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 6

Malfoys and Dementors

Hermione awoke the next day, with a crick in her neck. As she was rolling her head, she caught a glimpse of something in the shadows. When she looked more closely she could see the distinct shape of ...

No, I don't believe in that nonsense, Hermione thought to herself.

Hermione's eyes grew wide at the sight of the Grim lurking in the shadows. She shook her head and looked over towards the door; when her eyes came back to the shadows the shape had grown in size.

She decided that it was just a trick of the light and hopped out of her bed to get a closer look. As she crept towards the changing shadow, a menacing noise erupted into the room.

WAKE UP YOU LOT! WAKE UP YOU LOT! WAKE UP YOU LOT!

Hermione jumped slightly and turned around to see her roommates stirring in their beds. Graham had bought a Zonko Clock that screamed until someone threw it across the room. Graham thought it was funny at first, but after about a week she had tried to smash it with a hammer... but the clock always jumped out of the way at the last second.

"Ugh," Pansy moaned as she placed the pillow over her head. "Someone throw the bloody thing so it'll shut up."

Millicent jumped out of bed, shaking the floorboards as she landed, and crossed the room in a matter of two seconds. She grabbed the clock and threw it against the wall. The shrieks subsided as soon as it clunked against the wall.

"Thank Merlin," Graham muttered. "What time is it?"

"Half past six," Hermione replied as she looked back at the shadow. To her relief, any sign of the Grim had vanished.

x x x x x

"Hermione, what are you doing today?" Pansy asked as she relaxed in the sun.

Hermione couldn't remember the last time she'd seen a Slytherin go out in the sun to relax, but shook the thought out of her head. She had to get all of her preconceived notions that all Slytherins were pale, mean purebloods.

They're just like the rest of us...

"Well, I have to visit a friend," Hermione said nonchalantly. She hoped that Pansy would not ask anymore stupid, pointless, or annoying questions.

"Who?"

"Can't I ever be discreet without you trying to weasel every bit of information out of me?" Hermione huffed and tried to relax in the sun's soothing rays.

"I was only asking," Pansy sat up, looking quite perplexed. "You used to tell me everything."

"Yes, well," Hermione paused and squinted her eyes. "That was before you practically lied to me."

"What?"

"Friends don't lie to each other," Hermione snapped; hoping that Malfoy would show up soon so that they could leave.

"I didn't lie!" Pansy combed her hand through her black hair.

"So, it really was a potion that you and Draco were trying out, was it?" Hermione placed her hand under her chin and looked directly into Pansy's eyes. "Love potion, of course?"

"I... I... fine! For the hundredth time... I am sorry!" Pansy gritted her teeth and threw herself back onto the green and silver blanket they were both sitting on. "I thought you were over it, and over him."

"I am," Hermione was thoroughly enjoying the look on Pansy's face. "I just don't think I can forgive you, my best friend," Hermione rolled her eyes, hating to say that Pansy Parkinson was her best friend, "I mean, shouldn't you have told him to back off?"

"Hermione!" Pansy pleaded as Hermione turned her face in the opposite direction. That's when she noticed Draco slowly making his way towards them.

"Go snog him, Pansy," Hermione nudged Pansy on the shoulder. "

"What?" Pansy gave a little jump. Hermione only guessed it was because Pansy didn't expect her to say that.

"I was only joking," Hermione muttered.

Pansy muttered something under her breath, then looked straight at Hermione. Her eyes glared with fury - and if Hermione might have been scared if she hadn't known how horrible Pansy was at casting hexes or jinxes. "You know what, Hermione?"

"I know a lot of things;" Hermione smiled up at Pansy who was slowly standing up, trying to look more intimidating.

"I think you are a selfish, frizzy-haired cow!"

"Is that all you've got?" Hermione laughed. Pansy's nostrils flared as Hermione wiped a tear from her eye - her laughs echoing through the grounds.

"You have every man you could ever want - and when someone else comes into the picture - you throw bitch fits, because nobody is paying you any attention!" Pansy's voice was high-pitched and she shrieked the last word.

Hermione watched as Malfoy slowed his steps. She couldn't stop laughing and she could feel her lungs aching for more air.

"And..." Pansy whipped out her wand and pointed it at Hermione. She lowered her voice, so that only Hermione could hear. "You can't stand the fact that me and Draco are in love."

"Expelliarmus!"

Hermione was slowing her laughs, not believing the scene in front of her. Malfoy had grabbed Pansy's wand and was looking at the both of them in complete shock.

"Glad to see you two befriending each other again," Draco's facetious tone made Hermione giggle again. "Let's go," Draco grabbed Hermione by her elbow and lead her away. "Ever think of cursing Hermione again, and you'll see how quickly my so-called love for you makes me hex you into oblivion." He called over his shoulder to Pansy.

As Hermione took a quick glance behind her, she noticed that Malfoy had tossed the wand onto the ground, and that Pansy was glaring at the both of them.

"Are you okay?" Draco released her elbow and led them towards the gates. "My mother has arranged a flying carriage for us."

"Yes," Hermione laughed again. "I think someone hit me with a Tickling Charm, because everything she was saying was hilarity personified."

"Hilarity personified?" Draco shook his head and looked at Hermione. "Trying out new words, are we?"

"Oh," Hermione's smile faded. "Read a few things here and there... so how did you get the flying carriage?" She deliberately changed the subject and gave another glance over her shoulder. She didn't see Pansy anymore, so she figured that she had gone inside.

Draco placed his hand on Hermione's back, leading her in the right direction. "Got special permission from the Ministry... so Dumbledore can't even stop us."

"Let's hurry, then," Hermione said.

So, I can get back here as soon as possible, Hermione's thought concluded the sentence

x x x x x

Hermione had read about Azkaban. She had seen pictures of Azkaban. She had even met a man who had spent a great deal of his life in Azkaban. But - nothing could have prepared her for her own visit to the wizard prison.

As Hermione, Draco, and Narcissa all made their way into the Visitor's Quarters... Hermione felt like she would never be happy ever again. She looked at Narcissa, who's usually pointed face seemed to soften in a state of - what Hermione thought looked a lot like - mourning. Draco's face fell as he looked at Hermione.

A black door at the other side of the room slowly opened and a Dementor slid into the room. It's skeletal hand beckoned for them to follow.

"Here," Draco whispered. He handed Hermione a rather heavy book and she tried her very best not to look at the Dementor in front of her. "Give it to dad for me..."

"Of course," Hermione suddenly faltered and looked to her immediate right. There was a long corridor and at the very end was one cell with two Dementors standing guard. Hermione looked back to the front and saw that nobody had noticed that she had fell back.

She didn't know what it was, but something was calling for her to walk down the long passageway. Against her better judgment she began to slowly walk down the hall. On both sides of her, the gray brick seemed to close in on her, making her move forward faster.

The two Dementors turned to face her and separated, allowing her to move closer to the bars. Inside was an ancient old man who slowly turned his head to face her. They stared at each other for a moment. Hermione felt like her world was going to collapse as both Dementors inched towards her slightly. The man shook his head and closed his eyes. With a flash, his eyes opened and he hurtled towards the exact place where Hermione was peering into the cell. His arm swiped at her, and before she could move, she found that he had cut her with his fingernails.

She stumbled back, the book flying from her hand, and landed with a small thump. Shaking her head, Hermione saw the two Dementors entering the cage. She felt her senses slowly coming back to her as the man screamed in agony. One Dementor looked towards Hermione and one of his gnarled fingers emerged from his black cloak... it waved in the air, as if saying that Hermione had been bad.

Hermione reached for the book and slowly stood up. The man was now staring blankly up at the ceiling of his cell and the two Dementors exited and resumed their guard positions. Hermione nodded to the both of them and turned quickly away, running down the corridor. As she reached the end, she looked and saw that Draco, Narcissa, and the guide Dementor had not moved very far. She jogged slightly to catch up to them.

They rounded a corner and came to another door with a sign above it.

You-Know-Who Supporters
Dementor Per Inmate: 10

Hermione noticed Lucius in a cell on her immediate right as soon as theypassed through the door.

"Lucius," Narcissa whispered as she fell to her knees and reached through the bars. "Oh, my love."

"Narcissa," Lucius sighed in relief. "I knew you would come."

Hermione thought that Lucius looked rather awful. His usual perfect hair was now dirty and tangled. The clothes he was wearing were tattered and did not fit him. She thought that maybe they reused prison clothes.

"Draco," Lucius looked at his son and his wife. He couldn't smile, but she knew that he probably would if he could.

"Hermione's here too, Father;" Draco whispered and looked towards three of the Dementors hovering close by. "She brought you a present."

One of the Dementors flew quickly towards Hermione and ripped the book from her hands. Hermione felt the cold, clammy hand touch her own for a moment, and she fell to the ground as the touch sent the most horrible memories into view.

When she regained her ability to stand, Hermione saw that the Dementor had handed Lucius the book. He clutched it to his chest and looked right into Hermione's eyes. She saw a glint of triumph there as Draco lifted her up.

"Thank you," Lucius mumbled.

"We'll come back next week, Lucius," Narcissa whispered to her husband.

"Of course," Lucius muttered as he crawled to the back of his cell.

As they turned away from Lucius and his cell, Hermione felt her spirits starting to lift at the thought of leaving. One Dementor from another cell turned towards her and reached out, as if wanting to take away the happiness. Hermione jumped back, bumping into Draco. He put his hand on her waist, leading her away.

They passed the corridor that Hermione had entered only minutes before, but she found to her amazement that a tattered rope now blocked the corridor. The cell that had been at the very end of the hallway was now just a lonely black door. Hermione then noticed a sign hanging from the ceiling right in front of the same hallway.

No Visitors Allowed
Psychotic Death Ward
Dementor Per Inmate: 2

Her heart leapt into her throat. She remembered reading that it was the only ward that killed the cellmates, based on their crimes. The most horrible crime-makers were sent there and if they behaved then they weren't killed, but if they did not behave... they were tortured until they lost their minds. Then, if they were lucky, were killed by the Minister of Magic's approval.

Hermione didn't know what kind of mirage she had witnessed, but hoped that she never came back to find out...

x x x x x

Hermione entered the flying carriage after Mrs. Malfoy and watched as Draco took the seat by his mother. They were both smiling.

"Thank you, love," Narcissa smiled at Hermione and patted her hand from across the carriage.

"You're welcome," The trip was still fresh in her mind and she didn't know what she had done that was deserving of a 'thank you.'

"I told mum you'd help us bust him out." Draco muttered as the carriage took off.

"B-bust out?" Hermione looked at the both of them.

"You didn't tell her?" Narcissa glanced over at her son. "The spine of the book you were carrying had a bottle of potion locked inside. The potion will transfer Lucius into a wasp so that he may fly right out of his cell."

"Oh," Hermione tried to smile. "That... that's... great. Really. Really great." Hermione looked at the Malfoy's who were beaming at her.

x x x x x

"She's been acting completely bonkers, hasn't she?" Millicent grabbed a cookie and shoved it into her mouth.

"No doubt," Graham agreed. "I mean, she's studying even though she told us not three weeks ago that... You-Know-Who... told her to only work in Divination, Potions, and..."

"Was it Astronomy?" Millicent asked with cookie bits still in her mouth.

"I don't remember the other one," Pansy said. "She said that Divination and Potions were the only thing You-Know-Who needed."

"Yeah..." Graham sighed and sat back in her chair. "She's been secretive too... she's never not told us anything."

"That's for certain," Pansy nodded her head and rolled her eyes. "I tried to tell her that today and she went mental on me."

"Yeah, well, you got mental right back," Millicent informed her.

"I didn't mean for things to go so far. Did you see what Draco did?" Pansy paused, "I think they're going to marry each other."

"Not if you stop the wedding first," Graham poked Pansy in the ribs and they all laughed.

"Yeah, I'd hex them both if I ever heard that," Pansy chuckled, but she was dead serious and they all knew it.

"Maybe you should hex her... show her you really mean it." Millicent said as she grabbed two more cookies.

"Please, Milly, aren't you sick, yet?" Graham looked disgusted.

"No - they're really good!" Which sounded more like, "Mnol ereel eebud."

"Pansy couldn't hex a statue if it slapped her in the face and called her mother a bucktoothed prostitute;" Graham got back on subject, and looked over at Pansy. "You know it's true."

"I know," Pansy admitted, and thought for a moment. "I could poison her."

"You can't do that to a friend!" Millicent added.

"Since when were they ever really her friends?" Graham asked incredulously.

"Well," Pansy shrugged. "I think our first year we were really friends..."

"I know," Millicent said. "Just used her to get to Draco, you did! You told me that in second year after you went on holiday at Grimmauld Place."

"I'm not that low," Pansy said indignantly. She paused and then shrugged, "So what if I did?"

"Maybe that's why she's treating you like maggot breath. I mean, you practically admitted to loving Draco today." Graham shrugged. "She's been nicer to me as of late, you know."

"I'm tired of this conversation," Pansy muttered. "Let's get to bed. I have to sleep on the idea of poisoning her..."

"You little leech," Millicent shook her head at Pansy.

"More like a painted-"

"Maypole? Now girls," Pansy interrupted Graham and smiled at them both. "You know how I hate Shakespeare... horrid muggle writer if there every was one."

As they all turned in to get some sleep, Graham whispered to Millicent, "I was going to say 'whore' but..."

x x x x x

Hermione threw herself onto her bed and bit the pillow to keep herself from screaming. She had just released a prisoner from Azkaban... and not just any prisoner. Lucius Malfoy - one of Voldemort's most loyal followers. Hermione wished that she could go and perform an Unforgivable Curse on Malfoy, but that would just make her the horrible thing that she already was in this world.

She heard Graham move in her bed, and looked up hoping that Graham had not awoken. After a minute, when Graham's breathing went back to normal... Hermione climbed into her own bed and tried to find sleep.

x x x chapter end x x x

Author's Note : Yes, "painted maypole" is what Hermia calls the other girl (who's name escapes me) in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. I was in that play in 7th grade... and it's been six years, so I have a right to not remember exactly.

Hope you all liked the Azkaban bit. It was a lot of fun to write. Read and review, please and thanks.

Chapter 7 Entitled:

Career Advancement