The Contract

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter in anyway, shape, or form (though I wish I did because J. K. Rowling has to be one of the richest people in the world by now).

Special Thanks to: Everyone! I really enjoyed reading your review(s)

Chapter 19

Fred and George headed towards the Great Hall the next morning. They walked in silence, the both of them still too angry to talk. Wood had just done the dumbest thing imaginable where a girl where concerned. He had jumped to conclusions.

"How are we going fix this?" George asked his twin, breaking the silence as they entered the Great Hall. Fred shrugged.

"I don't know if we can help him with this one," Fred answered honestly. "He's done a number, if you know what I mean." George nodded.

"The prat."


"Hermione," Ginny sighed outside of Hermione's bed. Hermione had drawn the curtains and charmed them so that they couldn't be opened without her consent. Basically, no one could get in and she wouldn't come out. "Hermione, come out." When Ginny got no answer she sighed again as Lavender entered the bedroom shared by all fifth year girls.

"She's still not answering?" Lavender asked disappointedly. Ginny shook her head. Lavender hung her head in frustration and moved over to Hermione's bed to try her luck. "Honey," she called soothingly. "Why don't you come out and tell us what's wrong?" No answer. Lavender bit her lip before making a guess. "Is it Oliver?"

"I never want to hear his name again!" came Hermione's muffled voice. "Just-just leave me be for a while. I can't face anyone right now." Lavender nodded and moved to leave when Ginny's angry voice stopped her.

"Hermione Granger, you are not going to let this boy beat down your self-esteem! You are not going to wallow here in self-pity! You know why? Because this is not like you! The Hermione Granger I know wouldn't give up like this! She'd go on about her business the way she always has. You don't need him. You don't need any guy." Ginny said the last part softly, as though desperate to convince Hermione that it was true.

For a long while Lavender stood there as Ginny's chest heaved angrily and they waited; waited for any sign that Hermione would stay in bed or come out and face the world; waited for any sign that she'd heard them at all.

Finally, they heard mumbling and Hermione drew back her curtains. She sat before Ginny and Lavender with her eyes red and puffy and her nose and cheeks red and shiny.

"Now that's the Granger we love," Ginny said softly pulling Hermione into a hug as the older girl began crying again. Lavender just stood there, unsure of what to do, but all the while forming a plan in her head.


Malfoy ate his breakfast quickly. He was eager to get upstairs to the Owlery. He had a letter to send. The night before, he'd gotten a letter from his father. It seemed that he was expected to find a suitable pureblood girlfriend by the end of the year. His father wanted reassurance that he would stay within the pureblood line.

Draco inwardly grimaced. It was starting to sicken him, all this pureblood business. If they continued on this way, they'd be inbreeding soon and that was just sick. Of course, his father had sent a list, along with the letter, of purebloods that he approved of. Damn it to hell, Pansy was one of them.

Draco didn't really mind Pansy that much. She was rather entertaining at times and, aside from her prejudices, she was pretty bright. The only downside to Pansy was that she believed entirely in Voldemort. Nothing could dissuade her from her belief that his word was law. Then again, nothing could dissuade his father either.

Aside from that fatal flaw, Pansy was also clingy. She mistakenly believed that if you were ditzy around boys, they'd find you attractive. This also put her into a position to sleep with almost any pureblood she found attractive. This was yet another turn off for Draco.

He mentally smiled as he finally finished his breakfast and told Crabbe and Goyle he'd meet them for lunch because he wanted to be alone. He stood and headed towards the Owlery. He had a letter for Hermione. He decided to use one of the school owls instead of his, hoping it to be safer. He didn't know how he'd survive the summer; his father was bound to realize that he was sending letters to someone frequently and ask who it was, as Draco rarely sent letters to anyone.

Draco reached the Owlery and pulled his letter from his pocket. He looked over its contents once more before tying it to one of the school owls and sending it flying. He sighed heavily, this was the only way he could talk to her and it hurt to know that. It hurt to know that his affection put her in danger.

He pulled his father's letter out of his robes. Maybe he would get a pureblood girlfriend. It would help in more ways than one. Maybe she'd take Hermione off of his mind and maybe he'd just be able to go back to the way things were and never think of her again. He laughed bitterly.

He'd never forget Hermione and he knew that. No matter what would happen between them, he'd always remember her. She'd been the only one he was able to talk to like a friend. Like a real friend.

The sound of someone clearing their throat made Draco jump and drop back down to reality. He turned towards the sound and saw Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley in the doorway of the Owlery. Trying to keep up appearances, he snarled, "Well, well, well, if it isn't Potty and Weasel." He could see their jaws tightening in the dimness of the Owlery as they struggled not to hex him.

"Malfoy," Harry said quietly. "Drop it."

"Drop what Scarhead?"

"Malfoy cut it out already. We heard you yesterday with Hermione. We were there," Ron said fiercely. Malfoy paled.

"Shut up," he hissed looking around wildly. "Do you want someone to hear you?" Ron didn't shut up, but he did lower his voice.

"We know everything Malfoy. We just wanted to come and let you know that. We wanted you to know that we're willing to help in anyway we can." Malfoy rolled his eyes.

"You can't help me," he told them dully. "No one can."

"Yeah, we can." Harry told him. "This thing with Voldemort. I heard everything you said about him and it helps to know what you think. I will stop Voldemort, Malfoy. For all of us." Malfoy just stared at Harry. He saw the resolve in Harry's eyes and he suddenly felt for the boy his age who had the task of destroying Voldemort. Voldemort had destroyed so much.

Without Voldemort Harry would've had parents and Draco's may not have been so eccentric. He may have had a chance with Hermione. He sighed heavily.

"Next week," he said suddenly. "Voldemort plans to have a meeting with all his Death Eaters at the Riddle house. I don't know where it is, but tell Dumbledore and he'll take care of the rest." Both Harry and Ron looked taken aback, but they then smiled.

"Thanks Malfoy, you slimy git," Ron said with a smile.

"You're welcome you poor excuse for a pureblood." The boys smiled at each other before Harry and Ron left Draco to himself and his thoughts. He had just risked exposure in Voldemort's world by telling them that information, but if Harry was going to stop Voldemort, he'd need as many Death Eaters out of the way as possible.