Hiding in Plain Sight 

Disclaimer: I don't own it… unfortunately…

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Hermione looked up into his intense blue-gray eyes and found herself falling into them. She shook her head. You can't do this Hermione! Remember Remus' warning? She shook her head and smiled sadly at him.

"I'm sorry Draco," she said, "I can't explain it now, but if I get involved with you, it'll only bring you pain… if not death."

"How do you mean?" he asked, pushing her down onto the couch and sitting next to her.

"I can't explain now…" she repeated, "I'm sorry."

"It has something to do with the Order doesn't it?" Draco accused, "Listen… I'm in the Order now, too, so shouldn't I know just like Potter and Weasley?"

"They don't know either! I'm sorry, but I can't tell you anything…" Hermione stood up and walked into her bedroom, flinging herself onto the soft bed. Maybe taking this assignment wasn't such a good idea…

"No!" she said, resolutely, sitting up, "You told them you could do this! You can't back out now. If Voldemort is ever going to be defeated, I have to do this. I'm the only young girl the Order that can do this. Remus even said so. Voldemort knows what Tonks looks like, and Ginny can't act… if I don't do this, we'll never make any progress."

There was a loud "pop" from the Common Room and she heard Draco curse. She ran out to see Remus' disembodied head floating amongst the flames. She smiled and walked calmly past Draco.

"Could you give us a minute, Draco?" she asked.

"Yeah… sure…" Draco said, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

"Hello, Remus," Hermione said.

"Hello, Hermione… staying out of trouble?" he asked.

Hermione nodded. She put a silencing charm and a locking charm on the door to the Common Room and Draco's bedroom door.

"Any new information, Hermione?" Remus asked.

"Yes…" she said, quietly, "Voldemort is planning an attack in the London Underground… in seven days."

"Good… that's plenty of time to plan," Remus said, "Anything else?"

"Yes. Voldemort is striking in a pattern. He has plans to work out from England and move toward the other two schools soon… I don't know exactly when, but I know it's soon. He has gained many new allegiances, Remus. I fear if his followers grow any more…" Hermione trailed off.

"Don't think about those things," he said, "And how are you doing?"

"Voldemort really is the most horribly evil man in the universe, Remus… I can feel the darkness crackling around him. It makes me sick!" Hermione exclaimed, glad to have somebody to talk to about it.

"It's okay Hermione… just remember that you are helping to save the lives of your family and friends," Remus replied, "Are you staying away from… from…"

"Draco?" Hermione asked, "It's okay… I know that what you said was specifically about him. And yes, as difficult as it might be, I am staying away from him. I don't want to hurt him, Remus, but if I keep lying to him, I will, and it's the same if I tell him the truth. It's a lose-lose situation."

Draco couldn't hear a thing. She had obviously put a silencing charm on his door… but did she put one on… Hell! It was worth a shot! He walked through their shared bathroom and pressed his ear to the doorway just as Remus replied.

"Hermione," he was saying, "If you do as I say and stay away from Draco, the hurt that he will feel inside can be mended," Draco felt anger bring the color rushing into his face, but it drained just as quickly as it came as Remus continued, "But if you tell him what you are doing and Voldemort finds out, he will be beyond help… he will be dead, Hermione."

"I understand," she said, sounding very sad. "Good bye, Remus. I'll keep you updated."

"Good bye, Hermione," Remus said, before disappearing with another "pop".

Draco sped back into his own room and sat down at his desk. What is going on? Hermione is working for the Order… is she going undercover as a Death Eater? Does she know how bloody dangerous that is?? He flung his door open and stormed into the Common Room.

"I demand to know just what you think you're doing!" he exclaimed.

"Homework…" she said, sardonically. However the color had drained visibly from her face. Had he heard? (yesssss)

"I heard your little conversation with Lupin!" he exclaimed, "So stop lying to me!"

Hermione stood up and her book fell to the floor. "I don't know what you're talking about…" she said, turning to leave the room.

Draco blocked her path in two long strides. He grabbed her shoulders in his hands. "Enough lies, Hermione. I want the truth! NOW!"

"I- I can't," she whispered turning her face away from his, "Just- please- forget you ever heard anything about it."

"Why? So you can go back to ignoring me? I don't think so!" he said, "You're going to tell me everything- from start to finish- or I'll go straight to Dumbledore…" Hermione's face fell and Draco stopped, "He knows? Dumbledore is actually letting you do this? Is the man daft?"

"Draco, please, just let me go," Hermione pleaded, "I don't want to hurt you…"

"Oh? And what have you been doing all week?" he asked, "God damn it, Hermione, the main reason I joined the Order was to get close to you!"

"D-Draco, I- I'm…" Hermione let one tear slip down her cheek, "I'm sorry… I can't allow Him to get to you through me…"

"Hermione, I'd be willing to give my life a thousand times over to be with you…" Draco said, pulling her into his arms.

She pushed weakly against his chest, giving no real effort to get away. "Don't…" she whispered against his chest, "Don't be so nice to me. How can you do this? You don't even know me… in fact you hated me just a couple years ago… so go back to that. Hate me, yell at me, call me a "mud-blood" (GOD I HATE THAT WORD!) just don't be so nice to me…"

"I never really hated you… I don't think so anyway…" Draco said, resting his chin on the top of her head, "I was just corrupted by prejudice and my father's hate for Harry. By about my fourth year I was beginning to understand everything about Voldemort a little better, and by my fifth year I was rebelling against my father's ways privately, and then in my sixth year… well you know what happened…"

"We can't do this…" Hermione said, although her own arms were wrapped securely around his waist and she had no intentions of letting go, "If Voldemort finds out, who knows what could happen…"

"Then we'll just have to be extra careful so that nobody finds out," Draco said simply.

Somebody knocked on their door and Hermione pulled away to answer it. Draco brushed his lips against her in a silent promise, leaving them burning. She opened the door and Harry stood there panting.

"Dumbledore wants to see you in his office… says it's important… about your… parents," he said.

Hermione didn't wait for either of them, but took off full sprint, robes billowing behind her like a banner, toward Dumbledore's office. Draco and Harry followed suit, with Harry going a bit slower from lack of oxygen. They reached the gargoyle and McGonnagal ushered them through. They stepped into his office and Dumbledore stood up.

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GASP what's going to happen? Oh my goodness, who knows? Lol. Review. Min of 10. Thanks, PrincessofDarkness