Disclaimer: I am sad to say, that I still don't own Harry Potter…
Author's Note: I forget if Sirius and Narcissa were cousins or brother and sister, so in my fic they're cousins. Now on with the story!
525,600 Minutes: In Truths That She Learned, or in Times That He Cried-
-Chapter Five
Hermione woke to a strong pounding on her door. She rolled over onto her back and looked at her watch, 11:30. "Come in" she said, as she sat up in the bed and through her legs over the side. "Get out!" she nearly screamed as the door opened.
"Now, now Granger. That can't be how your parents taught you how to say good morning." Malfoy said in his usual drawl as he entered Hermione's room. She quickly grabbed the sheet on her bed and covered herself, she did not want Malfoy to see her in her pajamas.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" her voice was deadly, and it almost cause Malfoy to back out of the room. But he didn't, he stood his ground, as Malfoys always do.
He sighed before replying. "Our oh so lovely," sarcasm etched his every word, "Would like to talk to us."
"You better watch yourself Malfoy. You don't want to go making comments like that in this house. You don't own this house like you think you own everything else. This isn't your territory, it's ours." Hermione smirked as finished her mini speech.
Draco was furious! How dare she! Speaking to him like that, like she was better than him. Ha, that would be the day. His fists were clenched at his side, and his body was rigid. "You really think so, Granger? I wouldn't put it past me that I could obtain the rights to this house."
"And what makes you think that, Malfoy?"
"You don't think I realize who's house this was, do you? Well, I do. It was my mother's cousin's, that fool of a man, Sirius Black." he sneered.
Hermione moved faster than either she or Malfoy had ever seen and both had hard time comprehending what happened. Hermione had grabbed her wand of the bed side table and now had it pointed at Malfoy's throat. "If you ever." her voice was venomous. "Ever, say that about Sirius again, I will personally curse you 100 years into the past. Understand? Now get out, so I can get dressed." she took her hand pushed hard into his chest, making him stumble backwards and out the door. For the second time since Hermione and Malfoy arrived at number twelve, a slamming door was the cause of another rant from Ms. Black.
Five minutes later, Hermione emerged from her room, dressed and ready for any questions Dumbledore was going to ask. She stepped in the hall and could see Malfoy coming from his room, putting his wand into his robe pocket.
"Scared Malfoy?" Hermione said, trying not to laugh.
"You wish." he replied back, trying to control his temper.
Together they walked down the kitchen in a very uncomfortable silence. By the time they reached the kitchen Malfoy was a little bit in front of Hermione. He opened the door and gave in a small push so it would close. There was a mall squeak of surprise before the door opened and Hermione entered the kitchen, her face red from anger. Malfoy smirked at her but neither said anything.
Sitting at the table before them, was a young woman, probably in her twenties. She was writing furiously, looking from a book and then writing something down. The minute she heard the door open, her head shot up, she closed the book with a snap, and grabbed her wand from her robe pocket.. She had blue eyes, and shoulder length brown hair. "Oh, hi." she said as cheery as she could, without trying to show how caught of guard she was. She stood up, and was about the same height as Hermione. She looked at the two teens who were staring at her wand, which she had at the ready. "Oh, sorry 'bout that." she lowered her wand. "You just startled me. Please, sit down." she motioned at the seats on the side of the table. Hermione and Draco sat on opposite sides.
"You must be Hermione, and Draco."
"Yes." they said in unison.
"I'm Ryn Tonks."
"Did you say Tonks?"
"Yup, I'm Nymphodora's younger sister."
"How, many times do I have to tell you not to call me that." Malfoy snorted at the usuage of Tonks first name. Tonks gave Draco a deadly glare and then looked at her sister.
"Sorry, it's just weird calling you Tonks. I mean after all it is my last name." she smiled slyly.
"Well, you'd want to be called Tonks too if your name was Nymphodora. Why did you have to be the one with the more normal name?" both girls laughed.
Ryn looked at Hermione and saw her trying to read what she had been writing. Ever so slyly, she grabbed the paper, folded it, and put it in her robe pocket. Hermione gave her a suspicious look.
"So are you a Metamorphmagus too, Ryn?"
"Yup, sure am. Take after my sister."
"You're both Metamorphmagi?" Malfoy asked looking at the two sisters.
"Sure are." Malfoy just stared at them. He had heard of Metamophmagi, but had never met one.
"What's the age difference between you two?" Hermione asked, because even though the two sisters had different features, most likely due to them constantly changing them, they looked like they could be twins.
"Just two years." Ryn said, "This is my first year in the order. Just finished Auror school."
"Blimey! You do take after me Ryn." everyone laughed except for Malfoy. "So how's your knee, Hermione?"
"It feels alright. Just a little tense, but that's about it. I'm glad Madame Promfey is here, I don't know what I would have done without that potion she gave me." Just then Dumbledore walked into the room.
"Ah, Ryn, Tonks, Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy. A good day to you." he said, the twinkle in his eye was back.
"Good day Professor." the three females said, while Malfoy nodded a hello.
"I must ask you two." he looked at Ryn and Tonks. "To leave, I have a few things to discuss with Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy here."
"Of course." Ryn picked up her book, and the two sisters left the room, happily chatting.
"Now, Draco, Hermione I'll get right to it. I would like to hear what happened last night." he looked at the two teens as he sat at the head of the table.
"Well." they said that the same time. They glared at each other.
"I-" the same thing happened again. And the glare became more intense.
Dumbledore chuckled. "Perhaps, Ms. Granger should go first, and then you can tell me what happened to you Mr. Malfoy." Hermione smiled in triumph and Malfoy scowled.
"Well I woke up at about 11:30, because I heard a scream-" Hermione began.
Later that day, after both Hermione and Draco told their story Hermione was sitting in what looked like the library of the house. She was reading a muggle book: The Noah Conspiracy. She was so caught up in her book that she didn't hear the door to the room open. She was brought back to reality when she heard a small chuckle and someone say: "I thought I just might find you here." She whipped her head around.
"HARRY!" she exclaimed, throwing her book on the coffee table and jumping up to greet her friend. He looked the same as always. The same messy black hair and bright green eyes. He was about Malfoy's height and had the same build. "What are you doing here?" she said hugging him. "I thought Professor Dumbledore wanted you to say at your aunt's house?"
"I dunno, I guess not after what happened to you and Malfoy."
"How do you know about that?"
"Lupin explained it to me on the way over here. I guess the Order thought I should come here since, you know, no one can see the house." Hermione nodded in agreement.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Potter. Come to join in on all the excitement?" Harry turned around to see Malfoy in the door way.
"Malfoy." Harry said, with an expressionless face.
Mad-Eye Moody appeared behind Malfoy. "You, boy." he said, poking Malfoy on the shoulder. "Albus wants a word with you." Malfoy nodded, gave when glare at Hermione and Harry and left, followed by Moody.
"What is he doing here? Doesn't the Order realize who he is? A MALFOY! He's probably a Death Eater."
"I know, it's odd. But last night, the Death Eaters were after him too."
"Well, what ever reason he still has no right staying here." there was a minute of silence.
"Um Harry."
"Yeah."
"He's staying in your room." Harry's eyes grew wide. For the third time in a 13 hour time span, Ms. Black woke up. Just above the noise of Ms. Black's screams, and Harry's curses and protests; Mad-Eye Moody could be heard mumbling "If anyone wakes her one more time….
It was 11:00 p.m. Hermione could be seen making her way down to the kitchen, in her pajamas heading for the kitchen. She was really thirsty. After satisfying her thirst, Hermione began to go back to her room. She could feel the tension in her knee and had to pause for a moment to give it a rest. She paused outside a door that was slightly ajar, and could see figures moving around and some slight talking. Must be the Order, having a meeting, she thought. She was about to go back to her room, when she heard her name-
"Hermione has what?" the voice of Professor Lupin asked.
"You heard me, Remus." Ryn said.
"How do you know for sure?"
"I found out at the meeting yesterday, before the attack. I knew they were planning on attacking, but I didn't know it would be later that same day."
"None of us did, Ryn."
"But you're absolutely positive."
"Yes, I confirmed it with Mr. Ollivander earlier today." came the voice of Professor McGonagall.
"We have to tell her Albus." came Snape's voice.
"I do not think that now is the time to tell her Severus."
"She's in danger, Albus." Snape said.
Hermione stood dumb founded, one: she never thought that Professor Severus Snape would be thinking about her safety and two: she was in danger?
"I am quite aware of that fact. But I do not want to tell Ms. Granger without all of the facts. We do not know for sure how Voldemort found out she has it." even though Hermione couldn't see anyone, she could tell that everyone in the room except for Dumbledore gave a small shudder at the mention of Voldemort.
"Nor do we know why exactly he needs it, or why he thinks he needs it." Dumbledore finished.
"But what happens if something like this happens again? But this time when she falls no one's there to help her?" Minerva McGonagall said. Snape shot a glance at Tonks.
"Then we will take precautions. I have explained to you all what I plan on doing. We must be extra careful. We now have two more students that Voldemort and his followers want, it isn't just Harry any more. We must be on constant alert."
"But-"
"No, we will tell her, all of them. When the time is right."
"But-"
"No sooner. We shall tell her when she is ready to know. Meeting adjourned." Hermione could hear people making their way towards the door. She quickly turned from her spot and sprinted up the stairs, more confused than ever.
Author's Note: :smiles: What will happen? What does Hermione have? Read on to find out!
Exploded toilet bowl: Thanks! I'll update soon, no worries!
ktdavey4life: I'm glad they don't seem out of character yet, but do expect some of it soon, but it won't be a huge drastic change, just a little things here and there. Thanks for the review!
Sk8eRgIrL1990: I just had to make Ms. Black wake up, it was calling..lol. Thanks for the review.
stephanie: It really is that long until Rent, and I can't wait…136 today! Yeah! One day closer. I like the idea of counting in months…smaller numbers, good idea! No day but 11/11/05! I'll have a much fun as I can, knowing my friends it'll be very interesting, lol…Thanks for the review!
angelfire 2004: Thanks for the review!
Lover-Of-Lemons: Thanks for the review!
marauderbabe289: I absolutely adore Wicked! I'm with you, I want to see the show so, very, bad! So I've been downloading the original cast performances on news shows and stuff so I can at least get a little taste of it….It's "flying" into my town August of 2006...I can't wait! Thanks for the review and for adding it to your favorites!
Monkeystarz: What's Number Twelve without a screaming Ms. Black? Lol, just had to make her yelling…couldn't help it. Thanks for the review!
I'm so glad you all like the story! I won't be posting tomorrow (Wednesday) as I will be gone. I'll probably update Thursday. And then not again until Monday. So, see you all Thursday!
The Lonely Goatherd