Chapter 9: Little Balls Of Light

Harry decided it would be wise to keep their conversation between themselves and when Hermione asked where Draco had gone, Harry just said that Malfoy needed to mail a letter. "All that time?" Hermione asked suspiciously. "Yeah," Harry replied, "He had to write it too."

During a break, Hermione marched up to Draco dragging Harry with her. "Okay," she said, "What is this huge 'secret' that you two are keeping from me? I can't get a straight answer out of Harry and-"

"Excuse me," Lupin broke in. He seemed frantic, "Draco, have you seen Fleur? She never came to my classroom. I've looked everywhere! I just had an idea! Harry," Lupin turned to Harry, "Do you have the Marauder's Map?"

"Yeah," Harry handed him the piece of parchment. Lupin took it and tapped it with his wand and said, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." He studied it for a long time.

"Oh no!" He moaned, "She's not on it! She's gone! I have to tell Dumbledore!"

Hermione forgot everything she was going to say to Draco. "Fleur's gone?" she said in a shocked tone, "Why?"

"I don't know," Draco said. He reached down and opened his book bag, "But I got this in the post this morning." He handed them a piece of ripped parchment. "It might explain a few things." Hermione took the piece of parchment and looked at it.

Friend,

I can help you find what you're looking for. She's been kidnapped. Someone took her. It is not safe to discuss who or when, yet. Please write back if you wish for more information. The owl knows where to go.

-S

"I say we write back!" Draco said. Hermione and Harry just stared at it.

"How do we know it's not a trap?" Harry asked. "Maybe Voldemort set up and you faked the note so we'd fall for it!"

"Harry…" Hermione pleaded.

"So you're accusing me of lying?" Draco's face was turning red with rage. "Why would I do that?"

"Maybe it's so your dad will gain Voldemort's favor again!" Harry shot back, " You were a little quick to say we should write back!"

"How do you know my dad's in trouble with the Dark Lord?" Draco gasped.

"Harry, Draco, please!" Hermione tried to pull Draco back, but he pushed her out of the way.

"DON'T PUSH HER!" Harry yelled and lunged at Draco. Draco quickly jumped out of the way.

"Harry!" Hermione said sharply catching Harry in his chest and shoving him back, "Leave him alone!"

Harry stood still, shocked that Hermione had pushed him. "Hermione! How do you know he's not lying? After everything he's done to you, how can you trust him? How can you be sure he's trustworthy? You never could pick a good boyfriend, first Krum and now him!" Hermione stared at him and her eyes were filling up with tears. "Hermione… I'm sorry!" Harry reached out but Hermione recoiled, quickly. Ron ran over to them.

"Harry what's- Hermione are you okay?" Ron stared at Hermione. "What happened? Malfoy if you-" He glared at Draco.

"Why do you think I did it, Weasley?" Draco growled, "Why don't you ask your friend Harry? See what he says…"

"Harry!" Hermione cried, "How do you know he's is lying? How do YOU know he's not trustworthy? Why are you so quick to judge people?"

"MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE HIS DAD'S ALL ANTI-MUGGLE BORN! MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE I THINK HIS DAD WOULD KILL YOU IF HE GOT THE CHANCE! MAYBE-"

"Potter, shut up," Draco said in a low threatening voice, "Just shut up! You have no idea what you're talking about. My dad wouldn't kill her. He wouldn't!"

"How do you know Mr. 'I don't even know what's going on in my own house'?" Harry snapped.

"Because he had the chance several times this summer and he didn't," Draco snarled, "And surprise, surprise," He lowered his voice, "That's why he's in trouble."

"What?" Ron gasped, "YOU –"

"What?" Hermione said in a shocked tone.

"You wonder why he gave in so easily?" Draco gave a little insane laugh, "I lied in the letter about my reasons. I knew he was going to. He told me when I asked him if I could go out with you."

"Your father's a filthy murdering-" Hermione began.

"Why are you so quick to judge people?" Draco retorted, "He didn't because he got to know you and you know what, he likes you. He thinks you're a fine witch and that you're worthy to go to this school. And you're too special to kill. So he didn't. There. That's my problem. Happy now?" Draco face had turned red with rage.

Hermione had gone pale, "You mean all those times I was with you and you're dad I could have-"

"Died?" Ron finished, "And to think, I was starting to trust you! My dad was right, Malfoys can't be trusted!"

"Look!" Draco snapped, "I'm going to write to 'S' whether you all like it or not. My cousin's been kidnapped."

"Fine!" Harry spat out, "Go ahead! Maybe you can just get yourself killed and make the world a better place!"

"Why don't I just stab you with a knife and quicken the process?" Draco glared.

"Draco, I'm sorry, but," Hermione stepped between Draco and Harry, "I can't go out with you anymore. Not after what you just told me."

He turned pale, "What?" He forgot all about Harry. All he saw was her tear stained face.

"You lied to me!" Hermione said, "All this time you lied to me!"

"Hermione," Draco took her hand, "I'm sorry! I really am! Please…"

She yanked her hand out of his. " Don't try to apologize because I'm not going to forgive you!" She started to walk away; then stopped and turned around. WHACK! She slapped him hard across his face. His hand instinctively knocked hers away. Draco's cheek had developed a large red welt. "What was that for?" Draco's eyes glittered with anger and hurt.

"Guess!" Hermione stalked off.

"You better watch your back Malfoy!" Ron threatened, "You're going to regret this!"

Hermione was up in her room sobbing. She knew Ron and Harry would try to make it seem as if it was all Draco-no, Malfoy's fault but she knew it wasn't. She also knew things weren't too easy for him at home. She knew he was worried that one day his dad might not come home from a Death Eater meeting. All she wanted to do was apologize.

"Hermione!" A voice gasped. Hermione look up and saw Lavender and Parvati, Ginny was standing behind them. "What's wrong?" Ginny asked, "Ron told me you were up here." She placed a book on Hermione's bed, "He wanted me to give you this back."

"Please tell us what happened," Parvati said down next to her. Hermione shook her head.

"Why not?" Lavender asked. "You don't have to tell us all of it. Please?" She gave Hermione a huge smile.

"I...I…" Hermione sobbed, "I broke up with Draco… and I'm mad at Harry."

"I didn't think it would hit you that hard, breaking up with Draco I mean. You and Harry always become better friends after your fights. I'm sure you and Harry will be okay." Ginny said, "Did you have a big fight with Draco?" Hermione just nodded her head.

" Hermione," Parvati said softly, "It's all right, really. Sometimes when you have a big fight before you break up it makes it harder to let go."

"I…just want-hic-to give him another chance," Hermioen hiccupped, "I slapped him really hard and I feel awful about it. He didn't deserve it. It's not like the last time I slapped him."

"He really has changed," Lavender said, "He's really nice now. It's like it wasn't really him the last five years or-"

"Someone has switched his brain," Parvati smiled.

"Maybe, I have a lot of things to think about," Hermione gave them a small smile.

Ginny opened the door, "Let's leave, Lavender, Parvati. 'K? I'll come back up and check on you later."

"Bye Hermione."

"Feel better. I'm sorry."

Hermione opened her eyes. A pair of huge eyes were looking down at her. "DOBBY?" she hissed. Dobby handed her a familiar bouquet of daffodils and roses and two letters. "From someone," he said and walked out. Hermione rolled over and looked at the clock. It was a quarter till three. "Can't hurt to read these, I guess, I mean I'm already awake," she got up and walked down to the common room. She sat down in her favorite chair and lit a lamp. She opened the letter that had unfamiliar writing on it.

Dear Hermione,

Obviously Draco has told you about my problem with the Dark Lord and I am writing to apologize for it. You must understand that I did not know you very well at the time I accepted it and that all I knew about you was what I had learned from Draco and from the time I met you in Flourish & Blotts. Draco is having a rough time at school since he is under the misconception that the Dark Lord is going to kill me. I am afraid I must admit he will punish me in some way I do not know of yet but he is certainly not going to kill me. You need to know that he (Draco, not the Dark Lord) is under a great deal of stress right now.

He has already owled me about the two of you breaking up and I must say it is my entire fault. Draco did not tell you about my "mission" and me because he was afraid he would lose you and alas, he did. I also was quite eager to perform my "mission" and somewhat power-hungry when Draco asked me for permission to ask you out. I agreed because I knew I would have many opportunities. I meant to kill you the first day at your house but your friend was there and I could not. The first time you came to our house, I had no idea you were even coming because Draco was very secretive of it and planned this with his mother. As I recall he took me aside and said something along the lines of "Kill my girlfriend and I'll kill you " not very threatening especially since I was his father. But I did listen to him and gave you a chance and as I got to know you, I had less and les yearning to kill you.; I didn't, leading Draco to be somewhat paranoid about my punishment for not obeying the Dark Lord.

Once again, I have led the destruction of something. Unfortunately, it also happened to destroy part of my son. I do not expect or even want you to forgive me; I would just like you to know that I truly am sorry.

Sincerely,

Lucius Malfoy

"Well," Hermione thought, "That was unexpected." She opened the other letter, which she knew was from Draco.

Dear Hermione,

I thought I ought to start this with an apology (Déjà vu). I'm very sorry I didn't tell you about my dad and the Dark Lord. I guess the fact that I was keeping it a secret made it even worse. I only did this because I really do care about you and I didn't want you to get hurt. I guess it was also for a selfish reason too. I knew you would probably break up with me and I didn't want to get myself hurt. I owled the entire fight to my father, from the part where I showed you, Harry, and Ron the letter to where you slapped me. (I'm still seeing little balls of light) I deserved that slap. Knowing me, at this point I would ask you if you were willing to stay my friend but I think I was too much of a git to bother asking.

Love,

Draco

P.S. I wrote to "S". You can just ask me if you want to see the letter they send back.

P.P.S. My dad says I probably shouldn't write to "S". Oh well, too late.

Hermione reread both of the letters. "He wrote to 'S'?" Hermione said out loud.

"Hey, Hermione, who ya talking to?" A voice behind her made her jump. She turned around.

"Ron," she breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared me."

"Who wrote to 'S'?" Ron asked. "Oh, yeah, that-" he answered his own question calling Draco every profane thing he could think of.

"Ron," Hermione said chidingly, "Honestly."

"I thought you hated him, too!" Ron said quizzically.

"Here," Hermione handed him the letters. "Read these."

Ron thoughtfully read them, "So all of this might just be Lucius'-LUSCIOUS'- fault? Are you going to ask him out again?"

"I don't know," Hermione said, "I'll just give it some time I guess. I mean, I'll talk to Draco so he'll know I got the letters. I'm probably just going to wait a while, see what happens. Anyway…" She yawned, "Why are you up?"

"Nightmare," Ron replied with a grin, "Well not really a nightmare, just disturbing."

"I don't want to know," Hermione grinned, "Why don't you tell me in the morning so I don't have nightmares?"

Ron laughed, "A'ight. First thing."