Chapter Fourteen

Harry paced around the room, mumbling to himself every few minutes. Draco was sitting on his bed with his hands clasped in his lap, staring out the window and thought about his mother. Hermione was sitting on the table beside Ron who was on the chair.

Hermione caught Draco trying to catch her eye a few times, but refused to look at him. She could barely bare not telling him about placing a spell on him and not telling Ron that they used to be friends. She would have to be careful from now on how she behaved towards him.

"Okay, so we know what to do, why don't you just come up with one of those famous mystery plans?" Draco finally asked, tired of watching Harry's sanity slowly fade away.

"Why are you so damn energetic Malfoy?" Ron asked suspiciously.

Harry looked at Hermione, but didn't say anything.

Draco thought to himself, not quite understanding either. "Um, I don't know." He looked at his feet. "I just know that when H-Gr-"

"Hermione," Harry told him.

Draco took a quick glance at Hermione, who tried not to return it. "When Hermione was done questioning me while you freaked out in the other room and I fell asleep, it was like i was facing the death of my-my mother again-" his voice trailed off as he tried to hold in the tears filled his eyes.

Hermione couldn't take it anymore. In one swift motion she was off the bed and kneeling on front of Draco. She held his hands in one of hers and his cheek in the other. She saw every sparkle form his flooded eyes as the beautiful blue specks were magnified.

Draco summoned up all his strength and looked at Harry. "When I woke up I felt as though I had been sleeping for a year. All my energy was back, and it was easier to face the pain. I-I don't know wh-"

"Hermione," everyone looked at Harry. "May I please speak with you outside?"

Hermione slowly got up, her eyes not leaving the floor, and walked out of the room, followed by Harry.

As soon as the door was closed he looked at her and wondered what he was going to say. "Hermione," she looked up at him, "he keeps looking at you."

"I know."

"You kissed him."

"I know."

"Ron's been into you since we were kids."

"I know."

"You have to do something."

"I know."

"When we all go in, he might not come out."

"What the hell is going on here?"

Hermione and Harry turned and looked at the pig waddling up toward them.

"Please go away Dudley," Hermione sighed.

Dudley stopped in his tracks. Up until then she had been nothing but confident every time she spoke to him, but now she seemed defeated., and he wasn't he only one who noticed.

"Hermione, why don't you go back inside? I'll be there in a moment." Harry told her softly. He put his hand on her arm and smiled at her. She smiled back before turning to go into the room.

"What do you want Dudley?" Harry asked.

"Mum wants you to finish your chores and dad wants you to turn seventeen."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Dudley, we're trying to figure out how to save your life. I'm sure aunt Petunia wouldn't mind if we took a few more minutes in there."

At that moment Draco stepped out of the room and looked at the sight before him.

"Whose that?" Dudley demanded.

"What are you doing out here?" Harry asked. He wanted to be nice, for Hermione's sake, but it was hard every time he saw his face and thought about Dumbledore's death.

"Hermione needs you," he replied simply.

Harry sighed. This was weird.

"How do you know Hermione?" Dudley demanded. "And what are you doing in my house?"

Draco thought for a moment. "I'm a cousin of Harry's. His godfather was my mother's cousin and since his parents died, in the wizarding world he is automatically his godfather's-"

"What did you just say?" Dudley asked. His eyes were like saucers as he took a step back. "Y-you're one of them?"

Draco didn't know what do say.

"Yes, Dudley," Harry thankfully stepped in. "he's my cousin and he needs my help."

Dudley looked darkly, yet terrified, at Draco before trying to regain his composure. "Well just make sure father doesn't hear you use that sort of language." With that he walked away and ran down the stairs.

Harry looked at Draco. They stood there in silence until Harry finally asked, "Was that true?"

Draco looked at Harry. "Yes."

"I know about you and Hermione."

"Oh."

"Your secret's safe with me."

"Does this mean we have to hug?"

"No."

"Thank god."

"You're telling me."

They stood in silence for another few minutes, neither knowing what to say or do.

"So you said something about Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Oh, um, yeah. She told me to come out here and get you. She said she had an idea for the horcuxes."

The two walked back into the room and saw Hermione and Ron sitting on opposite sides of the room. Both of their faces were somber and neither one spoke. Harry rushed between them, not knowing which one to go to first and Draco took a seat on the bed, not wanting to draw attention to himself.

"Draco," damn, "Harry, can you guys please come over here?" Harry and Draco walked over to Hermione, who was looking at a map of England that took up the entire desk. "Put your hands together and tell me if you feel a pull anywhere on the map or any pains in your scars." The two boys slowly put their hands together and felt a small charge. "While you do that I'm gonna start thinking of major murders, items and anything that could help lead us somewhere."

"Y'know, Harry could have done it on his own," Ron said from across the room. "I don't get why we toil away for weeks here, just preparing for the fight, but the second Malfoy shows up we start looking for horcuxes."

Hermione didn't say anything, but watched Harry and Draco's hands as they moved around above the map.

"We have a lead now R-"

"Just ignore him, Harry. He's being immature."

"Are you two fighting again?" Harry sighed.

"No," Hermione replied. "Ronald is just being immature and overreacting, as usual."

Harry rolled his eyes, but began to feel a sensation. He looked at Draco, who obviously was feeling it as well.

"He's pissed."

"And we don't mean drunk."