Sympathy for the Slytherin

Chapter 9: The Invisible Door

A/N: I've given the wizarding world an alternative press. Go progress! So I'm nowhere even near to being halfway done, which is daunting. And now I'm wasting my time riding on the bus thinking, I wander what Draco should wear to the Borgie Ball... which won't be for another few chapters anyway. Sigh. BRIT SLANG: You guys probably know this, but a is a or, I suppose, a cute girl more specifically. Maybe it means a girl friend. I'm not sure actually. Something like that.

Remembrall: Draco killed his father, angst and more angst, Hermione's his tutor, he's in Gryffindor now, they're a couple. Ron's a powerful telepath, Ginny's great with potions (she's with Harry), Draco's a , Hermione's a dream prophetess, Harry and Draco can shoot push/pull lasers out of their respective scars. A strange bird is following Ron around. Erumpets and cocoanuts are in the Forbidden Forest. Lupin's back. And, oh yeah, Draco has a sister who's guardian (Narcissa's old Hogwarts friend) just died. That about covers it.

Chapter 9: The Invisible Door

Hermione's foot was tapping impatiently under a table in the common room. Her knee jiggled causing the table to vibrate slightly as she shuffled a deck of Exploding Snap cards. She wasn't paying attention to her hands as Harry explained in depth what he and Ron had seen in Dumbledore's pensieve. Ron wasn't completely listening. He eyed Hermione nervously from across the table, biting his lip. Hermione had a habit of using the Snap cards haphazardly. Ron's eyes went wide as she absentmindedly cut the cards and started to shuffle them into a bridge.

It was some kind of invisible door but-

Hermione, wait!

WAM!

The cards exploded in Hermione's hands and the girl coughed, waving the cloud of black smoke away as Ron and Harry sat forward in their chairs. The smoke cleared and the boys saw Hermione frown down at a pile of ashes and blackened card fragments.

Another ruined Snap deck, Ron said dourly.

I thought they were supposed to explode, Hermione said, still coughing.

You always say that, Ron said. They can't all explode at the same time, that's why you can't do a bridge thingy. I keep telling you.

Hermione mumbled, sweeping the ashes into a dustbin. Anyway, so a short person in a black cloak popped out of an invisible door and broke the Frozen Flame in two...

But one of the death eater's stole a half, Harry said.

said Ron, and the Mystery Man tossed the other half through the invisible door and then popped back in himself and disappeared.

An invisible door... Hermione said skeptically.

Whoever it was, Harry said, Dumbledore saw him. And he looked shocked.

So, Dumbledore knows who has it, said Hermione. One half of it anyway. And a death eater's got the other half...

So it's not exactly lost, Ron said. Dumbledore knows whose got it.

Yeah, whoever took it must've been a good guy, Harry said.

But someone Dumbledore wasn't expecting, Ron said. Maybe it's some other bad guy we don't even know about.

Harry looked horror stricken. Don't say that.

Maybe not, Ron said quickly.

A house elf? Hermione suggested.

They gave her looks. A house elf? Harry asked.

You said he was short, Hermione said. Hermione leaned back in her chair and stared idly over her head. Her brow gradually furrowed as she realized there was a trail of footprints along the common room ceiling.

What the bloody...

Not that short, Ron said, interrupting her thoughts. Besides that, he had a wand. Elves don't need wands.

Thing is that, we don't even know what the Frozen Flame is, Harry said, exasperated.

Yipped Hermione and then said quite casually, It's a plague.

Ha! I knew it made me people sick! Ron said triumphantly. But just as quickly he said in a low voice, What kind of plague?

said Hermione, once released it would destroy every muggle on the planet.

said Ron with false brightness, so we're fine then.

said Harry, no worries.

A door slammed shut in the direction of the girls dormitories and Ginny appeared trotting down the stairs, a newspaper under her arm, having changed her clothes for the second time that day.

What's going on? She asked, taking a seat next to Harry.

Tribulation, world apocalypse, the usual, said Harry, reaching a hand up to play with his girlfriend's curly red ponytail.

Are you sure it was an invisible door? Hermione asked. Maybe he touched a port key and you missed it.

It wasn't a port key, Ron said firmly.

Invisibility cloak? She asked.

said Ron, frustrated. The movement was... you didn't see it. It wasn't a cloak. Trust me.

Invisible door... Hermione murmured. Sounds suspect.

Ginny put her newspaper on the table and began to leaf through it. Hermione frowned. It was not The Daily Telegraph.

Hey, what's that, Ginny? She asked. Is that the-

The Weekly, Ginny said, nodding. Magic's Independent Weekly. Have you seen it?

Started up last year, didn't it? Hermione asked, eyes eager to look.

What's that? Ron muttered absently.

It's a bit different from the Telegraph, Ginny said smiling.

Ginny pushed the paper across the table to Hermione who took time to examine it. It was a large magazine style newspaper. The glossy cover had a color glossy picture of an annoyed Cornelius Fudge. One of the headline titles read:

CORNELIUS FUDGES ON LARGER DE INVESTIGATION

The Cornelius Fudge in the picture kept crossing his arms impatiently and shaking his head.

Other articles were things like:

MUGGLE RELATIONS SYMPOSIUM SET FOR SPRING

and,

HUNT CONTINUES FOR KILLER OF NOTED AUROR

Hermione said.

Ginny agreed. It's got some pretty radical views. Ideally it proposes that someday the wizarding and muggle world should be able to fully communicate. All together in the same world.

Harry said, awed at the very idea.

Dad loves this paper, Ginny said.

I don't see why, Ron grumbled. It doesn't even have a sports page.

The door to the common room opened and their heads whipped around to see Draco saunter in the room, looking pensive. He sat down in a chair in front of the fireplace. Hermione noted this. If he were really upset, he would've gone straight to his dorm.

It would appear that I have a sister, Draco declared.

said Harry, Hermione showed us the um...

Draco nodded but continued staring straight ahead. He wasn't completely comfortable with this group dynamic thing yet, but he supposed he'd have to get used to it if he was going to be with Hermione. And if he had some kind of with Harry. And Ron could read his mind if he really wanted to anyway. There was one new worry that was now plaguing his mind that he hoped Ron did not feel obliged to uncover or expose.

Ever since his mother had described to him his father's descent into the legion of death eaters, Draco couldn't help but obsess about the effects of dark magic. On the one hand, Dumbledore had told him that men make choices. That his father had chosen evil, while Draco had rebelled and chosen to do good. But, Draco thought, if the dark arts took a hold of your mind, where then did choice stand? Was there a point his father had reached where, even he had wanted to escape, he couldn't? But Snape had escaped. What did that mean? He also couldn't help but think about all his own dabbling in the dark arts. His father had taught him the cruciatus. For , he said. And that night on Grier's Mountain, Draco had spoke the avada kedavra twice. So what if that dark magic still had some kind of hold over him? And what if he found himself using dark magic again and choice went out the window?

Finally, he turned his head to look at them. He had to put this aside for the moment. He certainly didn't want to talk about it to anyone but Hermione anyway. And he didn't want to worry her right now. They all had so much to think about.

Her name is Dabria, he said, pushing away his philosophical brooding. She's fifteen.

Hermione cried. And you never knew about her?

Mother managed to hide her away when she was born to protect her from Lucius... and from me, I suppose, he explained. But she'll be coming here in a while, now that Lucius is out of the picture.

So who raised her? Hermione asked.

An old friend of my mother's, Draco said. Daimhin Forsythe, an auror.

Daimhin Forsythe... Ginny said, turning the pages of the Magic's Independent Weekly, Wait a minute, that's the auror who was murdered a few weeks ago!

Oh, no, Hermione said sadly.

That's right, said Draco. Dumbledore thinks it was a retaliation killing for Grier's Mountain. Forsythe was there that night.

That poor girl, said Ginny.

Yeh, that sucks, Ron said.

After Forsythe was killed, she was taken to Auror Camp for her safety, until my mother got her back through Dumbledore just a few days ago, Draco explained.

Lupin must know her, Harry said idly. And Sirius.

You're going to have to explain this Sirius business with me, Potter, Draco said. I was under the impression he was an escaped killer?

Good Merlin! Ginny cried. All this explaining takes so much time! Should we start a newsletter or something?

Hermione chuckled. she said with a smirk. And Draco doesn't even know about the guy in the cloak and the invisible door.

Draco frowned. Who's the guy in the cloak?

***************************************************

The sun was out and there was a cool breeze in the air following a long talk in the common room. Hermione tugged a little on her t-shirt. She was dressed in jeans and her wand was secure in a wand-holder attachment that was all the rage for witches when it was too hot to wear a cloak. Draco's wand was stuck in his back pocket.

said Draco irritably, is what Slytherines like to call a fool's errand.

You're a Gryffindor, Hermione said smugly.

You can take the boy out of Slytherin, Draco said, but you can't take the Slytherin out of the boy.

The two were making their way to the Forbidden Forest following a quick lunch.

There's an explanation for that erumpet, Hermione insisted. And I want to know what it is.

Hi, guys, Harry said breathlessly, trotting up next to them. So what's this about?

I thought you should be here in case there's another erumpet incident, Hermione said. I want to find out why it was there.

Sounds like a fool's errand, he said.

Hermione smirked at Draco who looked slightly put out. Harry trotted beside them but Draco leaned over as they walked to whisper in Hermione's ear. She shivered with pleasure when his lips grazed her ear lobe.

If he's here, he breathed, we can't snog! And then what's the point of going to the forest?

We're not going to snog, she whispered back, and then said cheekily, We can snog later in the library.

Draco sighed, clenching his jaw. I really picked the right girl.

They heard an annoyed huff and Harry started walking backwards in front of them.

Snog. Don't snog, Harry said. You guys aren't fooling anybody, you know.

Hermione blushed and Draco brightened. He'd been annoyed by this implied secrecy anyway.

Alright then, he said, promptly grabbing Hermione by the waist and dipping her backwards in a kiss. Hermione gave a brief of shocked protest.

Harry rolled his eyes and made his way quickly to the forest. I've got to watch what I say around him, he mumbled.

Draco ended the kiss and stood Hermione upright. He grinned in his typically devilish way. Hermione decided it was about time to toy with the Almighty Sexual Confidence of Draco Malfoy and didn't meet his eyes, instead primly straightening her robes as she walked, as if nothing had happened. Draco followed and waited for her to see his cocky grin as she needlessly brushed herself off and refused to smile. Hermione could see his smile fade out of the corner of her eye.

Hey... you're not mad, are you? He asked with a forlorn little-boy-lost expression.

Hermione's mouth twitched in amusement. She hoped this couldn't be considered malice. She had to do something to take him down just a notch. Finally she gazed up at him and her stern expression collapsed into laughter.

Draco stuttered and then said incredulously,

Hermione sang, Dra-cey's insecuuuure!

I am not! He exclaimed, the last word ending shrilly.

They entered the Forbidden Forest and she continued to mercilessly tease him.

Dra-cey's insecuuure!

Alright, you femme fatale, Draco said, you say Dra-cey's insecure' one more time and I'll never do that thing to your ear again.

Hermione didn't believe him for a moment but decided to play along.

Dra-cey fears rejectiooon!

Draco replied loudly and indignantly as Hermione caught up with Harry.

So, what are we actually looking for? Harry asked.

I dunno, Hermione admitted. Something unusual.

********************************************************
Ron tiptoed into the common room and past his sister who had several vials and cauldrons containing various bubbling and fizzing substances spread out onto a large table in a corner by the window. His right hand, inside his cloak, gripped a tiny bottle of Fly potion filched from Ginny's dormitory. His left hand held his broom, a Cleansweep 9 (with carrying strap attachment). Ron snuck past the fellow redhead who seemed very invested in her work and out into the corridor. He couldn't help but jog to the castle's entrance, so excited was he about the prospect of both free falling and trying out Fly potion. A few minutes later he stood just outside of Gryffindor Tower, fingering his bottle of Fly potion. Of course, he could easily have flown on his Cleansweep to the tower's peak.

But where would the fun be in that?

So, feeling reckless because a teacher could appear at any time, Ron chugged the entire bottle of Fly potion. He felt a quiver shiver down his back and suddenly his feet felt just a little heavier. Ron slug his broomstick over his shoulder and gazed at the immense stone wall in front of him.

Here goes nothing, he said with a sigh.

Ron put a foot experimentally onto the wall in front of him. Sure enough it stuck, and he tentatively pulled his other foot up and took a step up the side of the tower. And another step... and another...



******************************************************

Draco, Hermione and Harry poked around the forest searching for the exact spot where the erumpet had appeared. They proceeded to find a few more cocoanuts which made Draco ask Hermione what had been so funny the other night.

Hermione said. The cocoanut thing. It's from this movie. Monty Python and the Holy Grail. She turned to Harry. You've seen it, haven't you, Harry?

Harry mumbled. What is it?

she said, frustrated. They're a British comedy troop. Monty Python! You've never seen that show? Harry looked blank. Dead parrot? Ministry of Silly Walks? Brave Sir Robin?

Harry rose an eyebrow,Do the Dursleys strike you as having any kind of a sense of humor? Add to that, I think I've touched their remote control exactly twice in my entire life.

Hey, what's this? Draco said rhetorically. They had gone deeper into the forest, Hermione periodically conjuring levitating arrows to point their way back. Conjuring another such arrow, she looked over to see Draco picking a piece of paper up off the ground.

What is it? Harry said. They stepped closer to Draco who held a corner of a larger piece of paper. It wasn't parchment. Instead, it looked like a piece of a modern map. Definitely muggle, Hermione thought, judging from the utilitarian straight lines and heavy red curves that denoted muggle highways.

It's a map. A muggle map, Hermione said, bring her lit wand closer. She read street names from the bit of map since the city name was nowhere visible, Olive...Victory... San Fernando... Well, this is definitely not England. Looks like America. Draco turned the piece of paper over to reveal more map on the other side.

Draco read. Where the devil is Burbank?

California, I think, Hermione said uncertainly.

Draco ran his finger along the edges of the map, it had little squares cut into it and was a bit frayed.

It's from a spiral binding, Hermione explained for him.

You're pretty good at this, detective, Harry said, grinning. Shall we dust for fingerprints?

Draco handed the bit of map to Hermione and examined the ground for further clues. Near the foot of a tree he saw a flash of white and bent to pick up an empty paper cup with a plastic lid and a straw stuck in it. The cup read, in red writing with a yellow zigzag.

I found something else, Draco announced. It's a uh... whattaye call it? Fast food?

Harry went to investigate and promptly slipped, falling hard on his rear end. Under his back he felt something cold and slimy and sat up, pulling the thing from beneath him.

Um... Hermione? Harry said. Hermione turned to see Harry holding a very dead orange fish by the end of it's tail. I think this qualifies as unusual. There's no way this got out of the lake by itself. I don't even think this is from the lake.

And a fast food cup... Hermione said, frowning.

Whatever this is, said Draco, it's certainly littering up the place.

********************************************************

Ron was slowly stomping his way up the side of Gryffindor Tower and carefully avoiding windows anywhere near the common room or McGonagall's office. Ron was trying not to think about everything on his proverbial plate. Telepathy Today had already sent an owl asking if he was available for an interview in three days after his classes. Ron sent an owl back and said he supposed that was okay. He had no idea what he was going to say. His thoughts were interrupted by the now familiar vision of the black bird with white tail feathers. It was hovering over him, holding itself upside down so that it could look in his face.


Ron said brightly. He felt silly at being so happy to see the bird. It was just a bird after all.

The bird chirped at him. Ron decided to chat with the little thing. It was the only creature he knew that wasn't concerned about plagues and dark lords and strange new powers.

Ron said casually to the bird, what's a bird like you doing in a place like this? Ron chuckled to himself and took another step. See, that's funny because girls are birds... and you're a bird so... Yeh,it's kinda funny.

If birds could raise eyebrows...

said Ron, as he trudged up the tower, rambling to the bird, I shouldn't talk to you really. For all I know you're an animagus spy. I've had trouble with those before. I can't read your mind though. But maybe telepaths can't read animagus' minds... I don't know. Ron shrugged and said, Oh yeah, so I'm telepathic. This magazine, Telepathy Today wants to interview me. I don't know what I'm going to say. It's weird.

Ron assumed the bird wanted to know why it was weird.

I used to watch everybody pay attention to Harry... But now I'm getting a bit of an idea what it's like to be him.

The bird looked at him questioningly.

It's... It's the expectation! Ron said. That's what it is. They expect something of me now. Like they expect something of Harry. But I don't know what it is. And I don't want to disappoint anyone. You know?

Finally, Ron reached the top of Gryffindor Tower. His feet still sticking to the roof, Ron swiveled around so he was facing the ground and took out his wand. He conjured a net above the ground that could catch him and then dropped the Fly potion bottle, watching it softly bounce off the net.

Thank you, Standard Book of Spells, Ron said.

After all, free falling was extremely dangerous and he had never done it before. And unlike Draco at the top of Astronomy Tower, he had no death wish.

Maybe I don't need it, Ron said, grinning at the bird, which was still flitting about his head. If I fall, you could catch me. Ron chuckled to himself and took his broom from over his shoulder. See, girls are birds and you're a bird so... yeah.

Ron held the broom in one hand and stared down at the ground. The net was transparent and therefore a matter of faith. A quote occurred to him. He had no idea who'd said it originally. It was something Hermione had been babbling about once last year in one of her Ron-you-should-really-be-working-harder lectures.

Ron mumbled. Mione kept saying something about faith or... having faith in yourself? I dunno. He was stalling for time. The bird seemed to sense it. I... have faith that the net will catch me!

Ron stood on precipice of the tower, ready to drop his broom and jump.

Alright then, Ron muttered. Here goes nothing.

Ron dropped his broom and stepped off the tower.

But the fall happened so fast and the sensation of falling was so overpowering that Ron forgot all about the broom as he tumbled head over foot, seemingly plummeting to his death. By the time he remembered to grab the stick and flailed wildly for it in the air, he hit the net, which turned to be more like a trampoline.

BOUNCE.



BOUNCE.



BOUNCE.



BOUNCE.

Ron felt like he'd been bouncing for ten minutes by the time managed to come to a rest, his broom a few feet away. He appeared to be levitating above the ground on his transparent net, as he stared at the sky. The bird perched on his chest and looked a little apologetic.

Ron said breathlessly, I thought I would fall slower.

********************************************************

Hermione and Draco were considering the question of the fish, the map and the soda cup.

What does this mean? Harry said, primarily asking Hermione since this was her little investigation. It looks like muggles have been gallivanting around the Forest or something. But how would they get here? And why are they bringing dead fish?

I don't know, Hermione said softly, holding the map in one hand and her wand in the other. She idly strolled around and stepped near a shrub with red leaves.

Then she disappeared.

Draco shouted, seeing his girlfriend suddenly vanish into thin air.

Harry said, looking up from his inspection of the dead fish.

She's gone!

**********************************************************

With one step Hermione found herself suddenly surrounded not by the Forbidden Forest but by sand and wooden columns. Hermione audibly yelped in shock but stepped no further. She looked around without moving from her spot. She was underneath a huge pier, standing on sand. It looked like early morning. To the east, the sky had just risen and it glinted off the water. Beyond the barnacle covered wooden columns that stretched to the end of the long pier, she could see the ocean. To each side of her she could see through to the open beach where a few muggle adults were jogging along the shore. Behind her she could see what looked like a city beyond the sand. Hermione squinted at a few building that looked like flats. A few cars drove back and forth in front of them.

How on earth is this possible? Hermione wondered. How did I get out of the forest?

The thought did occur to her that the bit of map was actually a port key that took a while to kick in. But Hermione dismissed it as another notion that made her widen her eyes.

...So a short person in a black cloak popped out of an invisible door...

An invisible door!

******************************************************

Meanwhile Draco was lunging for the spot where Hermione had disappeared before Harry grabbed him by the arm.

Malfoy, wait!

Draco tried to shake him off. Leggo, Potter!

Harry shouted. I think it's an invisible door she's walked through!

Draco turned around and eyed Harry as if he'd just said that Pansy Parkinson was playing for the Chuddley Cannons.

A what? He said shrilly.

I told you... Harry said, the invisible door on Grier's Mountain? Maybe it's the same thing.

Maybe she touched a port key, Draco mumbled.

Wait, look, Harry said. He tossed the dead fish to the spot where Hermione had vanished. It disappeared.

*****************************************************

Hermione yelped when the dead fish smacked her right in the face as she was trying to figure out just where the invisible door began and ended. It appeared to start right next to that particularly over barnacled wooded column. She reached her hand out toward where the dead fish had come from and saw it disappear so that it looked as if her hand had been cut off at the wrist. She braced herself against the column and stuck her head where her hand had been. Immediately she saw not the beach, but the Forbidden Forest and Draco and Harry looking alarmed.

There's no need to throw fish, She said wryly.

*******************************************************

Draco raised his eyebrows as the fish disappeared. A second later a hand appeared in mid-air, clearly Hermione's.

Draco said. He'd been half afraid that she'd been sucked into some kind of vortex.

A second later her head appeared, a good naturedly annoyed look on her face.

There's no need to throw fish.

Well, that was Potter, Draco said smoothly. I would never do such a thing.

Is it an invisible door? Harry asked.

Hermione said excitedly. Just a second!

Hermione disappeared again. A few moments later her whole body appeared through the door.

What was on the other side? Draco asked.

A beach, Hermione replied. In fact, it was probably California. Underneath a big pier. I marked a wooden posty thing so you can find it from the other side. I should mark this shrub too.

She proceeded to several of the leaves on the shrub yellow with her wand, hoping it looked inconspicuous if you weren't looking for it.

So I think I was wrong, Hermione said. Apparently there are invisible doors. Maybe there was one on Grier's Mountain.

Hermione mulled over this as Harry found other evidence of transported debris' from the invisible door.

This still doesn't explain the Erumpet, Harry pointed out. Assuming that door leads to California... They don't have Erumpets, do they?

Draco walked around the shrub, carefully avoiding the invisible door. Hermione watched him walk between two apprehensive Flutterby bushes.

Draco started to say, I wonder if there are any-

And then he disappeared.

There's another one! Hermione said in surprise.

****************************************************

More. Ow! Draco finished his sentence as he walked through another invisible door and fell. Apparently the other side of this door was just about a foot off the ground so that Draco had stepped into air and then fell onto the suddenly dry dirt below.

That was rude, he grumbled to himself.

Draco stood and dusted himself off and looked up into two large black eyes. Draco started but the big eyes remained calm. He found himself staring at the face of a large kebra which was chewing on some dry grass. The kebra (which was basically a zebra with rainbow colored stripes and a very nice singing voice) regarded him with only mild interest and then walked away to the rest of the herd. Draco watched the beautiful colors of his stripes ripple in the sun. He looked around and in the distance saw several erumpets sleeping by a stream. Draco turned around to find the door again, reaching out his hand. His hand started to disappear and he yelped when he felt another hand touch it. Hermione stuck her head through the door and grinned.

I would say this explains the Erumpet, Draco said.

********************************************************

Ginny was murmuring to herself. And...

Ginny couldn't even bring herself to whisper the word. She had a theory. If she was right and it worked, she just might be looking at a sizable grant from the Herbs and Potions Association, a huge award for someone so young. Ginny stirred the asphodel into her simmering cauldron.

Voxious potion. Voxius potion was supposed to allow a person to imitate someone else's voice. Complex sure but considering the success of Polyjuice, for example, surely Voxious shouldn't have confounded potions masters for generations.

Yet it had. Voxious was unpredictable. There was no real guarantee of how long you would be able to imitate the voice of the person and often your voice would crack badly. There were whole books written about the famous Problem of Voxious. Ginny had read them all. She'd considered her work with Voxius as a pure hobby. She was too much modest to ever consider that she, little Ginny Weasley, would solve Voxious at fifteen.

Yet through her intensive study of muggle plants and potions she'd seen that the majority of muggle plants and herbs were largely ignored by wizard scholarship, even though a lot of them were thought to contain small amounts of magical properties.

And... tabasco, she whispered, with a quirk of her lip.

What Voxious needed was a little spice. Peppers were an intriguing ingredient. When they burned your mouth they were actually creating all kinds of energy. And tabasco peppers had the highest concentration of magical energy of any muggle pepper. Ginny had analyzed and examined and experimented, but it was the strong gut feeling she had that was telling her this would work.

Ginny uncorked a large vial of pure liquified tabasco pepper and poured it into the bubbling soup. The concoction reacted quickly,fizzing and foaming over the rim of the cauldron.

That should do it... Ginny muttered. She picked up a pair of vial gripper, picked up an empty vial and dunked it into the cauldron, filling it up. She wiped the excess potion dripping down the sides. The stuff was orangey red and looked a little like tomato juice. Ginny held the vial in her hand, it was warm to the touch. Ginny did the same with another vial and slipped both into the pocket of her cloak.

Snape would be down in the dungeons. Ginny made her way down there quickly, butterflies in her stomach at the thought of what she might just have accomplished. She was skipping by the time she found him in his office. He looked up, eyebrows raised. Ginny had become the only student who was not met with a glare.

Miss Weasley? he said hopefully.

Ginny said, breathless. I think I've solved it.

Snape's eyes got big as Ginny slipped one of the vials out of her pocket and handed it to him.

Have you tested it? he asked.

No, not yet, she said, shaking her head. I thought you might want look at it first.

Thank you, Snape said, taking the vial and looking at it in wonder. Well, you have my permission to test it. Be careful. If it works, let me know. But first write out a full account of the results. You've been keeping a journal of your experiments, have you not?

Ginny nodded. Snape had given her a long lecture on the importance of documentation.

Snape said. If it works, duplicate all the journal entries related to the Voxious, all your writings, instructions and send that with a sample to the HPA.

Yes, professor, Ginny said obediently.

Ginny exited his office and stood just outside the door. She uncorked the other vial of Voxious from her pocket and took a large sip of it quickly, before she could think twice about it. Her eyes bulged as the red stuff hit her tongue. It wasn't hot... it was FIRE. But Ginny swallowed it, trying hard not to make a sound and squeezing her eyes shut. She felt as if something had exploded in her mouth as she salivated reflexively, her eyes watering. She opened her mouth and waved her hand in front of it, uselessly attempting to cool it down. Her throat felt like it had been replaced by a hot poker. But Ginny didn't want this to go to waste. She corked the vial and stuck it in her pocket. Immediately she turned around and opened Snape's door again and stuck her head into his office.

Was there something else, Miss Weasley? Snape asked automatically as he unpacked piles of notes about the Voxious.

Ginny's mouth hung open slightly as he spoke. Snape looked up questioningly and Ginny just shrugged, shut her mouth and left his office again. She made her way as quickly as she could out of the dungeons and back toward Gryffindor Tower. She stopped in an empty corridor and looked around carefully to make sure nobody was around.

Ginny opened her mouth and said experimentally, Fifty points from Slytherin!

Her eyes widened in amazement as she heard Snape's angry voice issue from her own lips. She clapped a hand to her mouth and started giggling uncontrollably, only to hear Snape's voice giggling instead. It sounded very odd and it only made her laugh harder. Ginny shut her mouth tightly and ran as fast as she could toward the Gryffindor Tower.

Ginny knew exactly what her dear brother had been doing as she mixed the Voxious. She even knew that he had filched the Fly potion and she had planned a delectable idea for getting him back should the Voxious work.

When Ginny got back to the Tower she ran straight to her dorm and leaned out the window. She couldn't see anything, but she was sure she could hear her brother muttering. She rushed out of her room to her brother's dorm and leaned out of his window. She had just enough time to pull her head back inside as Ron went flailing past her and grabbed his falling broom just before he seemed to bounce off of something. Ginny's heart fell to the floor before she could think, until she saw him sit up and roll off of what was apparently a net. She also saw that he was being followed by that strange bird. She watched him grumble and pick up his broom, slinging it over his shoulder and make his way back to the entrance. The bird flew away.

Ginny fled from the dorm, out of the Tower and toward the front doors of Hogwarts. She rounded a corner just in time to see the front door open and a flash of red hair and she hid behind a large statue in a dark corner. Just as Ron started to walk in the opposite direction, Ginny shouted at him.

RONALD WEASLEY! Snape's voice boomed through Ginny's little lips.

Ron went spastic for a moment, his eyes wide as he spun around.

FREE FALLING IS AGAINST SCHOOL RULES! REPORT TO MACGONAGALL'S OFFICE IMMEDIATELY! ONE HUNDRED POINTS FROM GRYFFINDOR!

Ginny shut her mouth and watched Ron. He was looking around wildly. He was completely freaked.

But Pro-

DO NOT TALK BACK TO ME! I DON'T CARE HOW INCREDIBLY BRILLIANT YOUR SISTER IS, RONNIEKINS! YOU MAY BE FACING EXPULSION FOR THIS!

Ron gasped, wheeled around and all but sprinted toward MacGonagall's office. Probably to attempt to explain himself before Snape showed up.

When he was gone, Ginny collapsed in a fit of Snapey laughs which eventually cracked into much higher pitched Ginny giggles.

It wasn't until Ron had left MacGonagall's office after waiting for a supposedly angry Snape who never showed up until MacGonagall sent him on his way, that it occurred to Ron.

Wait a minute... Why did Snape call me Ronniekins?

********************************************************

Draco, Harry and Hermione found one more door before they returned to the common room. The third had led to a grassy moor that Hermione suspected was Scotland.

This still doesn't explain the cocoanuts, Draco said as they made their way back to the front steps.

Draco glanced at Hermione and saw her stifling a laugh.

They... they could be carried, Hermione said, just as she busted up into giggles.

Draco just frowned and said,

Hermione stopped laughing and said very seriously, By a swallow.

What- a swallow carrying a cocoanut? Harry asked, looking at her as if she were quite insane.

It could grip it by the husk, she said, laughing again.

Harry rolled his eyes and said, Are you doing that movie again?

Hermione nodded and held her stomach as she laughed breathlessly.

You're a looney, Draco said simply.

Hermione collapsed onto the grass and started to turn purple. Draco was a bit concerned. She didn't appear to be breathing, she was laughing so hard.

Hermione said brokenly, but... a scratch!

Draco and Harry exchanged annoyed looks and walked on as Hermione rolled helplessly around on the grass.

Has she always been this daft? Draco asked Harry.

Harry said, almost apologetically. We thought you knew.

The two made their way up the stairs and into the front corridor only to see none other then Virginia Weasley in hysterics, lying on her stomach and pounding the marble floor with her fists.

Harry and Draco exchanged looks of horror.

Yours too? Draco asked incredulously.

Maybe it's hormones, Harry muttered.

Draco said rhetorically.

You know... the uh... Harry drew a circle in the air with his finger and mouthed the word

Draco raised his head in understanding and then grimaced.

Oh, Lord... he muttered, going a bit pale.

WHERE'S MY SISTER?!

Harry and Draco whipped around to see a much aggravated Ron, his face red enough to match his hair.

Draco smirked and said to Harry,

Ron shouted dramatically, pointing at his sister who was still writhing on the floor.

Ginny looked up and pointed back at Ron, his face only making her shriek madly and laugh harder.

Eventually Hermione and Ginny collected themselves and the five made it up the common room, Ron still shaking his fist and grumbling something about Ginny taking advantage of him not taking advantage of his telepathy and making fratricidal threats.

***********************************************************

Hermione sat at her desk in her prefect's bedroom, reading the book that had appeared in the library a couple of days ago and frowning and thinking about the mystery person in the black cloak and the invisible door. She sighed and sat back in her chair, gazing outside and listening to music, a rock album her parents had sent her as a gift. Draco was flying, though it was well after curfew. She stood and went to the window, searching for him in the night sky. Soon enough she spotted him, zipping around on his Firebolt. He was flying around in jeans without his shirt on, without even shoes. Hermione smiled and opened her large windows. The cold wind blew her hair back and made her shiver beneath her white cotton nightgown. She sat on top of her desk and waited for Draco to accept her invitation. Soon enough she saw him soaring nearer the tower and then he flew easily through her window, ducking his head and coming to a soft landing on the carpet. Hermione stayed planted on her desk, swinging her feet. Draco dropped his broom and turned to face her.

Breaking rules again, prefect? he asked, panting. Letting me in at this time of night?

Hermione eyed him up and down. He stood there shirtless and barefoot, face flushed from the cold, shaggy hair hanging over his wide blue-grey eyes.

He looked good enough to eat, she thought. Or lick up and down for that matter. This music wasn't helping to abate her appetite. The electric guitar was slow and seductive, the vocalist's voice strong and sexy.

It's quite possible that I'm your third man, girl,
but it's a fact that I'm your seventh son...

He walked up to her and ran a hand through his hair.

You're insane, you know, she said before he could speak. Flying half naked at this time of night.

Draco shrugged and smirked his patented smirk.

It's invigorating, he said simply. Makes you feel alive.

Hermione nodded and watched as Draco started to hear the music.

Wow, what's playing? he asked.

My parents sent it to me, Hermione said. They're called The White Stripes.

Draco said.

Yes, I agree, Hermione said, her eyes just a little glassy with desire.

I suppose I should go, Draco said with a sigh. Before your prefect self is suspended for having said half naked boy in her room. But thanks for opening your window. The dolts in my dorm closed mine.


Let's have a ball and biscuit, sugar,
And take our sweet little time about it...

Draco started to turn but Hermione reached out and grabbed his broom, tossing it aside and taking his hand, yanking him back to her seat at the desk, a devious smirk on her lips. Draco, surprised, let himself be pulled back and stood in front of her, her knees on either side of his hips.

Draco Malfoy, she said. Lover boy extraordinaire walks out of a girl's bedroom in the middle of the night without so much as a goodnight kiss?

Draco rose an eyebrow and grinned.

Granger, I'm shocked. Thought you'd rush me out of here after that detention and all.

Hermione pulled Draco closer.

Not bloody likely, she whispered.

Let's have a ball and biscuit, sugar,
And take our sweet little time about it...

You want me to stay a while? he asked hopefully.

Why do you think I opened my window, genius?

Draco said, grinning.

She felt his hands and shook her head.

You're cold. You're freezing.

Draco leaned in and kissed her softly.

You're warm, he said in reply.

Hermione rubbed his cold shoulders, trying to warm up his skin.

You bring out the devil in me, she said playfully.

he said. You bring out the saint in me.

That's efficient, she breathed, kissing him again and bring her hands around to his back.

Let's have a ball and biscuit, sugar,
And take our sweet little time about it...

The guitar solo seemed to mimic Hermione's feelings exactly as she rubbed Draco's back and his tongue slid into her mouth. Draco put his hands around her ankles. He slid her nightgown up her legs, making her moan a little and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her lips, her eyes, her cheeks and then just let his slips slide from her eye down to her mouth, almost painfully.

What was this thing, Hermione thought wildly, that was both painful and wonderful? Maddening and inevitable and electric...

And then all thought left her as Draco covered her mouth with his again, one hand on her thigh, the other tangled in her hair. Eventually the two managed to separate their lips, warming each other with hard hot breaths. Hermione rested her forehead against Draco's and clasped her hands around his neck, her eyes falling shut. Draco sighed pleasurably.

Hermione suddenly felt nervous and couldn't think of anything to say except,This song is sexy.

You're sexier, Draco breathed, brushing his knuckles along her neck.

Hermione shivered a little and opened her eyes to see Draco's other hand fiddling with the hem of her nightgown.

I haven't even asked you how you are, Hermione whispered, too shy to recognize the compliment. I just started snogging you immediately, what a bad girlfriend I am.

Trust me, Hermione, Draco said, chuckling huskily, that does not make you a bad girlfriend.

Seriously though, Hermione said. You've had a rather complicated day. How was it talking to your mother?

Oh, it wasn't so bad, Draco said softly. Of course, it's weird that I have a sister.

Yes, it is, Hermione said, giggling. You're a classic only child.

You're an only child too, Draco protested. Aren't you?

Hermione said loftily. But I'm excessively mature for an only child. And Harry's an only child too but he certainly wasn't raised like one.

Potter schmotter, Draco growled. I'm not kissing Potter.

We're getting off the subject at hand, Hermione pointed out. You seemed bothered when you came back from Dumbledore's office...

Draco marveled at her sensitivity. He took a deep breath and thought a moment before explaining.

Dumbledore told me that what matters is choice, he said slowly. He said everyone has a choice of whether they do good or evil.

Of course, Hermione said softly, nodding.

said Draco, my mother said that when a person practices the dark arts, it starts to take a hold of their mind, like an addiction. That's what happened to my father. It even separates you from the ability to do good.

That's true, Hermione said, having read that much in the more advanced DADA textbooks she'd managed to find.

Then how is there a choice? Draco said passionately. She said that once somebody goes as far as becoming a death eater, it's nearly impossible to escape it mentally. No one ever has... except for Snape.

That's right, Snape did, Hermione said. She knew that much about Snape. You still have a choice, she said. It's not like the imperius. It's a struggle, it's a fight. But doing the right thing is always a struggle, Draco. It's never easy. That's usually how you can tell what the right thing is. It's more difficult then the wrong thing.

Draco still looked bothered and Hermione ran a hand through his soft white blond hair.

Hey, what is it? she asked. What are you afraid of?

It's just that... Draco sighed. I've done my share of the dark arts. I was taught to. I killed two people that night. It was in defense but... It was an unforgivable curse...

Oh, Draco... Hermione whispered, squeezing his shoulder. It has no power over you.

How do you know? he asked.

You'd be aware of it if it did, she said wisely. You'd want it too much. But you've broken away from all of that. You know what it is to fight. And you're strong.

Draco looked into Hermione's eyes and saw nothing but the truth.

I just don't want to hurt you, he admitted. Ever. I've done enough to hurt you.

Hermione could hardly breathe, she was so touched. She slid her hands down his arms and smiled at him.

You won't hurt me, she whispered.

How do you know? he asked, raising an eyebrow.

she said, who's the dream prophetess here?

Draco finally cracked a smile but Hermione could tell he had been very serious. She suspected that if he ever thought he was hurting her or was going to hurt her, he might just go jump off a cliff, minus the broom.

Draco leaned in to kiss her again and Hermione's eyes slipped shut.

That song's funny, Draco said when they broke apart. I am your third man.

Hermione smirked devilishly and said,Play your cards right and you might be my first too.

Prefect, you vixen! Draco said with a wide grin, his eyes dancing.

Shut up, blondie, Hermione cracked, pulling him forward again.

********************************************************

Draco lay on his bed atop the covers, the cool night breeze from the window ruffling his bed curtains. He rested his hands behind his head and crossed his ankles. He'd taken some dreamless sleep potion but he found his brain was still a little wired from the whole strange day and his activities with Hermione. He closed his eyes and thought about her eyes and her laugh and her whisper and her lips.

he breathed. Her... my only.

*******************TBC************************************
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