CHAPTER 7: Puzzles and Ponders; Reunion Part 1…

Draco's visit a week ago has left me worried, before all of this started I knew what I was doing and why, but now, I was doubting myself. Dear Professor McGonagall was trying to help, I know that, but she turned out to be more of a hindrance. I know she only wants to see me and Draco happy, but why can't she understand that I'm doing all of this for Draco's happiness, to keep him safe? I don't want Harry or Ron coming after Draco once I'm out in the open and lucky me that happens in less than 24 hours. I wish there was an easier way to do things. Yet I know there is not, for now, I'll just focus on my work and my students, "Blast!" I can't even focus on students right now, it's Friday and classes are over and there is no potion or paper to grade.

&Knock Knock&

Great now someone is here again, "Come in!" I try to look busy, let's hope it works. Nope he's still there; guess that means I have to acknowledge him.

"What can I do for you Mr. Malfoy?"

"I just thought I would drop by for a chat."

"You don't chat Mr. Malfoy, so what's on your mind?"

(Switch POV to Draco)

"I am curious to know if you are familiar with Hermione Granger." Because of course I know that you would have to have at least heard of her.

"Thought you said she was a know-it-all bookworm?"

"I did, but you remind me of her, and need to know if you ever knew her." Come on give me some kind of clue where she is.

"Sorry to bust your bubble Malfoy but no, I don't know her, never seen her, and I have work to do so if you please." She's trying to push me out, I don't think so, I've never given up easily on anything in my life, and okay well except when I let Hermione go the first time. But I never thought she would disappear.

"Perhaps you are familiar with her friends then, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter." Pain in the asses both of them.

"You are pushing your luck Mr. Malfoy, everyone in the wizarding world knows both of them, so if you think I'm going to tell you some deep dark hidden secret," Yes, please tell me, "then you are sadly mistaken because I have no secrets to tell, there is just me, Mishka." I think you are lying, Merlin how I wish I could say that to your face.

"I think there is more to your story, and the more I talk with Professor McGonagall the more I've convinced you are hiding something." There you go again, rolling your eyes, I'm telling you I know those eyes, but where from?

"I assure you Draco, I am only Mishka, Potions Mistress and Professor, there is no hidden secret, no other life, I don't know why you are searching for this mystery girl of yours but I can't help you." Hermione averted her gaze to look at the parchments covering her desk.

I notice a look of longing in her eyes; eyes that are peculiar, a deep brown with flakes of yellow. There's more than she's saying, that's a look of loss, I should know, I wore it for years.

"Thank you for your time Mishka, I shall see you tomorrow then."

"I suppose you shall."

I leave her office, though I wish I had gotten more answers first. Something in them tells me she knows Hermione; there is something so similar between the two of them. I used to know Hermione so well, hell I loved her, I still love her, I just don't understand why she left me. I wonder if I will ever understand, I can't unless I find her.

GUEST QUARTERS HOGWARTS: DRACO'S ROOM:

I flop down on my bed, lost in my own thoughts; I want Hermione back, her place is by my side, not out alone in the world. I know she's not with Potter and Weasley they've come to me enough looking for her. I'll never forget the first time Potter came after me…I was just leaving the great hall, it was about 830, and supper was winding down, I decided to head back to the common room early, when out of no where Bloody Potter comes barreling up to me demanding to know what I did to his Hermione.

&Flashback&

"What did you do to her?" Harry grabbed Draco's arm halting his departure.

"I don't know what you are talking about Potter, now let me go."

"Oh really Malfoy, you don't know, or you don't care? I know you killed Hermione's parents, you and your death eater of a father." Harry leveled his wand at Draco's temple.

"I would never hurt Hermione like that." Draco pulled his arm out of Harry's grasp, "I didn't know what my father was planning, Hell I didn't even know he was planning on doing anything in the first place." Harry's wand didn't waiver.

"Do you know she's in here room right now crying her eyes out for what YOU did to her. You hurt her Malfoy, and I won't stand for it."

"I'm not the one that's hurting her Potter, but you are so blind you can't even see the truth staring you in the fucking face!"

"You lie; you are nothing but a liar." Harry's eyes blazed angrily, his wand arm shaking.

"It's because of you that she's crying, it's because of you that she's hurt."

"I swear to god you come near her again and I will kill you where you stand. You should be lucky I don't kill you now."

"You kill me and Hermione will never forgive you."

"Actually I think she may just thank me." At this point he had a smug grin on his face; I wish I could have knocked it off for him.

"You don't get it do you Potter?" Time to bring his world crashing down, "she loves me, she wants to be with me, she chose me over you and your sidekick. What the hell don't you get about that?"

"She thought you were…" Potter was cut off from an unexpected source.

"I thought he was a good person, I knew I loved him, and I still do, but it can never work out. I want you to leave him alone Harry." Hermione's voice was barely above a whisper, but her words held an unspoken promise.

"You don't know what you're saying Hermione" Harry lowered his wand and stared at Hermione, "he's a killer and he'll keep on being that until someone kills him."

"I will never forgive you if you kill him Harry. I left him for our friendship." She was lying again; I could see it in her eyes, deep brown with flakes of yellow…Her eyes, THAT'S IT, that's where I know them. Damn Mishka I knew you were lying to me. Now, how did she get me out of this, oh yeah…

"You don't love him Hermione, I know you don't because you would never love scum like him."

"You aren't listening to me Harry, you never listen." Hermione ran away towards the tower tears in her eyes.

"You're lucky that I care about Hermione otherwise I would kill you now. Watch you're back Malfoy, I'll be watching you!" Potter left chasing after my girl, I wanted to go after her, comfort her but I knew I couldn't, not then, when I could it was too late, she was gone.

&&&END FLASHBACK&&&

Time for another visit to Mishka, and this time I'm not leaving without the truth.

(End Draco's POV, back to Mishka)

&S&S&S&S&S&S&S&S&S&S&S&S&S&S&S&S&S&S&S&

DUNGEON: MISHKA'S CHAMBERS

This time Draco wasted no time with knocking and burst into my office unannounced. Should have known he would be back, he always was relentless.

"I'm so glad that you decided to knock, what the hell do you want now!"

"I WANT ANSWERS! And you are god damn well going to give them to me."

"I'm not going to give you anything if you keep yelling at me." Who the hell does he think he is?

"Damn it Mishka, I know who you are, I know what you are hiding."

"You know nothing, you never did know anything! How dare you think you know who I am."

"I know the look in your eye, it's the same one Hermione had when she left me."

"A look, you are basing this entire conversation on a look! You really are an arrogant, self absorbed, son of a bitch! Anyone can have a look, it doesn't mean they are the same person or related or whatever else may be going through that addled brain of yours."

"But not everyone has eyes like yours, like hers." The last two words were spoken softer.

"Oh, and like brown eyes aren't a common color!"

"Are you or are you not Hermione Granger?"

"We've been through this Draco, I'm not her, and I will never be her, so stop trying." Back off Draco, you don't want to open this, just let it go.

"And you are lying to me again. You have done nothing but lie to me since the day I met you."

"I have never lied to you, I told you from the beginning that I had no interest in you and that was the truth, it still is. Why do you find it so hard to believe that?"

"Because at one point in time you loved me, you believed in me; why did you give up on us?"

"You are confusing me with her again; I'm not your lost love. Now get out."

"I told you I'm not leaving without answers."

"Good night Draco." I left him there in my office, standing alone and confused. Gods how I hate having to leave him; he is so close to the truth. I wish it was safe enough to tell him, but I'm afraid that could put him in more danger. If he knew the truth then he could tell Harry and then Harry may use that as a reason to hurt him. I can't let him get hurt. I'll wait until tomorrow during the reunion; only then will everyone know who I truly am, then I will reveal all that has been kept secret.