Disclaimer : All Harry Potter things are copyright of the one and only JK Rowling. I don't own a thing, I'm not making money off of this, and I don't even have any money that anyone could get if they sued me. So, erm, yeah.

The Darkest of Wishes

Chapter 5

Visitation Rights

"I must say, this is a complete turn around for you Miss Granger."

Hermione smiled widely at McGonagall who handed her a piece of parchment with no red marks attached at all. The previous paper that McGonagall had given her had been full of errors, which had made Hermione nearly faint.

"Thank you, Professor," Hermione rolled up the parchment and put it in her bag.

"You make me sick," Graham spat at Hermione. Hermione noticed that Graham had gotten a lot of red marks on her paper. "Who did you pay to do your assignment?"

"I did it all on my own," Hermione whispered. "Just because I use to not care about school doesn't mean that I can't care about it now."

"But, what about the..." Graham lowered her voice and mouthed 'meetings'. Which Hermione knew perfectly well by the quick pang on her shoulder that she meant the Death Eater meetings. "You know that ... he ... doesn't want you to boggle your mind with all of these unimportant teachings."

"I figure that if I learn them, and learn them well, we'll be better prepared." And with that Hermione focused on McGonagall for the rest of the period. Every time Graham tried to get Hermione's attention, she would ignore her.

On the way out of Transfiguration, McGonagall called Hermione away from the pack of Slytherins. Hermione sighed happily.

"Hermione, whatever it is that you are doing," McGonagall gave her an odd look but smiled none-the-less, "Please, keep it up. I'm very pleased with your progress."

Hermione nodded her head. "Thank you."

"You may go," she nodded curtly.

Hermione nodded and turned to look at the mouse that she had transfigured into an owl, then back into a mouse. Smiling again to herself she left the room and noticed that only Pansy had waited on her.

"What was that all about?" Pansy motioned with her thumb back at McGonagall.

"I don't know," Hermione shrugged and walked on. "Not really important."

"Right," Pansy nodded. "Well, you ready for lunch?"

"I'm famished."

x x x x x

"Granger."

"Malfoy."

Hermione thought it rather suiting that they had resorted to just acknowledging each other's existence. After all, it technically shouldn't be more than that. Hermione thought it was funny that "Granger" was the only word that Malfoy said to her at school. She hoped that it stayed like that for a long time.

"Mail," Pansy nodded up to the ceiling as owls began to fly into the Great Hall.

A rather grand black owl landed in front of Hermione and handed her three parcels. One was the Daily Prophet, a letter from (Hermione squinted, trying to read correctly) Delilah Black, and a small box with a large 'B' on the cover.

Hermione's hand began to shake. It really hadn't sunken in when Voldemort had told her that the Black's had adopted her, thinking her to have been orphaned from another powerful wizard family. But with the letter now in her hand from Delilah Black, she figured everything was true.

Hermione remembered that the Mrs. Black from the painting in Grimmauld Place was in fact, Delilah. She gulped as she opened the letter.

Dearest Hermione,

I hope everything is going well with you. We hope that that horrid Headmaster hasn't tried to fill that mind of yours with all that nonsense that flows from his mudblood-loving mouth.

Bella and Regulus told me that you were late to the meeting with that Malfoy boy. You cannot continue to be late to the meetings, love. No boy is worth as much as your loyalty to Him.

To better news, the box is full of your favorite sweets! Kreacher also made you a few cookies! He is getting rather old though, dear, do you think that I should chop him? I probably should, but he's so loyal, it will be ever so hard for me to lure him to the Chop Room. Perhaps I'll buy a few new house elves and see how much better they are. They have this new breed that learns what your deepest desires are. Mostly having to do with food and comfort. I read an ad in the paper the other day and I'm thinking that I'll buy you one of these new house elves with the special talents when you finally get out of the hellhole that is Hogwarts.

Oh, don't forget to ask that Pansy girl if she'd like to come over for Christmas holiday. She's such a lovely girl. Tell her we'd love to have her over again. If she's not able, you can ask someone else, of course. Just not that fake Pritchard girl. The Pritchards are a stupid lot, if you ask me. I won't have that filth in my house.

Keep up that 'O' in Potions, my lovely!

Mother Delilah

Hermione folded the letter up - she hated 'Mother Delilah' already just from her letter. There was no way she was asking Pansy over for Christmas. She didn't even know if she wanted to go to Grimmauld Place on Christmas. What were Death Eaters doing celebrating Christmas anyway? Surely they thought a holiday like that was not worthy of celebrating.

"Hermione?"

"Yes... what?" Hermione placed the letter in her bag and reached for the box of sweets. She opened the box quickly, thinking she'd find something horrid inside. She noticed Draco reaching for her copy of the Daily Prophet. They locked eyes silently, Hermione nodded her consent.

"Bad news?" Pansy pointed at the letter now in Hermione's bag.

"Oh, no." Hermione shook her head. "Mum was just talking about how Kreacher is getting too old."

"She going to chop 'im?"

Hermione reached into the box. A box of Vampire Snaps (which Hermione did actually like - she loved the cherry-flavored filling), Bertie Botts Every Flavoured Beans, and what looked like macadamia nut cookies. A quick taste and she knew that Kreacher wasn't as bad as he seemed. At least he could make cookies well.

"I hope not... here have one." Hermione handed Pansy a cookie.

"Hermione," Draco's voice was slightly high as he stared at the front page of the Daily Prophet.

"Yes, you can have one too," Hermione tossed a cookie his way. Draco didn't catch it; instead it hit him on the arm and fell to the floor. "Mal -- Draco?"

"Look," Malfoy twirled the paper around so that Hermione could see.

Death Eater Lucius Malfoy In Azkaban

Lucius Malfoy, known Death Eater, finally caught. A group of Aurors caught him engaging in a muggle-baiting.

Hermione's eyes opened wide. A muggle-baiting? She was glad he had been caught. In fact, she hoped he stayed in Azkaban. However, in this world she wasn't supposed to think like that.

"Oh, no," Hermione sighed. She hoped she didn't look too happy. "Does it say anything about your mother?"

"No," Draco shook his head. "I'm going to take a guess and say this letter is from her though."

Sure enough the letter was about how a tip from a James Potter caught Lucius in the act.

x x x x x

After lunch, Hermione had tried to find Harry or Ron. Considering she knew that the hunt would be on Harry now that Draco's dad was now in prison because of Harry's dad.

When Draco had read the letter from his mother, Hermione had taken in a quick breath when the name 'James Potter' was spoken. She still didn't know a lot about this world, but she knew that a lot of things were different. Most of them were not a 'good different' either.

However, she again, had no luck with finding Ron or Harry. Yet, she did catch a glimpse of Ginny Weasley, but couldn't get to her in time before she went into the Gryffindor common room. Hermione thought about waiting until a Gryffindor came by and spoke the password to gain entry, but she knew that would be more trouble than what it was worth. Also, she only had a few more minutes until her Divination class.

The one class she hoped that she was failing dismally but figured that since she was still taking it, that she was doing fairly well.

x x x x x

"Miss Granger, your aura is weak today."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I see."

"You do not see! For your aura is extremely broken today. Perhaps next week... it will have repaired itself." Professor Trelawney then went onto another table.

Hermione forgot how much she actually hated Divination. She noticed that Padma Patil was talking to Trelawney and the both looked to be talking about something that just might happen in the future.

Hermione looked at the crystal ball in front of her and touched the glass. She certainly didn't understand how she was supposed to see anything other than her reflection.

"Hermione?" A small, meek voice intruded into her thoughts.

"Yes?" She smiled at the Ravenclaw at her table. She knew it was Mandy Brocklehurst, they were in the same year, but she didn't know that she was a prefect. Even in the mist-filled hot room, the badge gleamed.

"Do you see anything?" The girl flinched slightly as Hermione opened her mouth. Hermione guessed that she thought a smart alleck remark was about to come out of her mouth.

"No," Hermione shook her head. "Divination is not a very good subject of study, in my opinion. I don't think I'll ever see anything other than my reflection."

Mandy laughed, "Oh, I always thought you were a top student in here."

"Not remotely," Hermione leaned forward and lowered her voice. "It was all pretend. I mean, seeing a Grim around every corner is the only way to get an 'O' in this class."

Mandy laughed again.

"The future is not funny!" Trelawney's wispy voice alarmed even Hermione. "For I see darkness and despair."

"Yes, I'm sure you do," Hermione rolled her eyes.

x x x x x

"What was that Summoning Charm again?" Mandy whispered in Hermione's ear. They were in the library and a few students had been looking at them oddly. Hermione knew it was because she was talking to someone who happened to be in Ravenclaw and not in Slytherin.

"Accio." Hermione smiled and put the finishing touches on her Potions essay.

"Hermione?" Mandy sighed as she placed her quill down. Hermione looked up and noticed that Mandy looked a little scared.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked, slightly alarmed.

"Yes, but... please don't... I mean... I don't mean this in... just..."

Hermione nodded her head - knowing exactly what Mandy meant, "I won't. Go on."

"Why is it that you never really showed how smart you are?" Mandy took in a deep breath and seemed to lean away from Hermione.

"Er... well... my head wasn't screwed on tight enough," Hermione joked. "I think laziness is a good excuse, though I'm over it, now."

"It's just, I remember in our fourth year, and we had Herbology together. Every paper you got back was covered in red ink," Mandy shook her head. "Then in fifth year we had Transfiguration..."

"Yes, well..." Hermione shrugged, trying to focus her attention back on her essay on brewing Newtskin Mallop.

"Well, if it isn't Brocklehurst."

Hermione's head shot up, as did Mandy's. Hermione placed her quill down and rubbed her left temple.

"Go away, Malfoy," Hermione snapped.

"Brocklehurst tutoring you, Granger?" Draco sneered at Mandy. "We both know she's as worthless as-"

"Shut up! How dare you talk to her like that!" Hermione stood up quickly causing her chair to land with a dull thud. She pulled out her wand and pointed it at him. "You don't know all the nasty little things I could turn you into..." Hermione smiled slightly at the thought of turning Draco into a ferret, just like Moody had all those years ago.

"Hermione Granger!" Hermione turned to face Madame Pince who looked like she was ready to tie Hermione to the ceiling by her fingernails. Hermione turned slightly pink at being yelled at by a teacher. "Put your wand away this instant, before you cause some horrible accident and ruin all of my books!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. She was really getting annoyed with all of the 'Hermione is stupid' comments.

Hermione calmly placed her wand back in her robes and turned to face Mandy. Her face was white with shock and Hermione tried to give her a smile.

Utterly disgusted with Malfoy for ruining a nice study session; Hermione stalked out of the library and down to the Slytherin common room.

x x x x x

"Why were you sitting with Brocklehurst, anyway?" Draco leaned up against the chair that Hermione was sitting in.

"I-"

"Better yet, what were you doing in the library?"

"I can't study?" Hermione spat at Malfoy.

"Well, no... I mean... yes... but... it's not you."

"You hardly know me;" Hermione rolled her eyes and a silence fell over the two. "Why were you so mean to her, anyway?"

"You're not serious?" Malfoy laughed and squeezed in beside Hermione on the chair. Hermione shifted uncomfortably away from him. "Brocklehurst is muggleborn."

Hermione sat in silence.

"Oh, come on," Malfoy nudged her, "Were you trying to play with her mind?"

Hermione continued to sit in silence.

"Oh, I know, the Dark Lord asked you to do a secret mission."

Hermione sighed and turned to face Malfoy. "You know, for someone who I took to... nevermind..." Hermione decided it was time for a change of subject before she gave herself away anymore. "Were you looking for me when you came into the library?"

"Yes, Graham said something about you studying, and I had to see it for myself."

Hermione snorted.

"I really did want to find you... you know about my father and his... situation. My mother sent me another letter and she's asked me to go and visit him. She said that I needed to take a few things to him, and I only trust you to help me with this visit." Malfoy's voice lowered considerably, even though very few people were in the common room. "Say you will go."

Hermione was awestruck. Go to Azkaban? With Dementors? No thank you.

"I..."

How could she say yes to that? There was no way she could. And, yet, as if something was controlling her...

"I will."

Hermione clamped her hand over her mouth. She did not just say...

"I will go with you;" Hermione gasped as the sentence escaped her mouth... again.

"Are you alright?" Malfoy gave her an odd look, but smiled anyway.

As he left her sitting in the chair, she couldn't help but feel sickened at the words that had just escaped her mouth. The words that seemed to have a mind all of their own...

x x x x x

Twilight rolled her fingers over the image of her new world. There was no way she would allow the girl to make a complete fool of herself anymore. Even if she had to control the very words that escaped her wide and talkative mouth... she would.

She will not ruin what I have waiting for her.

x x x chapter end x x x

Author's Note : I bet you all are happy that I updated, eh? LOL. The rewriting process is done, and I think it's a lot better than what it was. So - yayness, eh?

Chapter 6 Entitled:

Malfoys and Dementors