Disclaimer: I bow to the greatness that is JK Rowling and in no way claim any of her characters or ideas.
Detention and New Questions
"I don't believe – This is just – The most ridiculous –" Draco was furious. "Oh, I'm going to get that jumped up Potter and his friends. Malfoy's do not get detention." Draco spat out the last word like it was poison. "And not only detention, but detention with Potter! I don't believe – " Crabbe and Goyle glanced at each other. They had been listening to Draco rant for three quarters of an hour.
Goyle ventured to interrupt their leader. "Malfoy? I know it's going to be awful. Let's try to see the positive side. Maybe you could take this time to find out more information about Potter to use against him later?"
Draco had been pacing in front of the fire in the Slytherin common room, but now turned to face Goyle. "Are you mad? You are! You're a complete raving lunatic. How can you say there's a positive side?" Draco stormed out of the room, through the portrait hole, and up the stairs.
I don't believe this, detention with Potter. What was I thinking, defying my father and joining the Order of the Phoenix? I'm a Malfoy for Merlin's sake!
But, you don't believe what the Death Eaters believe do you? Draco thought, arguing with himself. No, I don't agree with them. What they believe is disgusting, killing for fun, just because some wizards are different.
Draco rushed quickly through the entrance hall and out into the courtyard. It was Thursday evening and most students were in the Great Hall at dinner. Draco was chiding himself for being weak. Of course it was going to be difficult. Did you think it would be easy?
No. I knew it wouldn't be easy, I just wish I had someone to talk to about this. Dumbledore is hard to find, Professor Snape is obviously angry with me, and Potter – who I am supposed to help – is being a complete prat. I just wish I had someone to talk to who would understand.
"Ow! Watch it Malfoy!" Draco was not watching where he was going, and collided with Hermione, who had been wandering aimlessly around the courtyard reading a book. She was knocked to the ground. Hermione felt as if a huge weight had dropped onto her shoulders, but the feeling quickly went away.
"Granger? You're in my way." Draco said matter-of-factly, trying to cover the fact that he had been getting worked up. He was not about to let anyone know that he was weak, especially her.
As Draco stalked off, Hermione picked herself up off the stone slab, dusting her hands on her robes. Well, at least he didn't call me a mudblood.
I didn't call her a mudblood. Why not? Draco had been thinking about this all weekend. He couldn't figure out why he didn't call her names. The answer was simple. He had not wanted to. He just didn't believe it anymore.
It was nearly 6:30. He was going to be late for detention. He broke into a sprint toward Professor Snape's office door. Just as he reached it to knock, the door opened. "Mr. Malfoy, you're right on time." Snape ushered Draco into his office. Harry was sitting in a chair looking very cross. Good to see he feels the same way I do, Draco thought as he sat in the chair opposite Harry.
"Gentlemen," Snape started as he sat behind his desk, "No doubt you two are upset at having detention together. This is a necessary evil. This is the only way to teach you two together, and have no one be the wiser. This is how Professor Dumbledore wanted it."
Both boys' jaws dropped. "I'm sorry sir, but are you saying that this was planned?" Draco was astonished.
"I know you two aren't exactly the best of friends," Snape explained. "Professor Dumbledore and I agreed that we would teach you both what you needed to know under the disguise of detention. This would distract those who might question your time spent together. People like your father, Draco. We paired you together in potions in hopes that you would provide us the opportunity to give you detention. Opportunity knocked on Thursday."
Snape pulled a vial from his desk, filled with a colorless liquid. "Do you know what this is?" he asked.
"Our Veritaserum Potion from last week," answered Harry.
"This potion is very difficult to make, the one you prepared together is the best of the NEWT class. In fact, it rivals mine. Dumbledore thinks this is proof that together you can be very powerful."
It was Harry's turn to be astonished. "Sir, are you saying we're supposed to work together?"
Draco snorted, "Of course that is what he's saying. Don't you know anything?"
Harry stood and turned to Draco. "This is not what I had in mind when Dumbledore told us you had joined the Order. I thought you just needed protection – do you even need that? What are you up to?" Harry accused angrily.
Draco jumped to his feet as well, "You don't know a damn thing about my life. Why pretend you even care? And I certainly don't need protection, I can take care of myself, thank-you-very-much!" he yelled.
"Oh, yeah? If you can take care of yourself, why join the Order?"
Draco was yelling so loud, his face was turning red, "Because I actually want to see the Dark Lord defeated! Is that so hard to believe?" As soon as he said it, Draco wanted to take it back. Bloody hell. That's more than he needs to know.
"Yes, that is very hard to believe! I don't think you actually want that! I think you're here spying on the Order!" Harry shouted.
"That's what we want my father and the Dark Lord to believe!"
For the second time in a week, the boys found themselves staring at the end of the other's wand.
Snape had been watching interestedly, but as soon as the wands emerged, it was time to step in. "Well, now that you two have that out of your system, shall we get on with the lesson?" he asked, amused.
"You both are proficient in Occlumency and Legilimency. Proficiency is not enough. You must master these arts. From there you will learn Synaesthesia," continued Snape.
"So, let's begin."
Hermione was completely taken aback. "Snape and Dumbledore want you to learn Synaesthesia? That's really hard to do, Harry. And you're going to have to do this with Malfoy? Wow." They were sitting at breakfast, and Harry had just explained his detention to his friends.
"Um, Hermione? What's this Sinna- thingy?" asked Ron.
"It's a Greek term, meaning 'sensing at the same time'. Basically it's talking in each other's head. Communicating without speaking, from anywhere in the world. It's very difficult to do. Only ten or so wizards in history have been able to do it. I'm not even sure if Dumbledore can."
"He can," answered Ginny. "Dumbledore's been in my head before. My first year, when Voldemort…" she trailed off. "Anyway, he can," she finished, picking at her breakfast.
"Well, that's who plans on teaching us, so I hope he knows what he's doing," replied Harry, looking concernedly at Ginny.
A loud screeching interrupted their conversation. "Oh, good! Mail's here!" said Hermione excitedly. A large barn owl landed in front of her breakfast. It was carrying a large parcel.
"Hermione, what did you get?" asked Ron. Hermione gave the owl a knut, then tore off the paper covering her package. She grinned and showed it to Ron. Ron read the title: Unspeakables and the Department of Mysteries.
"I ordered it when we got here, but I had to get special clearance. I asked Dumbledore to provide a reference," Hermione said.
Ron tugged at the front cover, "I can't get it open."
"That's because you need a spell, Ronald. I have to write away for the secret spell. Come to the owlrey with me later," Hermione said, but now turned back to the matter at hand. "Harry. Have you started learning Synaesthesia yet?"
"No, we're still practicing Occlumency and Legilimency on each other. Let me tell you, I thought having Snape in my head was awful. You should try having Malfoy in your head," answered Harry.
"Or being in Malfoy's head," Hermione muttered so that only Ginny could hear.
"What does that mean, Hermione?" whispered Ginny.
"Nothing Ginny. Just an observation," Hermione responded quickly.
Ginny promised herself she'd keep an eye on her friend. Something unusual was going on. Well, more unusual than normal for Hermione.
Ron and Hermione climbed the stairs to the owlery; both were discussing how Harry and Draco were ever going to trust each other. Ron pushed open the arched, wooden door to the owlrey and it squeaked in protest to their entrance. Ron held the door for Hermione, and she smiled thanks, confused at his sudden gentlemanly turn.
"Do you think Malfoy's ever going to come around? What do you think he's playing at?" Ron pondered.
"Honestly? I'm inclined to trust Malfoy. There's just something… I can't put my finger on it, but I feel he needs help." Hermione wasn't speaking that last sentence to Ron; it was to herself. Something in her mind had shifted in the last few days. She felt an odd connection to Draco that she was not about to admit to anyone, least of all Ron, and she still could not understand it.
Ron looked at her quizzically, and noticed her faraway expression. "Yeah, I'll help him. Right off a cliff, I'll help him," Ron said sarcastically.
"That's not so nice, you know! Even if he is a Slytherin," a high voice came from the back of the owlrey. Both turned in surprise. "YOU!" Ron called. "First you trod on my feet, and now you're listening to other people's conversations? If you weren't a Gryffindor…" Ron let the threat hang in the air. If he had meant to intimidate her, it didn't work.
The girl came forward and squared her five-foot frame with Ron's six-foot four, accepting whatever challenge Ron was offering. "You don't scare me, Ronald Weasley. You're just as full of it as anyone else in this school. Just because you are good friends with Harry Potter doesn't mean you are allowed to treat people that way. Even Harry is nice to me, and at least he knows my name!" Ron's jaw dropped in amazement.
Hermione watched this exchange with amusement. No girl, besides herself, had ever stood up to Ron like this. Hermione was reminded of herself, looking at this formidable eleven-year-old girl. She took a few steps forward, "Hi. I'm Hermione Granger. That was a very impressive set-down, Miss…?"
"Hazel Nigellus." The girls shook hands, and Hazel smiled up at the older girl. "Ginny said you were nice. I'm glad to meet you!"
"And I, you," Hermione responded sincerely.
Ron gazed at Hermione, looking betrayed. "Oh, please. Let's just mail this latter and get on with it!" Ron whistled, and Pigwidgeon zoomed down from the rafters, flying rapidly around and around Ron's head. "Come here you little monster! Land! For Merlin's sake, I can't tie this to your leg if you're fluttering about like a – Aha! Gotcha!"
Hazel and Hermione were laughing at Ron's attempts to tame the overly excited bird. "Alright, Pig. Take this to the Department of Mysteries, Information Retrieval division."
"Department of Mysteries?" Hazel asked curiously.
"Uh. Yeah. We're researching something," Ron answered glancing at Hermione. Hermione nodded. "Nothing that important though," she added hastily. Trying to change to subject, she asked, "Nigellus. Where have I heard that name before?"
Hermione could tell that Hazel was weighing her options, deciding if she would answer. "My great, great, great Uncle Phineus used to be headmaster of Hogwarts. Could that be it?" Hazel responded carefully.
"Possibly…" Hermione answered slowly. Hermione felt there was more, but she wasn't going to push the issue.
Hazel smiled and walked to the door. "Ron, I really am sorry about having trod on your feet. But it isn't my fault; you have really big feet."
"Don't worry about it," Ron mumbled, a bit embarrassed. Hazel smiled again, and left the owlrey.
Hermione was still thinking; "There's something she's hiding from us…" she started.
"You only think that because we're hiding something from her, Hermione," Ron rolled his eyes. "Come on, I've got Quidditch practice. Harry will kill me if I'm late again."
Karone-sakura: Thanks! And Sorry I got your name incorrect.
Festis: Hope you like this one! There's good stuff coming up in the next chappies too...
Light of Faith: Thanks for adding me to your C2 list!