of Nigel the Nettle; I think that's about it. If I remember anything else I shall inform you tomorrow. Good night."
Hermione groaned once again and her mouth nearly fell open. Share board with the man who had helped kill her parents? Dumbledore had to be joking! There was no way she was sharing a room with that creep! She turned back to Dumbledore to tell him so, but found he'd already left. Hermione sighed and walked past Malfoy out into the corridor, where he had been tying his shoe. So this is who Moody was talking about, huh? I suppose I'll have to keep both eyes on him. One for the Order... and one for myself.
"Stop staring at my ass! Pervert!" Hermione shouted as Malfoy smirked; his eyes came back up to her eye-level.
"You stared at me - I was returning the favor," he answered her and walked ahead.
Hermione growled; this was going to be a very long year.
a/n: Hope you enjoyed that! Stay tuned for chapter three!
