A/N: sniff Last day for a while I can update… sniff
Chapter 3: Questions and Answers
Hermione was in a foul mood the whole carriage ride to the castle. After having a trunk dropped on her foot, a rat bite her, and a second year smart mouthing her, she didn't feel like talking. Harry, Ron, and Ginny decided it best to just let her vent. Finally Ron spoke. "Hermione, you don't want to keep your feelings all bottled up like that. Just let it all out." Snickering he added. "There were a couple people in Hogsmead who didn't hear you." A/N: that lines not mine.
Hermione glared at him. "Frigging smart aleck." She said. Harry glanced over. Ron was in trouble now. Ginny noticed this and said "So…are you going to Dumbledore tonight or tomorrow?" Hermione had been thinking about going to the headmaster that very night. After a minute she said, "Tonight. There's no way I can sanely wait until tomorrow."
The carriage came to a halt and the four got out. Hermione sighed. Now she was home. So this is how Harry always feels…I can't blame him. He's abused and I'm lied to. How could my parents do this to me? Why didn't they just tell me?
Hermione's thoughts carried her all the way to a seat in the Great Hall. Sitting down, she closed her eyes. It wasn't until Professor McGonagall came through with the first years that she opened them.
From Acten, Richelle (RAVENCLAW!) to Zucher, Chase (GRYFFINDOR!), Hermione paid no attention. She looked up as the stool was pulled away and gave a concerned Ginny a small smile. "I'll be ok." She said. She looked up as Dumbledore stood.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! Now, I have decided to handle Head Boy and Head Girl a little differently this year! I will be announcing them tonight instead of sending letters. These two have very different personalities, but I am sure they will be very good leaders! Both are prefects and will have to overcome their differences for things to run smoothly. Will they please come forward to receive their pins? Congratulations to…Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy!"
Everyone cheered, but Hermione was in shock. Malfoy? How could Malfoy be a good example to the school? But Dumbledore probably had a good reason…Hermione stood and walked to the front of the hall. Dumbledore handed her a gold pin with Head Girl engraved in it. She looked at Malfoy, but instead of seeing his usual sneer, she saw a smile play across his lips. They shook hands and Hermione felt a piece of parchment slide into hers.
She was confused, but oh well. She'd read it back at the table. Before she left Dumbledore she said, "Could I come talk to you tonight?" Dumbledore nodded. "Yes. The password is Fainting Fancies." Hermione smiled and went back to her friends.
Ginny laughed as she came back. "Way to go Hermione!" Harry and Ron grabbed her shoulders. "We've known it would be you since first year!" Hermione blushed. "Thanks guys."
All through the feast, Hermione kept glancing at the Slytherin table. What did that smile mean? Was Malfoy finally going to grow up? Maybe his dad being a bit occupied over the past year and a half had changed him a bit. After all, Lucius had never been the friendly type to even half bloods. But oh well. Now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
After a dinner of turkey, soups, bread, salad, pumpkin juice, (and for dessert) puddings, ice cream, yogurt, and mints, Dumbledore rose again.
"Now that we are all full fit to burst, happy, tired, and a bit…" He turned to Minerva and whispered "I didn't say this." She laughed. "Drunk." Hagrid gave an "Aye!" "Let us all go to bed! Prefects, you know your passwords. And NO Mr. Creevey. You may NOT stuff the first years in disappearing toilets!" Some of the first years tensioned. "Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy are in charge of overseeing everything. We Professors are having a meeting in the room off the Great Hall. (Hint hint.) So they will be patrolling the halls until eleven tonight so don't be caught outside your dormitories. Now, off to bed!"
Everyone stood up and Ron looked around. Hermione laughed. "That's right Ron. You're the oldest Gryffindor prefect. Mind you do a good job now." Ron glared but Hermione laughed. I'll be back."
Hermione made her way through a sea of raging second through sixth years, growing impatient. "Excuse me headmaster. What time do you want me to come?" Dumbledore smiled. "Around eleven thirty." Hermione nodded. "Thank you."
Turning around, she remembered Malfoy's parchment. Pulling it from her pocket, she unfolded it and read the following message.
"Hermione,
I'm sorry for the way I've treated you
over the years. Please give me a chance
to redeem myself. Meet me in the library
at ten tonight. I promise this isn't a trick.
Yours,
Draco"
Hermione read the not two more times. She was shocked. For one, he didn't call her Granger. And he was polite. Realizing that she was the only one left in the hall, she left for the entrance hall. She looked at her watch. Nine thirty…Maybe she could give him a chance. Just to be safe, she pulled her wand from her pocket.
The corridors were quiet. Candle light flickered on the wall and the suits of armor clinked softly. She looked around, slightly nervous. The closer she got to the library, the more nervous she became. Hermione slid through the door to the library at nine fifty. She looked around. The candelabras cast eerie shadows on the walls. She swore she could hear the books whispering.
A sound at the door made her jump. Turning around she said, "So what do you want?" Draco smiled. "I promise it's not a trick and I promise I'm not going to make fun of you." He sat down. "I overheard what you were saying on the train."
Hermione sank down in a chair next to him. "You did?"
"Yes. And I've got to say, I'm surprised either you or I didn't find out earlier. Do you want to know why I always made fun of you? It's because I felt threatened. I knew you were much more powerful than me. The fact is, I knew there was no way you could be a mud- I mean a muggle born. Not with that kind of power. I must say though…I really am sorry."
Hermione was shocked. How could all this be true. "I…Mal- Draco. Why is it you're only nice to me now that you know what I am?"
Draco was surprised. "…I was planning on apologizing. I really was." Playing with a small tear on his shirt sleeve he said, "Would you go to Hogsmead with me?"
Hermione looked at her feet. "Could I think about it?"
He nodded and Hermione smiled. "Thank you." She looked at her watch. Eleven. "Crap! Draco, I have to go. I have a meeting with Dumbledore."
Draco nodded. "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow then?" He leaned in and kissed her cheek. Who would have thought a Slytherin could make her knees go so weak?
She smiled. "Ok. See you."
Hermione turned and hurried off to Dumbledore's office. As soon as she was out of the library, she broke into a run. Once she reached the griffin, she was out of breath. "Fainting…Fainting Fancies…" The griffin opened and she ran up the turning stairs. She glanced at her watch. She had just made it. "Come in Hermione."
She opened the door and slipped inside. "Hello professor. I was…looking for some answers. You see, my mother just told me that I'm adopted and that I'm a pureblood. Do you know who my parents were?"
Dumbledore smiled. "Sit down. Yes, I know them. Well, I knew them. They died right after you were born in a car crash. They were amazing wizards. Their names were Liam and Evangeline Pace. They were fleeing from Voldemort when they hit a tree."
Hermione sank into the chair. "They're dead?"
"I'm so sorry. Hermione, it's late. That's enough information for tonight. But here." He handed her an envelope. "This is for you."
