Okay, this is the second to last chapter in this story… and you will be very happy to know I've finished the final chapter too. Enjoy!

Chapter 35

Letter of Change

I went back to classes the day before term ended, shocking the hell out of my teachers. Snape questioned me after Double Advanced Potions.

"Mr. Malfoy. It's good to have you back in class. Those useless imbeciles were beginning to get incredibly irritating." He was writing instructions on the board, his back to me. "Any word on the status of you project?" He glanced at me over his shoulder.

"No, Sir." He hmmphed and turned back to the blackboard. "But, I have received a letter from my father." Snapes hand stopped moving. "He wishes for me to return to the manor for the hols." I finished and met Snapes gaze as he turned.

"Do you wish to go?" His dark eyes were focused on me, trying to read my face.

"Not until I have had word of Her- my project." Snape narrowed his eyes further.

"You have been away too long, young Malfoy. There are many things you seem to have forgotten." He pocketed his wand and motioned for me to follow him. "We have much to discuss."

"But what of my next class, Sir, and of yours?" I was not sure I wanted to hear what he was going to say. Snape snorted delicately.

"Useless brats." He waved a hand. "Very well. If you will join me in my rooms after dinner." He gave me a pointed look and I nodded. "Good. Now off with you. I have more worthless dunderheads to force knowledge in to." I inclined my head respectfully and headed off down the hall.

"Malfoy! Malfoy, wait up!" A voice behind me on my way to dinner caused me to slow and turn. The youngest Weasley hurried up to me, breathing heavily.

"We need-to-go" she attempted to gasp something out.

"Stop." The word was a command and she shut up, a bit shocked. "Breathe, then speak." She nodded, then spent a moment catching her breath.

"I've been looking everywhere for you. Dumbledore, he's received a letter." She broke off, suddenly reluctant.

"A letter from whom?" My heart had dropped to my feet and it was hard to speak around the lump in my throat.

"It's from Hermione. He's-" I didn't wait to hear the rest of her sentence, but bolted for the headmasters office.

I called the password from down the hall and ran up the stairs at top speed, busting through the door at the top. An unfamiliar man was sitting in one of the chairs across from the headmaster.

"Professor?" My voice was a breathless whisper, full of hope.

"Ah, Mister Malfoy. I'm glad you could join us. Now we're just waiting for Mister and Miss-" Dumbledore's words were interrupted again to admit Ginny and Ron.

"Oh, good. We're all assembled. Students, this is Mr. Benjamin Hurberlen. He and his wife have been caring for Hermione." Dumbledore smiled at the man.

"Where is she? Is she alright? She's not hurt, is she?" I was intensely worried. Something didn't feel right.

"Miss Hermione is doing very well." The man was speaking quietly and he wouldn't look at me.

"Where-?" I looked around the office, hoping, praying I had somehow missed her.

"Draco, she's not here." Dumbledore's voice was quiet and full of regret.

"Can I go see her?" It was an almost inaudible whisper.

"Unfortunately, no. She has….left our care and asked that we…. Well, that we not reveal her new location." The mans words shook me to my core. "She asked me to deliver this to you." He held out a thin white envelope, my name across the front. I reached for it, gut twisting.

"Mister Malfoy-" Dumbledore began to speak, but I turned and walked out of his office.

I wandered the halls until I found myself back at the door of the room we had shared. I slipped into the darkened room and sank onto the chair nearest the empty fireplace. The seemingly innocuous white envelop looked intensely menacing against my black slacks. Opening it would change everything, and the childish par of myself didn't want anything to change.

Slipping the letter out of the envelope, I began to read.

And that's where Draco's bit ends…. You wont get the letter or hear from him until the sequel, which I need to talk to Linwe about….. Okay, now I'll go type the final chapter. Thanks for all the reviews!

K