Without Question
By Tien Riu
tien_riu@yahoo.com
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Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters belong to J.K. Rowlings. Plot (what little there is of it ^_^) and depiction of characters are mine. WARNING: The future of this piece of fiction contains slash/yaoi/shonen ai/homosexual relationships.
Reviews greatly appreciated, specifically on characterisation. The more I deal with non-main characters from the books, the more likely it is that I end up verging towards out-of-characterisation problems. So early warnings might be nice. ^_^
Reply to reviews and author's note after chapter.
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Chapter Seventeen: Scenelets
The first class of the day started at nine - for Hermione Granger, the day technically began at five, although she woke up and left for breakfast at the same time as Lavender and Parvati. The strangely expressionless look on Ron's face as she and Dean left the Great Hall early stayed in her mind as she hurried up the fourth corridor.
"What's wrong with Ron?" Dean asked, "I swear, he looked like he wanted to kill me." Dean paused and added with slight hesitation, "It's not about threatening him yesterday is it? Cause that was a joke - mostly."
Hermione shook her head, "I have no idea. They - Harry and Ron - don't really tell me these things." She paused, "Usually I have to force them to tell me anything really." She pushed aside the surge of sadness at those words; there was no time for melodrama, - it was already the third day of the new school year.
"Do you think Cho Chang and her group found a solution? They seemed happy yesterday night at dinner." Dean commented as they ran up the stairs, pausing only to grip the sides as stone shuddered and revolved across empty air.
Hermione remembered the exhaustion in the three Ravenclaw students last night. They had probably over used the time turners to reach a solution so quickly. And yet, we are still running out of time. Time - it all seemed to come down to time. Time that the time turners could give - but not the rest and respite it was supposed to provide. Still, they looked - happy.
Harry had noticed she knew - he had brightened up when he had caught sight of Cho Chang's smile.
"I hope she has." Hermione said finally as the staircase reached the second corridor. They flipped the time turners together; three and a half hours prior to that moment, Hermione continued, "If we can't find a way to hide the students after we evacuate them, we might as well not bother."
*
Draco Malfoy's eyes snapped open to the (now) familiar sight of the underside of his bed and firmly forced himself to forget the last remnants of the dream hovering on his subconscious. It was the third day of the new school year, and the second day thus far he had woken up with a - problem. Problem. That's a new euphemism.
The silence of the room bolstered his sense of isolation - normally something to be hated, now something to be treasured. He slipped his hand underneath the blankets and closed his eyes. Pansy - naked - no! Dressed in that pink slip she said her youngest aunt bought her for Christmas.
He slipped into the vision - Flash of cream. Tinted with gold - where does she go during the summer - and golden hair, smells of vanilla, and -
Stone cold underneath my back; black hair - no gold - no black. Green eyes. Too real to be a dream - too surreal to be real. A roll of his hips to confirm mutual attraction; a gasp of surprise and shock and acceptance. Hands, pressed against his chest - no, running against his skin, touching him -
Draco forced his eyes open from the dream like state he had fallen into. Morgen-cursed. He hoped with a passion that would have been frowned upon by his ancestors that whatever it was about the curse that was giving him dreams on Potter would stop soon.
That wasn't a dream. Not all of it.
Draco frowned at the thought. Blame it on the House Elves. If they would just use more magical mold remover I wouldn't have been using those bathrooms. And then he wouldn't have walked straight into Potter half asleep. Draco shuddered.
This is humiliating. Honestly - dreaming about Potter. Next thing I'll be talking to the youngest Weasley - Jenny or whatever it was her name is. And then I might as well call myself Longbottom and resign myself to being a pathetic idiot born solely to amuse others with my utter inanity.
His body, however, didn't share his good taste in sexual partners. I'd settle for the right sex. Draco paused and shook away the thoughts. Pansy and a pink slip. And champagne, strawberries and chocolate - because only plebs do it quickly.
Though he doubted he'd last for much longer - but his imagination could at least slip in several hours between one hasty stroke and the next.
In the room, the silence broken only by his hissed breath, it was - almost - all right. In the moment when his vision flickered be-silvered white, he could almost imagine that things were - normal. Almost forget the reason for the bare walls and floor that made up this cell-by-another-name.
*
"The fact remains unchanged," Cho Chang stated in a clear, high voice that, Hermione knew, would have drawn Harry's attention like kneazles to catnip, "We cannot evacuate children to unknown locations without the permission of their guardians."
The sixth year Ravenclaw stood before the Order and most of the faculty members of Hogwarts with an aura of complete assurance, black hair tucked neatly behind her ears. Hermione stared at her - She really is beautiful. She thought with equal handed fairness. But other than being really smart with enviable composure and maturity - which most of the Ravenclaws have anyway - what does Harry see in her? I've been working with Cho all summer and I still think she has a personality like a pancake. Either she's hiding a depth of syrup underneath or there's nothing there but intelligence. And intelligence without use, as Grandmother always said, is data without information. Hermione shook the thoughts away - Maybe I just don't understand what boys see in girls. Maybe all Harry really saw was the beauty. How depressing. She turned back to the presentation - one of the other two Ravenclaw students was holding up a map of the United Kingdom, detailing the positions of the hidden places that were currently being prepared for use.
"As we are all aware, blood-based tracing spells - while usually ineffective - are a risk that we cannot accept." Cho continued and paused briefly to answer the question raised by a second year on blood-based tracing spells.
Hermione mentally recited the definition. Cho was correct - the risk was one even a Gryffindor would not accept. Tracing spells were hard - combining three of the four main magical arts - and likely to fail completely outside of a small amount of space (about the size of a room, she had estimated). However, blood - especially shared blood - was powerful. The blood of a family member, coupled with intent was a combination unlikely (if at all) to fail. Blood and hope. It was the origins of magic.
"The families will be, understandably, unwilling to knowingly allow their children to be hidden - without reason. Our problem is that while we can provide the reason, the majority of the wizarding community will not believe its viability. As it stands, the situation reduces itself to two extremes - risk the safety of the hidden places, or reveal their existence." Cho Chang paused, "Neither of these extremes are particularly conducive to the purpose of the Order - that is, to protect the students of Hogwarts and create a working hidden network in the muggle world. Thus, the only possible solution discovered by our task group is to expose You-Know-Who's existence to the wizarding world. The knowledge will camouflage our actions, aid in preparations of the wider world at large for the threat -"
Hermione was struck by a sudden sensation of inadequacy as the room exploded into murmurs. The Ravenclaw sixth year's proposed solution would solve all the problems the students in the Order had faced while attempting to find some way to evacuate four hundred students and keep them safely hidden. Simple - yet effective. Hermione shook her head, But almost impossible to achieve - still, the idea is brilliant. Another thought struck her: At least Harry falls for smart girls. Unlike Ron. Hermione frowned. She had been having the strangest arguments with him lately. If I didn't know better, I'd swear he was jealous. Except I can't, for the life of me, determine who he's jealous of.
" - not to mention discredit Minister Cornelius Fudge, thus disabling his ability to sabotage any further strategies in this war." Cho Chang finished with a twisted smile.
There was a brief moment of silence before the applause started; Hermione glanced towards where the teachers - including Professor Dumbledore - were seated. All of them - except the Headmaster - wore confounded expressions mingled with genuine surprise. Didn't expect this from the 'children' did you? Professor Dumbledore caught her glance and smiled, gold rimmed glasses glinting in the early morning sunlight streaming through the windows.
*
"Mornin' Draco." Greg mumbled, mouth full.
Draco ignored the boy, sliding into his seat - Greg, Blaise and Pansy automatically shuffled several inches away. In the midst of the Great Hall, Draco found himself surrounded by space.
"Slytherin Quidditch trials today." Greg remarked quietly.
"Are you going to try for Bludger?" Blaise asked.
Pansy, seated on the other side of Blaise looked up briefly, "You would be a natural, Greg." She said, with a brief smile that Draco caught out of the corner of his eyes; breakfast today consisted of the usual pancakes, toast, bacon and eggs.
Greg shrugged, "Maybe. Probably try Chaser - since Vince isn't here any more." He continued, low voice a continuous bass rumble.
Marcus Flint had graduated the previous year - as had his Gryffindor counterpart, Oliver Wood. Which meant the position of Quidditch Captain - for both Houses - were up for grabs. And if there is any question on who the Gryffindor Captain will be - then Professor Snape will charm the Dark Lord's robe pink at the next dark revel. Draco thought bitterly, looking up to glare at the trite trio.
"Are you going to stay on as Seeker, Draco?" Pansy asked, voice soft enough that nobody but the three boys could hear her.
Draco turned from the Gryffindor table, surprised - despite himself, "What? Why would I give up being Seeker?" And let Potter think he's won - again? I'd as soon declare my undying love for the Weasel and the Beaver!
Blaise was staring at him - so was Pansy. Only Greg remained placidly eating his breakfast.
"Draco, isn't it a little - dangerous - for you to fly?" Blaise finally said, "The broomsticks are, well - wooden."
"Go up in a puff of smoke if you touched it." Greg rumbled agreeably.
Draco stared at them, a sinking sensation in his stomach. Morgen-cursed. It was becoming a statement rather than blasphemy.
The Weasel was laughing - head thrown back, red hair a scarlet flag echoed three times through the table. The Beaver looked embarrassed and had turned a light shade of red. Potter just looked confused. Natural state for the idiot. Weasley leaned over, muttering something into Potter's ear - hand casually thrown around the other boy's shoulder. Bastard.
Potter had won - just like that, without knowing it. Without raising a finger. Without a question being raised on the possibility of his failure. Bastard. Bastard. Bastard.
The scream caught Draco by surprise; he blinked and realised half the Gryffindor table were standing, jumping back from (a knot of apprehension twisted in his stomach) the flames that were suddenly burning merrily in the centre of the table. The Great Hall - till then filled with noise - was suddenly silent.
"Fred and George Weasley!" Professor McGonnogal snapped, stalking to the table.
"It wasn't us, Professor!" two voices chimed immediately, "Honest!"
"Fifty points -" there was a low groan of dismay from the Gryffindors, " - and a month of detentions for blatant disregard of the safety of your house mates." Professor McGonnogal bit out.
Draco smirked, Well, looks like there are some benefits to this curse.
"Mister Malfoy." Professor Snape's low voice sent shivers of dread running down his spine; he straightened in reflex and turned, schooling his face to be blank.
"Good morning, sir."
"My office, Mister Malfoy." Snape said, "Now."
Potter was talking with Weasley and Granger, the three heads close to each other, shoulders casually touching as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Pansy murmured good luck as Draco stood - spine straight, movements controlled - one hand briefly hovering over his shoulder. She allowed it to stay there - long enough for the warmth to radiate through the material. Bastard. Bastard. Bastard. Bastard.
*
" - coming Hermione?"
Hermione jerked out of her reverie - realised with a start she was eating broccoli (something she avoided if she could help it) and that Ron had been talking to her for the past minute. Oh - damn. She rewound the conversation through her mind and sighed. Nothing important then.
"I'm sorry Ron - I don't have time. I still have to finish my Muggles in the Wizarding World homework." Not quite a lie - she had begun to catalogue anything that was not part of her real classes as homework for the fictional subject.
Ron looked disappointed, then brightened, "I still have to finish that scroll Hagrid -" he made a face, "Hagrid giving scrolls. Has the world gone mad? I'll be glad when practical classes start again - set last week. I'll join you in the library."
Hermione could only nod (Ron? Actually doing homework/ Before it's due?) numbly and mentally added four extra hours to her already long day. I should probably start on my Arithmancy assignment anyway.
"Guess you'll have to watch the Quidditch trials by yourself, Harry." Ron continued, oblivious to Hermione's mental sigh.
Harry looked up from where he had been swirling patterns through his mash potatoes, "What?"
"The Quidditch trials. Remember?" Ron said, "We were going to watch them together - except, well, I'm going to finish my Magical Creatures assignment with Hermione so you'll be by yourself now."
Harry frowned, "Oh - I'll join you two in the library -"
"No -!" both Hermione and Harry jumped slightly in shock at the vehemence in Ron's voice, "Ah - I mean - well, you really wanted to watch the Ravenclaw trials remember, Harry. So you could talk to Cho Chang -?" Ron was pantomiming something to Harry.
Hermione rolled her eyes. Oh this is about Cho again. Honestly, if this was the way they acted when they were fifteen, she wasn't sure she wanted to be around them until after they graduated.
"Oh - okay." Harry said, "I guess - I could talk to Cho." He trailed off, staring back down at his dinner.
*
"I'll meet you in the library in twenty minutes." Hermione placated Ron, shoving him out of the portal - barely noting the Fat Lady's squawk of surprise at the sudden motion.
Ron frowned, "But why can't I just wait for you in the common room -"
"I - well, there might not be any tables left -"
"Why not? It's not as if there are any assignments due any time soon -"
Hermione sighed, "Look - it's just a girl thing, all right?"
Ron went red, "Oh - ah - right -" he glanced around uneasily then said, "I'll just - wait for you at the library, right?"
"You do that." Hermione said, letting the portrait swing back into place; she glanced around the Common Room - currently empty, most of the students were either still at dinner or out on the Quidditch Pitch for the trials. Better do it quickly before Ron comes back or something worse. She thought, gathering her bag and flipping the time turner.
The sunlight streaming through the windows was the only sign that time had reversed itself - again. The Common Room was safely deserted - the last classes of the day were still being held after all. Hermione lit the fire with a clearly spoken 'incendio' and threw in the pinch of floo powder, "Professor Snape!"
The flames turned green after a brief pause; Hermione stepped through without hesitation. Her last thought before she was whirled away to the dungeons via Hogwarts' internal floo network was: This day just keeps getting longer and longer.
*
Ron Weasley was not stupid. Well, at least I don't think I'm stupid. He added with the honesty that was an integral part of his nature. He knew something was wrong. Harry wouldn't talk about the holidays - and hadn't mentioned anything about his godfather or his dreams. Sure sign that he was hiding something. He would have mentioned this to Hermione - but she was already running herself ragged (and it was only the third day of school! He wondered if she would go mental from overwork before or after the Christmas holidays). Which meant that he was the one who would have to figure out what was wrong. How hard can it be?
He even knew exactly where to start. Ron grinned as he slung his book bag over his shoulder and made his way down to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. And the new Defence Professor's office. He gave nary a thought to the fact that his self-appointed mission would likely make him late for his meeting, in twenty minutes, with Hermione Granger.
Which, in all likelihood, was a good thing as at that precise moment, Hermione Granger was staring in shock at an ancient parchment and uttering those immortal words: "That's impossible!"
*
Harry Potter carefully shut the door to the broom closet that had been given the name 'Seeker's Space' long before his godfather, father and mother had first arrived at Hogwarts. He slid, ignoring the rough friction of the splintering wood against his back. I shouldn't have asked. Simple words - and a simple command - that could now never be followed.
He might have cried - had his insides not felt as twisted as the tails of a king rat. He might have hit something, had he not known - with that voice of reason that speaks even in the worse of traumatic moments - the explanations to Madam Pomfrey was a risk he could not take. He might have shouted - had he known how to create wards that would trap sound. He might have travelled in time to stop himself - But if I could - I would go all the way back and make all of this impossible.
He cradled his head in arms supported by raised legs and stared, sightlessly at the darkness behind his eyelids. I shouldn't have asked her. . . I shouldn't have - he swallowed. The silence in the Seeker's Space mocked him. Outside, on the pitch, he could still hear the Ravenclaw Captain calling out encouragement to the students attempting to become the new Keeper. There were several more waiting to try for the newly vacated position of Ravenclaw Seeker.
Why did I ask her?
He hadn't meant to ask Cho Chang - but he had - I shouldn't have said anything. He should never have even approached her. Idiot - stupid, brainless - Gryffindor - idiot -!
The door was a solid weight against his back; she had stared at him as if he had committed the greatest betrayal - and he hadn't been able to meet her eyes. He had looked down, and seen the yellow and black band wrapped around the upper arm of her robes and hadn't been able to drag his eyes away.
I shouldn't have had to ask. I should have known.
Cedric Diggory was dead - and nothing could ever be the same again. And maybe. . . Maybe I should stop pretending that it can be.
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Author's Note:
They're all oblivious aren't they? Hermione doesn't know what Ron is
doing. Ron has no idea what Hermione is
up to. And neither of them have noticed
Harry - though admittedly, Harry has spent most of his time trying to make sure
they didn't notice. Still, this chapter
wasn't as depressing as the original draft.
(Speaking of that particular draft, the Draco dreams - or should that be
Harry dreams? - were heavily edited. I pushed
my PG-13 rating just a little too far and decided that serious editing was
required). Now on to the replies to
reviews! ^_^ (Hey - I'm two reviews short of a hundred. 0_0 Wow.)
Ameal Kensig, Ann - thank you!
MistyKasumi - the scene between Draco and Harry (referenced in the previous chapter and briefly mentioned in the first scenelet of this chapter) will be further described as the chapters progress. Suffice to say, Draco is taking it more seriously than Harry (who has more things on his mind at the moment).
AshFarley - Don't worry, the Latin quote will be explained fully (complete with author's note explanation if needed). In fact, the next chapter will revolve around Draco and Severus and Hermione's research on what his 'gift' actually is (not to mention the earring Narcissa Malfoy sent to Severus).
Sildtsr - ~nervous grin~ Well, I took your advice and posted to fictionalley.org. Not all the chapters (as they read through each submission manually, I thought it'd be a good idea not to give the poor volunteers too much of a headache first time through ^_^) but eventually I'll be manually uploading both to Fanfiction.net and Fictionalley.org.
Kandra - Hermione is definitely one of the more complex characters I seem to be trying to write isn't she? ^_^
Now, as for your question - there are two sequels tentatively planned at the moment. You'll just have to wait to find out precisely what happens however. ^_^ (No, no spoilers. Not till Without Question's Epilogue at least!)
tnf - I wondered if anybody would catch the Monty Python reference. ^_^
Draco mentioned to Severus that nobody - not even Voldemort - expected his 'power' to be so 'great'. Pansy Parkinson mentions that the 'collar' (or torque) Draco wears can't completely control the 'gift' on the Hogwarts Express. I can't say much - as this is part of the plot - but Voldemort does not as yet realise Draco's 'gift' isn't completely controlled by the 'collar' he's wearing. That Harry's touch use to burn Voldemort - and cannot be harmed by Draco - is significant. Additionally, Draco's 'gift' - and the chaos he's currently causing - plays less of a part in the battle Draco believes he will be part of then he realises.
As for Narcissa Malfoy - she does reappear, but not for a while yet. ^_^
A/N: Review? Please? If only to point out plot holes? Or out-of-characterisation? Or if not tell me how much you loved it (this last because Sildtsr told me to stop asking for 'it sucks' messages ^_^)