Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Harry Potter…
525,600 Minutes: In Truths That She Learned, or in Times That He Cried-
-Chapter Eighteen
Hermione and Draco ran from the forest as fast as they could, Draco leading the way with his hand clutched tightly around Hermione's. Their attempt to get to safety was failing by the second. They could feel the dementors coming nearer and nearer even as they ran.
"..I'm afraid I'm the barer of bad news.." The memory she wished to forget began to form in Hermione's mind. "..attack on your home…" the words became stronger, "…but sir, my parents…" the bad memory began to consume her. "attack……my parents…..bad news….attack…..attack…" the words circled in her mind like a nonstop merry-go-round.
They had reached the oak doors of the castle, but just like Hermione, Malfoy was also suffering from the dementors. They stood weak, on the steps of the castle, the dementors coming closer.
Something happy. Hermione knew what she had to do. Happy memory, just one. She racked her brain as three dementors were merely ten feet away. Happy memory…got it!
"Expecto Patronum.." Hermione tried the incantation, but only a silver mist left her wand. "Expecto Patronum!" More silver mist came from the end of her wand, the dementors were closing in on the two. Malfoy was lying on the ground, trying to fight off his worst memory. Hermione focused all of her remaining energy on her happy memory. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" A silvery otter left Hermione's wand, heading straight for the dementors. The three dementors fled from the spell. Hermione let out a breath. She had chased off the three dementors closest to her and Malfoy, but as she looked towards the forest she could see more coming.
"Come on, Malfoy." Hermione weakly moved towards the oak doors, Malfoy hardly moved. She bent down and helped him stand. "Malfoy, we need to get inside and warn somebody." Using each other as support they opened the doors and walked in, slamming the doors once they were safely inside.
"Professor!" Hermione called to Professor McGonagall who was leaving the Great Hall.
"Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy." she looked at the two students who looked exhausted. "What happened to you two?"
"Dementors. In the forest. They're coming towards the school." Hermione breathed out, sitting against the wall as Malfoy leaned against the Slytherin hourglass for support.
"Dementors? Are you sure?"
"I'm afraid they are Professor McGonagall." the wise voice of Albus Dumbledore joined the conversation. "Ryn, here, just informed me that they were coming." he pointed to Ryn, who was standing beside him. "Professor, I need you to make the announcement, everyone student is to report to the Great Hall immediately. All teachers are to meet in the entrance hall." Professor McGonagall nodded before turning to go make the announcement. "I shall not ask what you two were doing in the forest." Dumbledore turned to Hermione and Malfoy, despite the situation his eyes were still twinkling. "But I suggest you eat this." with the wave of his wand chocolate appeared in the air in front of Hermione and Malfoy.
Hermione grabbed the chocolate and took a huge bite. The effects were instant. Warmth began to fill Hermione and happiness seemed to come back into the world. The warmth made her oblivious to the world around as she kept eating the chocolate. She didn't even realize that Professor McGonagall had already made her announcement.
"Ryn, if you will alert those at Hogsmeade Station. And then join them." Ryn nodded, and left. Hermione glared at her retreating figure as it disappeared through the oak doors. Then she remembered.
She stood as she finished her last bit of chocolate. "Professor, Ryn-" Dumbledore held up his hand to stop Hermione. "I'm afraid now is not the time Ms. Granger. If you and Mr. Malfoy will follow me." Without waiting for a response the Headmaster went into the Great Hall.
Hermione and Draco followed Dumbledore into the hall, following him straight to the head table. "here." he waved his wand once again and more chocolate appeared for Hermione and Malfoy to eat. They did so without hesitation.
Students began to file into the Great Hall, looks of worry covering their faces. A loud talk filled the air as more and more people came in and sat at their respected house tables. Hermione saw Harry and Ron enter the room, their eyes searching for someone. Finally their gazes rested on her, both asking the question 'What happened' she just gave them a small smile. After it looked like every student was in the hall Dumbledore raised his hands for silence, his wish was obeyed immediately.
"I am afraid that our school has come across the path of dementors." a unified gasp filled the air, and talking broke out once more. Again, Dumbledore raised his hands. "I assure you that you have no need to worry, and that everything is being taken care of. In the time being, I ask that you stay in the Great Hall. The Head Boy and Girl" he motioned towards Hermione and Malfoy. "Are in charge. Teachers will be checking in on everybody periodically. You will be informed when it is safe to go back to you common rooms. Until that time stay here and behave. Thank you." he let worried and excited chatter fill the room while he turned towards Hermione and Malfoy.
"As I said, you two are in charge. Feel free to give punishments when needed, teachers will be checking in on everybody periodically. No one is to leave. I would like you two to patrol the hall every now and then. To make sure everything stays calm. Understand?" Hermione and Malfoy both nodded. "Good. I must leave now. Oh and before I do." he waved his wand and two more pieces of chocolate appeared. With that he left.
Hermione and Malfoy ate the last pieces of chocolate in silence. Neither looked anywhere, they both just stared into space. As Hermione finished her chocolate she could see Harry and Ron pushing their way through the crowded hall to get to where Hermione sat. With one final gulp Hermione turned to Malfoy, "I think I'll go talk to Harry and Ron." he nodded without taking his gaze from the spot somewhere in front of him. Hermione quickly got up, and met Harry and Ron half way to the high table, and grabbed each of them by the arm and pulled them to a secluded part of the room so she could tell them what happened.
"So, Ryn and Malfoy were talking about an attack?" Hermione nodded.
"She told him that she didn't think it was time for an attack. And then he questioned where her loyalties lie and she said they lied with Voldemort." Ron gave an involuntary shudder.
"You don't think she's really a Death Eater, do you?" Harry asked.
"I don't know. But all the signs point to it. Think about it, whenever she's disappeared this past week she was always clutching her arm. And now that I think about it, Snape is gone a lot of the time too. It all adds up!" Ron and Harry nodded, agreeing with Hermione. "They were talking about an attack and the dementors showed up. Hardly a coincidence."
"But Ryn works for the order. Do you think she's a spy? Like Snape?" Harry thoughtfully asked.
"I dunno, she could be."
"Yeah, but we hardly trust Snape. Who says she isn't the same?" Ron asked.
"Ron! Dumbledore trusts Snape, and that's enough for me. As it should be for you."
"But he's a git!" Hermione rolled her eyes.
"And besides. This is Ryn we're talking about. Tonks sister!" The three sat in silence for a moment.
"Wait a minute." said Harry, breaking the silence. "Hermione, what were you doing in the forest by yourself."
Hermione froze. She had intentionally left Malfoy's name out of the conversation. "Well, I er- the thing is."
"Yes?"
"I wasn't" she finished quietly and quickly shot a nervous glance at Malfoy. Her hopes in keeping the glance unnoticed failed.
"Malfoy!" Harry whispered.
"What!" Ron nearly yelled.
"SSHH!"
"Hermione, why did you go into the forest with Malfoy!"
"That doesn't matter at the moment."
"Yes it does-"
"Granger,"
Speak of the devil Hermione thought.
"We should patrol now." Malfoy drawled.
"Right, I guess I have to go. I'll talk to you too later. Ok." Without hesitation Hermione walked away, quickly, with Malfoy.
"You have impeccable timing." Hermione whispered as she and Malfoy walked around the hall.
"Oh really?" she nodded.
The two were making their way back to the teachers table when Hermione saw Pansy Parkinson tormenting a second year from Hufflepuff.
"Leaver her alone Parkinson. And that will be five points from Slytherin."
"Don't tell me what to do Mudblood." Pansy began to advance towards Hermione.
Hermione felt her stomach drop. She had never let the term bother her since second year, but now…..
"I suggest you do what she says Pansy. You don't want more points taken away for insulting the Head Girl, do you?" Malfoy drawled, stepping in between the two girls.
"What's this Draco? Defending a Mudblood? In light of recent of events and now this would I have to say I'm quite surprised. Perhaps your going soft?" she sneered.
"Perhaps I am. Is there something you want to do about it?" Malfoy glared daggers at Pansy. Without a further word, Pansy stormed off towards the Slytherin table.
An hour later dinner appeared on the tables and people began to eat, Hermione and Malfoy sat at the head table to watch over everybody else.
Instead of eating Hermione pushed her food around on her plate. Ever since Pansy had called Hermione a Mudblood Hermione became withdrawn. She blamed her behavior on the fact that she hadn't heard the term in so long, she hadn't been expecting. But deep down she knew that that wasn't the reason. Hearing the term again made Hermione realize who her new friend truly was. In light of learning about Draco's recent past, and taking him as a new friend Hermione had forgotten what her and Malfoy's relationship was like before.
They hated each other. It seemed that Malfoy saved the term Mudblood only for Hermione. They spent every waking moment loathing one another. But that boy, that man who she had once known was now a close friend, he was her confidant. He seemed to truly understand, he had become a sort of back bone for her.
Who was to say that he wasn't going to go back to his old ways? For the first time Hermione seemed to truly realize that her new friend was indeed the Draco Malfoy.
"Five Galleons says that Crabbe eats that entire tray full of chicken, plus a whole pie for dessert." Malfoy said, pointing his fork in Crabbe's direction. He looked in Hermione's direction when she gave no response. "You know, pushing the food around doesn't make it disappear. You have to eat it." he said sarcastically.
Hermione was finally pulled from her thoughtful state. "Wha-oh."
Malfoy looked at her with narrowed eyes. "What's gotten into you?"
"It's just-"
"Yes?"
"Nothing."
"Ha, and I'm the Minister of Magic. What?'
Deciding she had no way out Hermione hesitantly told him what she had been thinking. His face fell with each word she spoke.
Draco heaved a deep sigh, and placed his fork on his plate. "Look Granger. When, everything happened starting with those summers a few years ago and ending with just this past year, I promised myself one thing. That I would never use that insult again.
"I was wrong, and for some odd reason I'm openly saying it." Hermione gave him a small smile. "Malfoy's don't admit they were wrong. But I am. I promised myself I wouldn't and-" he paused. Was he really going to say what he was about to? "I promise you too."
"Really?" Hermione was taken aback.
Malfoy nodded. "For reasons which I can't explain, for I don't know the reason. Yes." he paused and gave Hermione a smirk, which she returned. "Now, five Galleons says that Crabbe will finish that entire plate of chicken himself and then eat and entire pie for desert."
"That's disgusting! He wouldn't!"
"I'm betting that he will."
"Five Galleons?"
"Five Galleons."
"Deal."
Author's Note: So, what do you think? People are a little OOC, but that's what you get for writing a fiction like this one.
HarahettaMonkeyKing: Yikes, well. I hope this was fast enough of an update! Thanks for reviewing!
Draco's-Ice-Princess666: Thanks for reviewing!
Exploded toilet bowl: Sorry for leaving you there, but I couldn't resist! Thanks for reviewing!
Queen of Duct Tape: "Evil murdering traitor!" I KNOW! I couldn't believe it. I had to restrain myself from screaming so I wouldn't wake up the house! Yeah, I thought of what would happen if I did alter it, but decided against it. I wouldn't be able to make it work! So I'm keeping the story as I started it and I intend to end it the way that I planned. Hm, cheez-its. Interesting. Might I suggest using Febreeze or something to help the smell of the room they are in, that way the room doesn't smell that bad….Thanks for reviewing! (Runs from toothbrushes and bubbles)
dixie15: No worries, I will continue the story until it ends! Thanks for reviewing!
DMHg 2GETHER 4EVER: Perhaps…Thanks for reviewing!
I'm so glad that you like the story and I'm happy to get your reviews!
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More to come soon!
The Lonely Goatherd