Granger had changed.
There was no doubt about it. He didn't know what they'd done to her but she had definitely changed. He hadn't seen her in two months, but he saw her now.
She sat across from him. Her legs were crossed and she was leaning back in her chair. She was silent; her only response to her friends' questions were curt nods or weak attempts at smiles. There was a long scar down her face, staring at the middle of right her eyebrow and spreading down (she was lucky her eye hadn't been badly damaged) to her cheek.
She was wearing simple black robes. Her hair was as bushy as ever, and thrown up. Her face was as pale as death. Draco could see her worried friends' expressions. None of them could understand. Nobody knew what could possible have happened to her. She never talked of it. He didn't blame her.
McGonagall stood in front of them. She looked so tired. Her eyes sought out Granger's – for reassurance, maybe? – but Granger barely looked up at her old mentor.
McGonagall was not the leader Dumbledore had been. She didn't have the presence or the power. "Right," she began, "well…we've had possible leads in search for the Horcruxes." Harry had told her about them during Granger's capture. "One in Ireland, one in India, one in America, and one in Albania. Since…er….all the Order are caught up trying to keep the peace here, we were wondering whether you lot would check them out."
They were in Dumbledore's old office. It was the end of what should have been their seventh year. Most hadn't returned. Potter, Granger and Weasley had begun searching for the Horcruxes but then Death Eaters had captured Granger and the other two had returned to Hogwarts. Meanwhile, Draco had been serving the Dark Lord, too scared after Dumbledore's death to leave but not strong enough to stay. He had learned that night, the night of Dumbledore's death, that he didn't really like killing after all.
Ginny Weasley raised a hand, "Er, Professor? Isn't there someone else who could…?"
"I'm afraid not, Miss Weasley. Anyway, the order has discussed it between us and we decide you are all more than capable to handle yourselves. We do not want you to go and get the Horcruxes only go and.see if magical activity has taken place around the suspected area. Minimal risk, really." It hit Draco then what the order were really doing. They were getting the young ones in danger out of the country. Perhaps they knew something was coming, or perhaps they were just getting desperate?
Draco knew that Potter also had figured this out by the sceptical look on his face.
"There's eight of us," Potter said now.
Draco looked around. Potter, the two Weasleys, Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, Lavender Brown, Granger and himself. Eight. Amazing, Potter could count after all.
"Two for each place?" Ginny asked, frowning slightly. Draco could see she had inherited the Weasley's great intelligence.
"Who's going to want to go with him?" Weasley snarled, gesturing over at Draco.
"I've told you," Harry said, through gritted teeth. "Despite everything, Malfoy's on our side now. I've accepted him. You know what he did." Harry looked obviously at Hermione, who didn't look as if she was listening to their conversation.
"I don't care what he did. He was a Death Eater, for Merlin's sake!"
"And he's not anymore," Harry replied, his voice raising.
"Potter," Draco interrupted now coldly, "I don't need you to stand up for me. I couldn't give a damn about Weasley's opinion, and I assure you I would take as much pleasure going to a different country with him as he would me."
"I'll let you pick who you want to go with. Do I have your consent to go on this mission?" McGonagall said, trying to regain control over the situation.
"Oh yes," Lovegood responded dreamily, "I'd rather like go on a holiday."
"I'm in," Neville said. "My Grandmother will be pleased."
"Yeah," Ron said sulkily, arms folded.
"Obviously," Harry said with half a grin.
Lavender looked troubled. "I…um….suppose. I'll have to talk to my mum and dad first."
"I will," the Weasley girl piped in.
Everyone looked at Granger. "Professor," Weasley began, "do you really think Hermione should-?"
"She's a able witch, Weasley, and well able to decide for herself. Miss Granger?"
"Yes," Granger said, frowning slightly.
"And Mr Malfoy?"
All Draco saw were those brown eyes looking up at last. They met his and he could see the questions shooting out at him like sparks. Why did you do it?
"I'm up for it," he said, eyes still on hers.
"And your pairings?" McGonagall asked.
"I want Ginny to go with me," Potter said, catching her hand in his and smiling.
"I'd like to go with Neville," Luna said vaguely. Longbottom looked both shocked and horrified.
Draco realised there was the high chance of him being left with Lavender Brown. He honestly could not think of anything less painful at that moment.
"I'll go with Malfoy," Granger suddenly said.
They all looked shocked. "Are you sure?" Potter said, while Weasley hissed, "can you really trust him, Hermione?"
"He saved my life," she replied to both of them shortly.
With the flooding relief that the threat of Lavender Brown trying to read his tea leaves for however long he was gone for now thoroughly distinguished, a new confusion set over him about whether he should be more worried about this changed Granger.
And as he sat on the ferry beside her on his way to Ireland, he was still no more surer or confident.
A new story. This was just a prologue. It'll get better - this is just the start. Hermione has some issues to work through first. Rating is high just to be safe - there'll be dark themes, and one grown-up scene.
