Disclaimer: see chapter I
Grey
Chapter VI
Hermione reread the letter, disbelief on her face. "Great," she mumbled. She sighed deeply. Why now? Couldn't they have decided this somewhat sooner?
She tucked the letter away and made her way up to the Gryffindor tower, heading for Professor McGonagall's office. She knocked softly and a curt "Come in" answered her. Hermione let herself into the office, closing the door behind her. She was greeted with a fond smile of her Head of House.
"Miss Granger, what brings you here?"
"I've just gotten a letter from my mother. Unfortunately, I won't be able to go home this Christmas. My parents decided rather suddenly they are going to visit some family in the States... I'm afraid I can't go with them. I know it's late, Professor; the List has been closed two weeks ago. I really thought I would be going home this Christmas, but-"
"Calm down, Miss Granger. It's no problem. Things like this happen sometimes. Of course you can stay at Hogwarts, but why don't you go with Mr Potter and Mr Weasley to Grimmauld Place?"
"Uhm... Well, I don't know yet. Maybe I'll do that. It would be fun," Hermione sounded a bit hesitant. She had looked forwards to a quiet Christmas at home but as the whole Weasley family would be at Grimmauld Place, it would be entertaining but... crowded.
"Let me know what you decide. Now hurry along. Classes start in about five minutes. You don't want to be late."
"No, Professor. Thank you! She almost run out of the McGonagall's office, missing the chuckled "You're welcome" in her haste.
Hermione decided, while running down the hallways, she would talk about it with Harry and Ron, asking the latter if his mother would mind having her stay with them during the holidays. She knew Mrs Weasley however, and knew she would welcome her with open arms.
She just made it to History of Magic as the bell sounded and plopped down at her desk, waving to a bored Ron and sleepy-looking Harry. Both waved back before yawning simultaneously which she found quite amusing.
Hermione yawned herself as she noted down the history of the Fourth Rebellion of the House Elves- err, House Gnomes. There was a very distinct difference... She yawned again.
"So, Lavender asked you to come over at New Years Eve... What shall we do? Would your mother let us go to her?" Harry whispered to Ron, who pretended to be fully absorbed with transfiguring his copper cup into a cute kitten.
"I think Mom will actually encourage us to go; she will be very happy I'm spending time with her. She likes us to have girlfriends and all. She constantly buggers Fred and George to become 'serious' as she calls it, and to not spent the majority of their time 'creating foolish pranks'."
"I thought Fred was seeing Angelina?"
"Oh, he is, but both aren't taking it very serious. Fred says they're just having some fun."
"Right. Well, shall we go? Parvati will be there too and so will Seamus and Neville. Too bad Dean can't make it; he'll be skiing in Austria or something."
"Too bad for him. But Harry, if you would like to go, why not?" Ron innocently twirled his wand over his cup.
"Ha! You don't fool me, Ron! I know what you're up to; New Years Eve presents a perfect opportunity to get in some snogging!" Harry teased his friend, who started to blush ferociously.
"Idiot!" He grumbled to a grinning Harry.
They both suddenly looked up at hearing a surprised "Eep!!" followed by a dangerously low growl coming from behind them. They looked back, startled at a flushed Hermione with a bristling jaguar atop of her desk, instead of a fluffy, little kitten.
"Goodness!" Professor McGonagall said approvingly to the flushed student. "Though it wasn't the assignment, well done, Miss Granger."
"Thank you, Professor... I kind of lost my concentration about that kitten and this happened..." She refused to look up at her gaping classmates and quickly turned the growling feline back into a harmless, copper cup, earning sighs of relief from the class.
"Next time your lack of concentration could attack us, Hermione," Ron said testily, still irritated at the scare she had given them.
"Nonsense, Mr Weasley. Miss Granger had everything under control. Class, go back to your own assignments, please." McGonagall said briskly as she moved to the front of the class, while checking the other students' progress.
"Sorry, Hermione," Ron said half-heartedly.
Hermione mumbled an apology back as she bowed her head over her scroll, writing down her notes.
"Whatever," Ron sounded still very annoyed and Harry rolled his eyes.
"You have to admit it was pretty impressive."
"A show-off, that's what she is," Ron replied nastily.
Harry shook his head. "Quit whining."
Ron grumbled under his breath and flicked his wand, pissed off, and managed to twist the cup into a pretzel. "Bugger!"
Neither noticed the stricken, pale face of the girl sitting quietly behind them.
Today just sucked. She stomped up the stairs to her dormitory, angrily wiping away a stray tear. Tears of anger, she told herself.
How could he say such a thing?
How could Ron even think such a thing of her... Was it true? She was never quiet about her knowledge, and was maybe quite bossy about it, but, this time... It was an accident!
This settled the matter; she would just stay here at Hogwarts during the Christmas holiday. She didn't need to see for herself how Ron and Lavender threw themselves at each other. She didn't need the constant teasing and pranking from Fred and George. She knew all too well how most of Ron's brothers thought about her; just the same as they sometimes regarded their own brother Percy; a know-it-all, bossy, a goody two-shoes.
Well, not this Christmas! If her parents suddenly wanted to go somewhere else, fine!
If Ron wanted to date Lavender, fine!
She would have a couple of weeks in which nobody teased her about staying at the library for hours or made fun of her study habits. In which nobody complained about her being stuck with her nose in a book all the time, or nagged her about why she was reviewing her essay for a third time.
Or... Or she could read to Malfoy for entire days! Doing just that for days on end until the ferret would wake up screaming and begging at her to please, please, leave him alone!! Yes, what a wonderful idea! Maybe if that boy woke up his father would ask his son along for his grand scheme of revenge and he would leave her alone!
She viciously pulled at her hair, freeing it out of her tail as she thought about the haughty, condescending aristocrat. She frowned at the thought of meeting him tonight to finalise his daring plan.
It would probably get her killed or at least severely injured or horribly disfigured... As she pulled a brush through her untameable, bushy hair with vigorous strokes she wondered why fate had put her in this position. She had become a useful tool to that dangerous man. And somehow he found her amusing and the fear she still had for him, despite her efforts to hide it from him, something that gave him some twisted kind of pleasure.
The man really was sick and twisted! And, she decided, she would be very careful around him. She would never trust him. She would be wise to look out for a trap or a betrayal. Who knew what he was really up to?
Though Dumbledore seemed to be ready to take the risk, she had seen with her own eyes what he was capable of; she had seen the cold hate and menacing disdain he held for her. Maybe the last couple of weeks seemed to have somehow, in some way, brought a chance in his opinion of her, but if she was happy with it... No certainly not! Now she had become a tool, in whatever he wanted to obtain. And she loathed him for the greedy, hungry and calculated look he regarded her with. She hated him with a fierceness for everything he had done... and wanted to do... She was no fool; how could he have given up his ideals, his goals? And he neither cared about nor regretted the hurt, pain and death he dealt to the people who stood in his way.
She just hoped feverishly he would leave her alone after all this was finished.
"Hey, Hermione, where are you going?" Ginny called after the girl, as Hermione made her way through the common room to the portrait hole.
"To the library," Hermione answered, turning to her left to face the redheaded girl.
Ginny shook her head, giving the girl an exaggerated look. "Look, Hermione, you're being to hard on yourself! You need some relaxing too."
"But I have to finish up some essays and I would like to get some extra Potion studying done. I think Snape will give us a 'surprise test' tomorrow. He had that unholy look on his face again; he was almost chuckling with glee!"
"Right," Ginny shrugged. "All right then, go studying. Snape's surprise tests are certainly a hazard." She made a gesture at Neville. "Should I give him a warning?"
"I don't think that would be wise..." Hermione smiled at the reading boy. "I think he would only get upset and that won't help. Maybe we could give a subtle hint."
"I'll figure something out. See you later, all right?"
"Ok. See you later!" Hermione's face dropped as she went through the portrait hole and started walking towards the infirmary. She had already crammed the Potions' syllabus of next year in her head. She always wanted to know the basics, then you could experiment further, basing your research on the groundwork. She felt bad lying to Ginny; she was a real friend and didn't deserve it.
She slowly made her way to the infirmary. She was in no haste to get there, as she was dreading the upcoming meeting. She blamed her impulsive behaviour; maybe she should have thought it over...
However, it was too late for that. And she knew she wouldn't have given a different answer. She just felt very apprehensive about working with that vindictive man.
Malfoy was already there, sitting besides his son bed, looking as cold and composed as ever, while reading softly to his son out of a book which title she didn't recognise.
She was disgusted with his superior attitude. He was acted so high and mighty, but he was obviously following her idea. And that, together with the soft tone to his voice that she had never before heard from him, gave her a very uncomfortable feeling. It was so much easier to see him as evil, pure and simple. But she couldn't deny he did care for his son. She felt like an intruder as she noticed the warm glance with which he took in his son's features. Something else she had never thought to see on his face.
Then he noticed her presence, lingering into the doorframe. Immediately, his eyes turned cold, but greedy and he followed her with that same dark intensity while she awkwardly moved through the room to another chair. He probably knew how vulnerable and hunted he made her feel with his unrelenting eyes on her, following every movement. She threw a quick glance his way and saw a cruel sneer directed at her. Ruthlessly he stared her down, making her lower her head, insecure and a bit frightened too.
She sat down and managed to return his stare, for a moment, with a bravado she didn't really feel. The sneer twisted into an amused smirk but his eyes started to smoulder with an unmasked challenge; apparently, for some dark reason, he liked the battle of wills between them, and actually encouraged her in a very strange, disdainful way to keep it up.
However, she knew that if she went too far, like say actually winning, he would enjoy putting her back into her 'rightful place'.
"Good evening, Miss Granger." Always a gentleman, but she wasn't fooled by his seemingly indulgent manners. The unyielding set of his jaws told her he was here for business and he would get done what he came for.
"Good evening, Mr Malfoy." She forced a polite smile to accompany her greeting. Bastard. What was so amusing about this whole situation? The haughty grin just wouldn't disappear off his face.
Headmaster Dumbledore was the last to enter the small room. He didn't appear to notice the tension between his student and the wizard while he cast the silencing spell over the room. However, his eyes twinkled at Hermione who smiled faintly back.
"Mr Malfoy, Miss Granger. Excuses for my tardiness. I won't bother you with the details about why I was delayed. So, Malfoy," Dumbledore sat down on a chair and offered the other wizard a lemon drop, which Lucius politely declined, "have you given the matter some more thought?"
"Of Course, Dumbledore," Lucius leaned back while he regarded the Headmaster with a cool look. "It will be easy to lure Bellatrix out, but there are only limited possibilities, like I have already mentioned.
"Ah! Well, I thought of a location that would do quite well. Miss Granger is going to visit the Ministry Of Magic!"
Hermione looked at the smiling wizard. "Excuse me?!"
Malfoy had arched his eyebrows in a silent question.
"Yes, the Ministry of Magic. It would serve just fine."
"Headmaster, sir, uhm... The Ministry is heavily guarded since the attack last year and, and... There are always so many people working and visiting there!"
"Not on the date I have in mind. December the 22nd or 23rd ... I believe you're staying here at Hogwarts during the Christmas break?"
"Well, uhm, yes. I'm staying here." Hermione softly answered him.
"That's very convenient. At the dates I have in mind there will be little personnel working. Most will already be off. And about the increased security matters... First, around Christmas the guard will be down somewhat; due to the holiday season they have less Aurors on watch so it's impossible to maintain their high security standard-" Was it Hermione's imagination? No, she did indeed hear the slight sarcasm in Dumbledore's voice, making Malfoy's lips twist up. "-Second, we can use this assumed high security to pretend we are somewhat lulled asleep about the matter of Miss Granger's safety; we'll only send one staff member to accompany her, giving Voldemort another incentive to try and attack Miss Granger. And after all, they think that we think they would never dare to attack the ministry again! Quite ingenious, if I say so myself." The Headmaster seemed indeed quite pleased with himself and Hermione had to suppress a grin at seeing the almost boyish look on Dumbeldore's face.
"Who will be accompanying me?" She wondered.
"That's a good question. I'm not entirely sure of which person would be best to include in our little scheme. Maybe I'll just accompany you myself. Though if that'll be the case, we won't give that fact away, of course; I don't want to scare them off... Or try to involve Voldemort at this point."
"Agreed," Lucius spoke up, "It sounds reasonable. Maybe, Dumbledore, you could draw some attention and security away too, for example by harassing Fudge. Your visits always succeeds in riling him up, and he tries to nullify that effect somehow by having extra Aurors around him." Lucius suggested.
Dumbledore eyes twinkled at seeing the amusement apparent on the other wizard's face. "True. It could prove helpful. About security, I heard the entrance at the Abandoned Owlery isn't really guarded, probably because almost no one remembers it anymore. Are you familiar with it?" Dumbledore asked Lucius.
"Yes," Lucius answered with a lazy grin. "Quite. And you propose I recommend the entrance to Voldemort, correct? A prove of my loyalty and my continued usefulness. I assume you somehow drop information about Miss Granger's escapade around Severus Snape?" Lucius said knowingly and the Headmaster raised his brows.
"Why, of course! I wouldn't want him to unnecessarily become concerned if he discovers Miss Granger's absence at that particular date."
"Still, we only have a short period of time to arrange it; Christmas is in three and a half weeks. However, the short notice will only make this whole ploy more believable and the assault they will plan will not be that well co-ordinated. All in our advantage." Lucius somewhat bored expression turned into a wicked grin which made Hermione wary. It promised something dark and sinister and didn't do much to help her adjust to this 'plan' of theirs. She wondered for a moment if Dumbledore had lost his common senses to even consider trusting this man.
"It's a question though of what kind of business Miss Granger has to do with the Ministry. It must be a very logic, preferably a very common reason. It must sound ordinary, something so mundane that Voldemort wouldn't think twice about it." Lucius explained.
"Yes, I thought up a few matters but they seem a bit foolish." Hermione noticed the twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes at whatever he had been thinking up and decided that maybe she indeed didn't want to know. She said hesitantly:
"Maybe I can suggest something?"
"Of course, Miss Granger, go ahead."
"I've been thinking for a while to ask permission to get my parents' house connected to the Floo Network. I've already let them establish Fire Talking but since we moved to a small town quite a distance away from London it would save me travelling time if I could travel by Floo. Plus, it could serve as an escape route in case of... trouble. But... It will only work if the Floo Network Authority office is still open at the 22nd or 23rd."
"I believe it will. Well, Miss Granger! This is much better than what I had in mind. Though I insist you will ask for increased surveillance at your Floo access, as you and your family could prove a target. But indeed, I think the benefits outweigh the risks in your case."
Malfoy regarded her with that same infuriating arrogance. "Very good, Miss Granger. Indeed, you have a sound mind." Hermione wondered if he could sound even more condescending.
"Thank you sir," she muttered out of politeness. She shifted on her chair, feeling even more uncomfortable as he pierced her with that hungry stare. She feared whatever was going on in his mind. She had proven her usefulness... Apparently, it pleased him, but what exactly did he want with her?
"We're keeping this operation as small as possible and with that I mean we'll include as few people if I can help it. I think we can manage this first move with just the three of us. I assume, Malfoy, you want to be the one to deal with Bellatrix Lestrange herself?" Dumbledore's question was almost rhetorical.
"Of course. I wouldn't be satisfied with less than capturing her myself. I want to see the look on her face." Dumbledore nodded but Hermione looked away from them, not wanting to see the anticipating, predatory glint on Malfoy's face.
"We need her alive though... and sane enough to answer our questions." Dumbledore reminded him.
"Don't worry. She will."
"Where do you plan to keep her?" She inquired, in her mind going through the options. "Are you planning on sending her to Azkaban after you've interrogated her?"
"No. We're going to keep her locked up, but somewhere else. We won't bring out any information about the fact we've arrested her or about whatever she tells us. We intend to make Voldemort wonder what has happened to his Death Eater." Dumbledore explained calmly.
"Will he send her after me on her own, or...?"
"No, he won't. He'll probably send an escort of three, four Death Eaters. I will take care of them first, then deal with Lestrange. Dumbledore, if you could manage to make the area around the Floo Network Authority office as empty as possible; nobody will know what happened, and therefore Voldemort won't get to know from an outsider what has happened to his favourite. Neither will the Death Eaters he has send along with her be able to tell him anything. Before you ask, Miss Granger, we won't arrest them. We want them to go back to their master, confused and clueless. Of course, he will suspect you, Dumbledore, though he won't have a clue to what or how you've done it."
"You will let them go free?!" Hermione sounded incredulous.
"Yes, sadly," Lucius faked a sigh while he snickered at her irritated expression, "they will manage to escape after attacking you and the clerk in charge of the office; luckily they won't succeed in whatever they were trying to accomplish." Lucius said dryly, making the girl glare at him. "You and the clerk will tell the media all about the attack, including the fact that every single one of them got away. It will only make the mystery more befuddling to Voldemort."
"Indeed. Now, I remember; an old friend of mine works at the Floo office. He's a real workaholic and therefore I think he will be working at the office even around Christmas. He can safely be included in our little scheme. He's absolutely trustworthy and I think he will actually be pleased to help us." Dumbledore added, a twinkle in his eyes as he obviously was lost in some memory. However, he seemed almost eager to get this plan that was taking shape into action. Hermione though felt steadily more apprehensive; it was sounding like it could work out fine, but... Many things could go wrong too! But as she looked at both wizards, she knew they were going through with it!
"Mr Malfoy, just a question: are you going to be one of the escorting Death Eaters, pretending to go along? Or are you just going to pop up in the Ministry?"
"It will be the latter. Voldemort won't send me on any raid soon; I have to keep a 'low profile' as he calls it. I will be waiting for his party in the Ministry. All you have to do is follow my instructions."
Hermione frowned. "And how will I be getting those?"
The look with which he regarded her unsettled her. The sheer menacing eagerness made her even more aware that she might have made a mistake; she had given Dumbledore and Lucius Malfoy her word. She could trust Dumbledore but Malfoy? He would only take advantage of the position she was now in by using her for his own benefit. She had the feeling she had just lost control over her own life...
Malfoy leaned forward slightly and gave her a smile that showed he somehow thought along the same lines.
"Trust me. I'll make sure you'll get them."
She listened to the remainder of the meeting in a somewhat subdued mood. She just couldn't get the triumphant expression on Malfoy's face out of her mind. He was just playing with her, pushing her in the directions he wanted... A lingering, unnamed fear had settled in her stomach and no matter how she looked at the matter, it wouldn't go way.
Review Responses!!
BlueJay: There will be more interaction with other characters soon. I agree with you that people are starting to wonder where Hermione has gone to... But that will be dealt with later, I promise! And I hope this is a nice fix for your 'addiction' !!
Kellalor: Don't worry about Narcissa... Or do. I promise you, she does have a role in this fanfic, though maybe a bit unusual one...
SlytherinDragoon: We agree on Lucius then; he's much too smart to blindly do whatever Voldemort says... Are you going to publish your Lucius fic soon? I would love to read it. And thanks for the links to your fics! I'll be reading them as soon as I can!
Saiyachick: Don't give up on it! I am writing the sequel! But it's kind of hard. I've started over five times now... I can't get it right. But it will be written, I promise!!
Readersam: Don't we all love the bad boys (man in this case)?! I do!! And it is fun to develop such characters!
Merryday: Here you are! New chapter!
Artemis MoonClaw: Thank you!! I hope you'll continue to like my fic!
BitterSweetPharazon: Glad you like my story!!
Asha Ice: Who doesn't love Legolas? Though I have to admit I have a soft spot for Haldir... And I try to keep Lucius as evil as is possible!
Crystal Koneko: Let's wait and see what Hermione does; the next couple of chapters will tell you some more!
Anni: I feel the same way, really! Though Hermione is in a dangerous position; working together with Lucius will be quite the trial for her. But I promise you, she'll make it through!
Donroth: Here's the next chapter and I hope it's soon enough! I'm glad you picked up on Lucius calling Voldemort... well, Voldemort. I think if Lucius would still call him the Dark Lord or just Lord or He-who-blah-blah-blah it would show that 1) Lucius still fears him 2) Still hasn't really decided where his loyalty lies. In my story, Lucius had developed a real distaste for his former leader and one doesn't show that by acting silly by calling him stupid names!
Belladonnaessence: You're starting to figure some things out! I hope I'll manage to still surprise and entertain you with the story!
Arsinoe de Blassenville: Writing Lucius this way is much more a challenge and much more fun than either keep him simply evil or turn him into some mushy, reformed man! This chapter had some more Hermione/Lucius interaction. Did you like it?
Jay: Thanks! I always try to update as soon as possible, but I also have this little problem called school... But who cares about that?!
Tamlane: Wow. First, thanks! I feel very honoured by being the only fic (and author) to be reviewed by you! And I have rarely received such a long review! Wow!! I have to admit that I am not so good at sentence construction (because in Holland it goes slightly different as well and I mix them up sometimes...) and for semantics goes the same as well, I'm afraid. I actually should have this thing beta-read, but my beta is more an anime/manga girl and not that interested in Harry Potter. I promise I will search for someone who will prove-read it for me. I don't want to use me being Dutch as an excuse but I do sometimes regret I haven't been raised in the US, Canada, GB or another English speaking country. I think I will never get it really right.
But you really made me happy with your review. I was actually blushing! I was! Wow! And about the smut... Later, I promise. Though in perhaps a couple of chapters we'll see things intensify a bit! I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy my fic. If not, don't hesitate to say so. You don't flame, no, you give me constructive criticism, which I really appreciate. Thanks again!
So, would someone like to beta-read this story? Let me know, please?