For the next few weeks, they were bogged down with so much homework that they just could not find the time to sit down and discuss about Voldemort. Hermione and Draco tested one each other on Ancient Runes. Harry concentrated on Transfiguration while helping Ginny out with her workload, mostly teaching her about Potions. By the time they actually freed themselves of school, it was the Christmas holidays. As usual, Harry and Ron were whisked off to the Burrow. Hermione had planned to spend Christmas with her parents. However, her parents were required to attend an international dentist conference in Shanghai, leaving her to stay in Hogwarts with Draco. She had decided to spend the holidays to their advantage by researching and plotting strategies against Voldemort.
As promised, Draco had told Blaise about Hermione. His friend was quite surprised that he chose a Muggleborn as his girlfriend. For years he was led to believe that Draco abhorred Muggles. So when he was told of this news, Blaise felt quite relieved because he could finally admit his appreciation of Muggle literature. There was no need to hide those books from Draco.
"There's absolutely nothing in this book that's even remotely useful to us!" Hermione slammed the book shut and tossed it onto a pile of books she and Draco had gone through. "I can't believe it!"
Draco smiled wearily at her, closing the reference book he was forced to read. He had expected the whole research idea to bear no fruit; how could she expect to find more about Voldemort through books? The only thing that was written in all the books was that Lord Voldemort was a very evil Dark wizard who had killed a lot of people but lost his powers when he tried to kill Harry Potter. Draco could not see any sense in writing all that facts in books; it was practically a fairytale.
He reached out for her hand, rubbing his thumb over her fingers. As he spoke, his eyes shone mischievously, "Say, do you want to take a break?"
Hermione sighed, "Why not? I don't think my brain can take it anymore. Imagine, we went through nearly thirty books but what did we get? Nothing!"
Draco kissed her silent as he gathered her in his arms. His kiss melted away all her frustrations and tiredness. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck, willing him to deepen his kiss. He did so and their kiss became more passionate as they surrendered to the flame of love engulfing the room. Finally, they pulled apart, gasping for breath.
"Energized now?" Draco whispered hoarsely, smiling as he pressed their foreheads together.
Hermione laughed as she playfully pushed him away. How she loved him so. He made her feel secure, and although she knew he had meant it as a joke, his kiss did make her feel energized. She never knew that love could be so amazing.
"Okay, let's get back to work," she announced, returning to her seat. "We'll finish up these books and call it a day."
"Forget the books," Draco replied curtly. "I think it's better if we learn how to defend ourselves against the Dark Arts. Not the sort they teach us in school, but more crucial ones. Like the Unforgivable Curses."
Hermione considered his idea. There was some truth in it. No one was going to care how much they know about Voldemort or every person he had killed when they were on the battlefield. Survival was the cardinal that mattered. Either they win the battle of life or they die.
"And I think that we'll be more formidable if we can rally together others who are brave enough to face him," Draco carried on, an idea forming in his mind. "People who want to avoid this War, and end all this fear. Unsuspecting people."
She caught his drift. "Students," she solved his riddle. "You're suggesting that we form an alliance with Hogwarts's students."
"Not just any students," Draco pointed out. "Only those who have faced him or the Death Eaters and know how to defend themselves. There's no time for training."
Hermione finalized her decision. She understood his whole idea. She agreed slowly, "I know who should join us. Both are from Gryffindor, though."
"I think Blaise will like this idea as well," he added. At Hermione's look, he said, "What? A Slytherin don't deserve to be in this group?"
She rolled her eyes but took out a parchment and quill anyway. Both of them scratched down the names of the people who they wanted to be involved in the alliance. Hermione had divided the parchment into two columns and emblazoned the top of each column with the Gryffindor and the Slytherin badge. Seeing the lion and serpent throwing each other dagger looks, she wondered if co-operation was possible between the two houses. Still, she trusted Draco' opinion.
Draco held up the completed list to read it through again. There would be eight people in the group, if all of them agreed to the plan. Well, five if the three invited people turned down their offer. But for now, their job today was done.
Harry, Ron and Ginny raced up the steps, speeding for the Room of Requirement. After intense wishing for the room to appear, which it finally did, Harry pulled open the doors and rushed in. The Weasleys siblings followed suit. The room did not have a lot of furniture, except for chairs and a large round table.
Seated at the table were the other members of the group. Aside from Draco and Hermione, the others included Neville, Luna and strangely, Blaise. Somehow, they all looked like the Motley crew. Neville and Luna might look weak, but Harry had witnessed their bravery as they stood to fight by him from time to time. As for Blaise, Harry might as well completely hang himself for completely believing his archrival's judgement. Maybe it was due to the fact that Hermione was Draco's girlfriend.
"Well, now that Potter's here, can we start?" Draco asked impatiently. He winced as Hermione pinched his arm as a painful reminder to be polite.
Ron took his seat beside Harry, facing Hermione. He had gotten over his feeling s for her. In fact, he was now crazy over someone else. Apparently, Ginny's plan worked out. In one of her letters to Hermione over the holidays, she had written, "Ron goes around the house wearing cologne. Every hour he goes 'Gabrielle likes my cologne' or 'Gabrielle's just so beautiful – the way she walks, her accent…hell, I think she's prettier than Fleur.' Gabrielle this, Gabrielle that…he's driving me and Mum mad!"
Harry glanced at Draco coolly before speaking up, "Well, Ron, Hermione and I have managed to destroy two more Horcruxes over the holidays. We know that the last Horcrux is possibly Voldemort himself, but we still don't know where the others are. So -"
"One of them is in this school," Draco cut in almost indifferently. At Harry's blank look, he snorted, "The scar's really affecting your brain, isn't it? Think, Potter! If Voldemort has Horcruxes from the other two houses, there has to be one from Gryffindor. Merlin! Don't tell me you need a Slytherin to do your thinking now?"
Harry restrained Ron who was now on the brink of punching Draco's smug face. The redhead never took insinuation well, whether it was aimed at him or any of his friends. However, Draco's words set Harry thinking. A Horcrux in the school in the form of a Gryffindor trophy? As far as he was concerned, there was only one such possession and it was the Gryffindor sword. Even then, it was safely ensconced in the Headmistress's office.
"How can you be so sure?" Harry queried.
"I didn't say it was a guess; I'm saying it is in Hogwarts," Draco replied irritably. "I have ears, Potter. I overheard him telling that beloved snake of his."
Draco's declaration provoked whispers among the rest of the group members. Harry was busy deciding whether to believe Draco or not, discussing the options with Ron and Ginny. Ginny was prepared to give Draco the benefit of the doubt. Ron kept reminding Harry that Draco was just brainless. In the end, Harry had to make his own decision. He glanced at Draco. He was talking to Hermione, his face a mask of seriousness. Neville and Luna were caught up in their own conversation while Blaise was flicking through a novel which Harry suspected was A Tale Of Two Cities.
"Alright, I'll check out the sword to see if it's really a Horcrux," Harry spoke. Thw whispers receded like the sea at low tide. "But I doubt so."
Draco rolled his eyes. "I'm telling you, it is the Horcrux. But whatever. You settle the Gryffindor Horcrux, I'll try to find out about the other one. We destroy these Horcruxes, do our N.E.W.T.S, find and kill Voldemort and be hailed as heroes. How's the plan?"
Blaise looked up from his book, eyeing his friend craftily. Was he serious or was he simply being cynical? It was hard to tell with Draco. Sometimes, Draco's complex personality puzzled him greatly.
"How're you gonna find out about the other Horcrux?" Blaise voiced out for the first time during the meeting.
"I have my own ways. But firstly, we split up into two groups."