Malfoy's hand left hers, and hers felt cold after his touch.
Last time, his hand had been on hers, he'd pulled away and reverted back into that one-dimensional character she'd witnessed at Hogwarts. She wouldn't let that happen again. She knew there had be something happening with him, she knew he had be unhappy too. Why else would he comfort her? He had to be feeling the loneliness, the uncertainty, the horrible feeling of knowing you do not belong just as she did. What had he seen at that Death Eater's meeting, anyway? And why had he wanted to see her that night?
"You're not alone either, Malfoy." She couldn't see his response to this; her eyes were still set on Hogwarts and his on the shimmering water in front of him.
Silence hung in the air for nearly four minutes before she spoke again.
"You're not alone, Malfoy. We have to stick together. Please…tell me what's going on with you. What happened at that Death Eater's meeting? I need to know."
His voice was different, uncomfortable and dry but he spoke evenly. "I was branded, straight away for the first few minutes of it. I didn't want to be. I looked desperately into the Dark Lord's eyes, and almost preyed he'd just read my mind and kill me on the spot. How could he not know? I have no loyalty towards him! Why did he brand me so soon? Normally…a test must be carried out. Normally, he looks into your eyes and your mind is laid bare for him to see all. Maybe he thought it funny, branding me when it was the last thing I wanted to be done. I don't know. But then…then the real excitement began. The Dark Lord was smiling too widely and there was such an air of excitement…we didn't know what was going to happen, but we waited…until the Dark Lord revealed him. Albus Dumbledore, locked in a cage that drained him of all magical powers, locked in a cage, like an animal. How did he get Dumbledore? Simple, he used the man's love for Potter…told him he had Potter kidnapped…Snape backed him up, told him the boy had been missing for over three hours now…Dumbledore's loyalty and love, the two things that killed him."
It was painful for Hermione to hear but she knew she had to hear it. She's asked for it, after all. She wished Draco was holding her hand again, and she wished his voice wasn't so tight and in control.
"The Dark Lord started toying with him…laughing at him, sneering and showing no fear at all. Dumbledore watched him with a sad, tired face and did nothing. He knew the end was coming. I kept waiting for him to do something, use some brilliant magic or I thought maybe the Order were going to burst in. But nothing…Snape had betrayed him, he was surrounded by Death Eaters, and the Dark Lord was standing over him about to kill him."
"Then…the Dark Lord turned to me and asked me did I want to say anything to my old Headmaster. I told him I certainly didn't. Those eyes on me…And then Dumbledore says to me, "It's going to be alright, Draco. You'll do your best." In front of the master! Luckily, he only found it amusing and did not punish me. I stepped back and preceded to watch. By the end, Dumbledore was nothing but pieces…Dumbledore showed no fear, but he showed his pain. He cried out and all of us sneered. It was a long time before the Dark Lord finally delivered the final blow. There was almost an anti climax…one second Dumbledore was alive, the next dead, and the world seemed to darken. Everybody was silent, even the Dark Lord, who seemed almost amazed that the only one he had ever feared was finally defeated."
"I…I didn't want that. I didn't want to do that for the rest of my life. There was nothing satisfying or good about Dumbledore's death. He was an old man, and all there was, was blood. I…" There was a pause and his voice was more collected when he spoke again. "He turned and his eyes were redder. We could all feel the power radiating off him. He stood, with his arms outstretched, for some time and we all watched. I was memorised. Then he told us that Dumbledore's protection was gone and Hogwarts was free for us to take. "Potter's next," he told us, and then nothing would be able to stop him…"
"Except us," she imputed. "He hadn't depended on us."
"Hadn't he?" Draco said and there was something significant in his voice. She couldn't think of anything to reply and, after a minute, he continued on with his story. "Once we all reached Hogwarts, I realised I only had one chance. There was no turning back. I was branded as a Death Eater, but I didn't have to be one….I ran, ran to you. You know the rest of the story. The Dark Lord let me run. He could have caught me, but he let me go…I suppose that's his idea of amusement. I can only imagine what might have happened had he gotten to me before you did."
"Malfoy…" She knew he'd left out a lot. All the fear and disgust and sickness he'd felt. She'd seen him in that hallway. He'd been terrified and near to fainting, and he had looked like he'd been sick. She knew then that he'd never seen a person die before, it had been his first. And hopefully his last…
"We've both sacrificed too much," she said now in a totally calm tone of voice, "for us to be messing this up. From now on, we have to behave properly. We can't be enemies any longer, although I don't really think of you like that anymore. We must make a pact, we have to stick together and help each other through this. We have to be successful in this mission."
"You have to stop kissing Tom." There was a tint of laughter in his voice again and the serious air between them came to an end.
She stood up and came to his side of the tree, where he was also rising. They faced each other and shook hands formally. "Neither of us are alone," she said with a small smile, "not anymore." And, for some reason, they both knew neither of them were referring exclusively to their mission.
Yes, it's a short chapter, but it's necessary. There were some hints dropped in this chapter about what's going to happen…Just wanted to get the air completely clear between Draco and Hermione before proceeding. Dunno what's going to happen in the next chapter, but there's going to be a Tom/Hermione face off, feature a little plot development concerning Law, and Draco's going to be busy with other things (i.e. Ash!)
See you soon! But not too soon! Going away this week…
What do you think so far? I hope you like! Aren't I good with my updates?
Deal with the Devil's last chapter will up soon…I'm leaving Doomed on hold until after the sixth book for a while, unless inspiration particularly hits me. This story will probably stay an AU, but I don't I'd have to change much anyway! How many Tom/Hermione/Draco moments can there be? VOL should be updated soon…But I'm just having troubles with ideas for it at the moment. Help?Also been revising a few of my stories (One-shots at the moment) and thanks are added. Nothing major has been added so you don't have to go read 'em again but know that, if you reviewed one before, you've been thanked personally!
Thanks to:
FakestDummyever – Yes, there will be! In the next chapter, and the ones after that. Thanks!
Laxgoalie – Thanks!
KathrynValmont – Thanks for reviewing, but you should be it more often! We writers love reviews! A kiss, eh? Not for a while, I say… Tom/Hermione action should be popping up in the next few chapters, but Hermione and Draco will take a little longer.
Unspeakable Mae – Sorry there wasn't any Tom in this chapter, but he'll feature strongly in the next.
Kippie – I dunno which is my fav. I've never written Tom, so he's the newest, where as I've written a lot of Draco and Hermione stories…but they never get old either. It's a toughie!
Hplucky – Thanks you, as always!
Ardent Entity – Yeah, sorry about the bluntness, but I really did love your story, and, if a sequel is definite, it's brilliant! If not…you can see where I'm coming from! Of course I'll read it! I changed them mistakes you pointed out! I really do try proof read, I'm not too bad but when I write aq chapter I'm mad to get it up and see what people think of it! Aren't you? Don't you find having a beta annoying? Ha ha! I tried being a beta before…I was crap!
Firesorceress – There ya go! It's a start, right?
CareBareErin – And he needs hers too!
Maidenauroa – Thanks for pointing that out, and mistake has been corrected. Thanks for the cyber cookies!
Vedgirl1202 – Thanks, girl!
Ptrst – Yeah, I didn't like that line too. I debated with it. "Guy" isn't a good word. But then I just went, had dinner, and forgot about it, uploading it instead. I used your line; so thank you! Any more? And he only tried kill her parents…they're alive. I thought it'd be too sad if I killed 'em off….plus, then she'd never be able to even half-way feel for Tom, I feel! Plus, that's what I have done in VOL so I thought I'd mix things around. She's on her way to regaining….and regaining Draco's in the mean time.
- Thanks!
Karla Marie – I hope I've explained Draco's intentions a little further, but yes, it's a little far fetched! Ah well! Fanfiction, and all! The idea of Draco/Hermione/Tom is far fetched anyway! Yeah, Hermione's quite an angry person so she might do something like that…but I could see her being very upset too….
Lisi – Thank you as always!
Iklepsis – Thank you! I appreciate every review, I really do!
Illyria-Light – Cheers, girl!
Me – Hehe, thanks!