The Hidden Secrets
A Hermione/Draco Romance
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I am not JK Rowling, nor do I have anything to do with Harry Potter besides fanfiction. I am not making any money out of this story, and I am not worth suing.
Chapter 9
Hermione let herself relax, feeling completely at ease lying curled up next to Draco. Her long hair was splayed behind her head, which rested lightly on Draco's chest. Absent-mindedly, he let his free hand stroke her hair; neither spoke for a long while, they just lay that way, thinking, wondering... finally Hermione dared to break the silence.
"Draco... what do you think really happened to Ron and Harry?" she let her question hang in the air, hoping she would get an answer, but terrified of hearing his response even more.
"I'm not sure... I mean, plenty of rumors went around when everyone learned that they'd disappeared, but I didn't really pay that much attention. I guess I've never really though about it... why?" he sat up more in an attempt to see Hermione better. She merely sighed.
"I just wanted to know what you thought. You, Harry, and Ron never really got along, and I just wondered what you thought happened... I've heard heaps of the other rumors, but I've never heard your opinion," she waited, holding her breath, for his reply. It didn't come for quite a while.
"Maybe they were taken by that cult thing; Dumbledore did say it was heading towards England at that time..."
"Maybe," she answered, letting sleep finally invade her mind.
It had been three weeks since the anniversary of the disappearance. Hermione didn't know how she had gotten through it, and she decided she probably wouldn't have without Draco being there. Though they still fought in public, mainly to keep up with appearances, inside the common room and when they were alone was a different story. The other two prefects, and the Heads, were sworn to secrecy about the unlikely pair. It wasn't as though anyone would believe them anyway, but it was good to have all bases covered.
The light wasn't so much of a novelty any more. He knew his name, he remembered his family, but nothing could dislodge what had happened from the back of his mind and out into the open. The old man, Professor Dumbledore, had visited continually during his three-week stay in St Mungo's, and it was good to finally recognize faces.
He sat up abruptly, a single thought entering his mind from inside... "Ron, you're my best friend, we have to get out of here!" The voice... he knew that voice... Harry! But surely Harry wouldn't have been inside with him? He was too smart for that; he wouldn't let himself get caught by You-Know-Who...
Dumbledore walked back into the room, closely followed by two very familiar looking people. "Mum! Dad!" Ron called. Both looked at one another, tears forming in their eyes. "Ron! I'm so glad you're alright... Ginny was so pleased when we received the Owl from Professor Dumbledore... we all were."
The hugs they shared were something he found oddly comforting. When his mother had finally stopped fussing over him for a split second, Dumbledore spoke up. "I've talked with Madam Pomfrey, and you should be able to return to Hogwarts next week. She will keep a close eye on you until we are sure you will be fine... but you do realise that unless you do a lot of catching up, you may have to be in your sister's year level?"
Ron nodded. "I know... but it'll work out. Professor, there's something I have to ask you... Is Hermi... Hermio... Hermione... did Hermione make it back to Hogwarts?"
Dumbledore smiled sadly, "Yes, she did make it back, but you must understand she took the disappearance of yourself and Harry very personally. Several of the teachers thought she would commit suicide at one point, but she made it through with flying colours. I have not yet told her of your return to Hogwarts, but you may choose to do so yourself - the other teachers shall of course be informed, but none of the students. Rest up, Mr Weasley, you will need all the rest you can get - you have a lot of work ahead of you."
Smiling, Dumbledore walked out of the room, leaving Ron completely at the mercy of his parents, who at once set about getting him ready for the trip home.
The class seemed to drag on, and the pair of eyes burning into the back of his head didn't help either, thought Draco to himself as he realised Servus was again staring holes through him. He turned, pretending to ask Pansy something, and noticed Servus drop his eyes as though he hadn't been staring at all. Pansy, astounded Draco was again talking to her, became the usual simpering moron she was, according to Draco.
"Drakie! What do you think of my 'new look'?" she asked in a sing-song voice, moving forwards as far as she possibly could, which wasn't far considering the desk was in the way, showing off her new hair style, or whatever it was that was so new. Personally, he didn't see anything different. He sighed... if it had been Hermione, and they were alone in the room, then perhaps he would have found something new to look at... but it wasn't, and they weren't. "Pansy, shut up would ya? And don't you dare call me Drakie, my name is Draco. Don't forget it again..."
Pansy looked taken back - he hadn't ever actually raised his voice at her before, and now he was dangerously close to yelling. He turned around and faced the front of the room. Professor Binns, as feeble as he was, didn't even notice that half the class now had their attention fixed on Pansy and Draco - including Hermione. She simply looked at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. She turned back, trying to stifle her laughter, and wishing at that moment Harry or Ron could have been there to listen to Draco argue with Pansy Parkinson.
Draco watched Hermione's shoulders shaking slightly with her laughter. Somewhere in his past he would have felt a deep desire to get his own back on her, but now... now was a different story. Now he didn't feel like doing that... instead, he felt like retreating to his study room, waiting for her to arrive in her own, walking through the door, transfiguring the couch...
A loud shriek broke his train of thought as a tawny barn owl tapped on the window. A red urgency ribbon was tied to its foot, and it carried a letter with a familiar crest on the seal. Parvarti, one of the people closest to the window, jumped from her seat and let the bird inside.
It flew, directly, to where Professor Binns was standing, and landed on the desk. It pushed the letter towards the professor, and tore it open for him to read, knowing all too well that he either couldn't, or wouldn't, take time out to read an owl in the middle of teaching a class - even if it was a marked urgency. Binns glanced at the parchment quickly, skim reading it with the intention of returning to teach. However, this was forgotten as he went back and re-read the parchment again, only this time in depth.
Professor Binns,
As I am sure you know, Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter disappeared from Hogwarts last year. They had been given up for dead, but I have news. Ronald Weasley has been found, and is returning to Hogwarts in one week's time. I take it upon myself to tell you not to mention this to any of the students, as it may come as quite a shock to them and you will not be able to teach classes due to the excitement which will no doubt take over the classroom.
It is also for the sake of Ronald Weasley's safety that you are not permitted to tell anyone. I will be returning to Hogwarts tomorrow morning, and if you have any queries or concerns, please take them up with me then.
Sincerely,
Prof. Albus Dumbledore
He looked up at the class, who were all watching him closely, expectantly. He looked at the Owl, who by now had gathered up the letter and was heading out of the window. Parvarti hurriedly snapped the window shut and took back her seat. It was the only time anyone had ever received an owl during class, and everyone, including Draco and Hermione, was curious as to who would have sent it to Professor Binns.
It was finally Pansy who spoke up. "What was that about, Professsor? Are classes cancelled? Are you fired, finally?" The snickers from the Slytherin seats found their way forwards, but Binns took no notice. Instead, he took out his book with a shaking hand. "Turn to page 294, we shall discuss the rise of You-Know-Who..."
After that, the lesson droned on, as dull as it had been before the interruption of the owl, and Draco found himself being watched yet again. He sighed - it would be a long lesson.
The next morning, in the staff room, professors were crowded around Dumbledore, each asking questions at once. Dumbledore held up his hand for silence, and it was granted. "Now," he started, "I know you all have questions, but please wait until I have finished speaking before you ask. What I have to say may answer your queries."
He took a breath before he started speaking again; the staff took their seats, now silent. "Ronald Weasley was found three weeks ago at the foot of Mt Shilvernoss, unconscious, and the eye witness says he saw him fall down the side of the mountain. We have no clue as to what happened to him, if Harry is still alive, if he was even with Harry. He had no memory of anything - he did not remember his family, Hogwarts, anything. However, he has regained most of his memory in these three weeks, and has returned home to recover for the week before he returns to Hogwarts. Poppy, and myself, will be keeping an eye on him until we are sure he is well enough for us to leave him alone. Now, do you have any further questions?"
Severus Snape looked at Dumbledore. "Yes, I do. What year will he be entering back into?" Dumbledore smiled. "He will rejoin his own class, Severus, and I will be assisting with catch-up lessons during holidays, weekends, after school... are there any other questions?"
McGonagall looked up. "Yes, I have a question. What do we tell the students? Should we tell them anything at all, or just wait until he shows up and let them be surprised?" Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "I suggest you don't tell them anything; no student is to know that he is returning unless he tells them himself. It will make things easier in the long run, I promise you."
When the staff had no questions left to ask, Dumbledore walked out of the room, leaving them to talk quietly. There was more to be done than what met the eye, much more...
A/N: Well... I'm slowly getting back on track with this... Nearly all updated... Any suggestions? Comments? Questions? All queries will be answered with their own personal miniature Draco Malfoy who will run around their computer desk and threaten to shock everyone with his, uh, wand!
