A/N: My apologies for being so long in updating this time. Thanks to everyone for your patience and for taking the time to review this story. As always, special thanks to Jocelyn, beta-extrodinaire, for your suggestions on this chapter.

Chapter Seventeen:

"They're gone," Draco whispered.

Hermione slid her arms from around his neck. "That was sneaky!"

He grinned at her. "You have to admit, it did make them disappear a lot faster. And… it was fun."

She snorted. "I had to remind myself what this was all about, or else you might have found yourself getting slapped."

Draco smirked. "Who knows? I might have enjoyed that, too."

"You're impossible!"

"So…do you want to eat first, or are you ready to face the music?"

She swallowed, and looked around nervously. "You mean he's here… now?"

Draco indicated the short hallway behind them. "First door on your right. Oh, and he doesn't appear to be in the best of moods."

"And that's different from every other time in exactly what way?" She started down the hall, ignoring Draco's laugh behind her. Pausing in front of the door, she turned and looked back at him again. He was watching her with raised eyebrows, and she huffed in exasperation and pushed the door open, stepping into the dimly-lit room. She could just make out the figure sitting in the far corner.

"Do close the door behind you, Miss Granger."

She took her time shutting the door, trying to quell the knots of tension in her stomach. He had his wand out when she turned to face him, and with a negligible movement of his hand, cast a Silencing Charm on the door.

"Don't you trust Draco?" she asked in surprise.

"I have survived as a spy by trusting no one." They were sitting in a small study, and he indicated a nearby hassock. Hermione sat quietly, and waited for the lecture that she was sure was coming. Even in the half-light, she could tell that he was appraising her.

"I trust that Madam Pomfrey took care of your injuries?"

"Yes. I'm fine now."

"Need I go into detail as to the stupidity of your actions?"

She couldn't help the hint of irritation as she responded. "Why not? Everyone else has thoroughly covered the subject." Her voice caught as she finished. "As if I didn't learn my lesson when Lucius Malfoy beat it into me."

For a long moment, he made no response. "Did they accept your story when you returned to the castle?"

"Most of them did. I think Moody and Harry had misgivings. Moody didn't believe that a mere girl could fight off Malfoy, and Harry… he thinks I'm holding things back from him."

"What Mr. Potter thinks is not important," he snapped.

"It is to me. This isn't easy, you know!"

"Did you expect it to be?" He spoke sarcastically. "This is war, after all, Miss Granger."

Hermione sighed. "Nothing has been as I expected, but then, I've never been in a war before."

"All the more reason for you to act with caution."

Hermione closed her eyes for just a moment. Where was the man who'd held her so gently when she'd clung to him in terror… the man who'd kissed her so thoroughly? Apparently, they were back to Miss Granger and talking to her as the stupid little girl. She shouldn't let it hurt her; she couldn't let it hurt her. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and looked at him, sitting in the shadows.

"I assume you have another reason for being here, other than berating me, that is. What is it you want, exactly?" She spoke brusquely, trying to keep a disinterested tone.

"The Hufflepuff cup – what progress have you made in the search for it?"

"We don't have much to go on. I'm researching Helga Hufflepuff's papers, on the chance that I might pick up an idea." She paused. "The Order members know what we're hunting for, and are searching through captured Death Eater facilities for any clues to its location."

"Anything else." His words were curt.

"Nothing right now, but I do think you should be observing Vol… the Dark Lord for any sign that he's trying to find or hide something. He must be desperate to protect the remaining Horcruxes."

"Do you really think I need you to tell me my job, Miss Granger?" The words were drawled.

She'd had enough. Rising from her seat, she walked over to the door. "Is there anything else… sir?"

"I will be contacting you again, and I expect to be kept informed of anything pertaining to the Horcruxes."

She nodded.

"And you will refrain from becoming involved emotionally with Draco."

"Draco?" She glared at him. "First Harry, now Draco. What gives you the right to tell me who I should associate with?"

"His allegiances are questionable. Until we are sure where his loyalties lie, the situation must be handled carefully. And he is vulnerable right now."

"Well, don't worry. I won't break his heart," she muttered under her breath. "At least he has a heart to be broken!"

"What was that, Miss Granger?"

She stepped back from the door. "Did Lucius Malfoy believe what you told him, about saving him during the attack?"

"That is not your concern," he said flatly.

"It was more than just concern." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I was afraid for you." Abruptly, she stepped through the door, pulling it closed behind her.

Draco was sitting at the table, his half-eaten dinner in front of him. He took one look at her, and busied himself with his food again. Hermione shot him a grateful glance. By now, Ron and Harry would have been drilling her for details, but recognizing from her face that things had not gone well, Draco kept silent.

She managed to eat a few bites, then pushed the plate away from her. Getting up and walking around the room, Hermione found herself picking up various objects and putting them down again – statuettes, books, photos. She realized that there were many more personal keepsakes here than she would have expected to find, considering that Draco had been rushed into sanctuary at Hogwarts. She picked up an elaborate inkwell with a gold quill sitting in it.

"You certainly have a lot of, well, stuff, I guess. Surely you didn't have a chance to pack things before you got here." She looked at him, curiously.

Draco rose from the table and joined her. Taking the inkwell from her, he looked at it dispassionately. "This is from my father's study at Malfoy Manor. I guess my mother thought it would remind me of him." He grimaced. "As if I needed to be reminded… ."

"Your mother… she packed all these things for you?"

"Yeah." He replaced the inkwell. "These are all things that she was especially fond of. She wanted me to have them. They were packed and ready for me when she brought me here." He looked away from her. "Of course, I didn't realize that I wouldn't be seeing her again."

"I'm sorry, Draco," Hermione said softly. "Do you think that she realized that Vol… ?" She stopped, abashed. "Never mind. I shouldn't have asked that."

"No, it's okay. I've thought about it a lot. Hell, I don't have much else to do except sit around and think. I don't mind talking about it. She thought that she could convince the Dark Lord that my banishment from his circle would be punishment enough. She'd even set up a way that we could communicate."

"Communicate? How?"

"Here, look at this." Draco reached up and removed a small bowl from a nearby shelf. It was made of a glossy black stone, and surrounded with elaborate silverwork. The three elements were represented: earth, air, and fire.

"It's beautiful. But why isn't water represented?" Hermione took the bowl and turned it around in her hands, marveling at the workmanship.

"The water is placed in the bowl, and the elements are then complete," Draco explained.

"You mean it's a scrying bowl?"

He shook his head. "Not exactly, but it's similar. My mother had the match to this bowl. If she wished to contact me, she'd fill the bowl with water. This bowl would glow… the silver around it. I'd fill it with water and then I'd be able to look in the bowl and see her and talk to her." He reclaimed the bowl and set it back on the shelf. "Didn't turn out that way."

Across the room from them, the Floo activated and they both jerked around. "I didn't ask for anyone yet," Hermione said with surprise.

Neville stepped into the room, followed by Luna. Both looked worried, and Neville stuttered out an explanation.

"Hermione, y-you'd better come. It's H-Harry. He says he's going to leave and he's fighting with Ginny and R-Ron. They're screaming, and no one can calm them down."

"Oh no! I've been afraid of this. Draco, I've got to go."

"I'll come with you."

She held up a hand to forestall him. "Not a good idea. That will only make Harry and Ron more unreasonable. I'll let you know what's going on."

She stumbled out of the Floo into a scene of chaos. Harry was yelling, Ron was yelling, and Ginny was between the two of them, yelling so hard she was red-faced.

"Shut up!" The others turned and looked at Hermione in astonishment. "All right. Now… one at a time. What the hell is this about? Harry?"

"The Order is finally going into the Riddle house… to search it. It might be our only chance to find the Cup or a clue to its whereabouts. They expect that Death Eaters are going to show up, so it's a dangerous mission." He gave Hermione the look that she'd come to think of as the Don't-debate-this-with-me-I've-made-up-my-mind Look. "I'm going in with them."

Before she could speak up, Ron added, "And so am I… but Ginny is not!"

Ginny turned on him. "Don't you tell me what I will or won't do, Ron Weasley! I have as much at stake in this as you do!"

Harry's expression was set. "You're not going, Gin. You're not going anywhere near it."

Hermione reached over and grabbed Ginny by the shoulder, before she could start shrieking again. "Wait a minute. The Order has agreed to take you with them?"

"Agreed or not… I'm going," Harry said, defiantly.

"That's what I thought," Hermione replied. "You don't think about things before you jump right in. Maybe you should find out a few things first. Like whether or not your presence would jeopardize the mission… whether it would bring the Death Eaters out in greater force. Or… even bring Voldemort there!"

"And what if it does?" Harry demanded.

"Then you could be putting a lot of people at risk."

"You're a great one to be talking about thinking things out first, Hermione," Ron said loudly.

"Maybe I don't want you to make the same stupid mistake that I did," Hermione retorted. "Did you ever consider that?"

The two boys fell silent. Harry looked from Ginny to Hermione, then shrugged. "I'll talk to Remus. Is that what you want?"

"Yes," Hermione answered.

"But you remember one thing, Harry Potter! I'm not staying behind this time." Ginny had her hands on her hips, reminding Hermione of Molly Weasley in the midst of one of her tirades.

Harry shook his head. "Not anywhere near the place, Ginny. I meant that. Not any place where he might be able to reach you again."

"You left me behind before, and he still got to me. I want to fight back as much as you do!"

"She has a point, Harry. And I can help watch out for her," Hermione said.

"What!" Ron sputtered. "You're not thinking that you're going to go?"

"I've gone everywhere else with the two of you. Why not?"

Ron threw up his hands. "Because we know this will be dangerous. Because you're girls! You shouldn't be in the middle of fighting."

Hermione laughed. "Tell that to Tonks. I'd love to hear her response."

"She's a trained Auror," Harry said. "I've already gotten you hurt – in the Ministry and in Grimmauld Place. I'm not going to let that happen again."

"It's not your choice. Ginny and I will make our own decisions, if the Order allows us."

Ron snorted. In one swift move, Ginny swung around and belted him, knocking him to the floor. Harry pulled a face.

"I think we're outfought, Ron. Let's go talk to Remus." He held out a hand and pulled Ron from the floor, and the two of them left the room together. Ginny sank into a nearby chair with a small moan.

"I can't bear it. I won't be left behind again, not while Harry puts himself at risk." She cradled her right wrist. "Damn, my hand hurts."

"You gave him quite a wallop," Hermione said. She pulled out her wand and spoke a basic healing spell over Ginny's hand. "I've wanted to do that… quite a few times."

"Do you… do you think they'll let Harry go?" Ginny asked, anxiously.

"If it's a choice between having him in the plan, or having him show up on his own and screw things up, then yes, I think they will. For the rest of us, we're not Order members, so they don't have to include us."

"Then what do we do now?"

Hermione sighed. "We wait."

The Headmistress's office became the site of furious debate. Harry and Ron were adamant that they would enter the Riddle house with or without the Order's permission. Remus insisted that their presence would make a dangerous situation even worse. Mad-Eye Moody suggested confining them both against their will for the duration of the mission. Ginny became livid again when it became clear that, regardless of the final decision on the boys, she and Hermione would be left behind. Tonks insisted that both girls be included. Kingsley Shacklebolt stated that he would cancel the mission before allowing any of the students to go.

"That's enough!" Minerva McGonagall threw her hands up in the air. "As head of the Order of the Phoenix, I have the final authority in this." She looked around the room. "We will delay the mission for the time being, until all the details have been worked out."

Harry opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off. "That will do, Mr. Potter. We have been thorough apprised of your intentions and your opinion. This discussion will continue at a later date."

Harry slammed out of the office, followed by Ron. The Headmistress dismissed the girls. "Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, please return to your room. And do keep an eye on Mr. Potter. In this mood, I worry that he may do something impulsive."

"Yes, Professor. We'll watch him," Ginny assured her.

They found Harry in the common room, sitting and watching the fire. Hermione glanced around at the others, and Luna gave her a warning shake of the head. Ginny slipped down beside him; he ignored her. Perched on the arm of the sofa, Ron sat, arms folded, and watched Harry. The entire room seemed to breathe tension… all of it centered on Harry. Gradually, he seemed to relax, reaching over and putting his arm around Ginny.

"Harry, are you all right?" Hermione asked.

"Sure. I'll just have to wait and see what they plan to do." His words sounded unconvincing, and Ron narrowed his eyes. Hermione could see that he was thinking the same thing that she was. Harry was going to try something. And, unless she was totally wrong, he was going to do it soon. He stood up, and everyone else in the room rose in response.

"I'm going to bed." Without another word, he headed up the stairs. Hermione watched him go, Ron following right behind him.

"Maybe we'd all better call it a night," Neville said.

The others separated, heading up the stairs to the two dormitories. Hermione kept Ginny behind for just a moment.

"He's going to pull something, maybe even tonight."

"What do you suggest we do?" Ginny asked.

"This." Hermione pulled out her wand and began to chant a spell over the base of the stairway to the boys' dorm. Recognizing the spell, Ginny pulled her wand and added her own wards.

"That should take care of it," Hermione whispered. "If he makes a move tonight, there'll be enough whistles and horns to wake up the entire castle."

"That takes care of tonight. What about tomorrow? He won't fall for the same thing twice." Ginny giggled.

"We'll think of something else by then. Between the two of us, we'll keep him in check."

In the early dawn hours, the peace of Hogwarts was blasted with what sounded like the wails and whistles of a dozen Hogwarts Express engines. Hermione and Ginny, followed by the other girls, raced out of their room. Harry was standing stunned at the foot of the stairs, and Ron was lying curled up at his feet, hands over his ears.

"Very good, Hermione," Harry said with a wry grin. "I don't have to worry about Voldemort. You almost killed me yourself… heart failure!"

The door to the common room slammed open, and the Headmistress ran in, followed by Remus and Tonks.

"What is going on here? An explanation, please, Miss Granger!"

"A practical joke that went off unexpectedly, Professor. I'm sorry." Behind her, Hermione could hear Ginny, Luna, and Susan stifling their giggles.

"This is not in the least amusing. Please, return to your beds at once!" She headed out the door. Remus stood silently, and gave Harry a long look. Then he looked at Hermione and nodded, before following the Headmistress and Tonks.

Hermione sighed. Remus knew why the alarms had been set. He'd be watching Harry closely now as well. The boys headed back up the stairs.

"I think," Hermione said, "that I'd rather sleep down here tonight." She curled up on the sofa, and Ginny settled down on the nearby divan. "They won't get by us."

"No," Ginny agreed. "Not tonight, but eventually… they will."

Someone was insistently prodding her in the back. Hermione groaned and pushed the hand away. "Go away, or you're dead."

A chuckle, "You're the one who had us all awake at the crack of dawn with your little stunt. Payback is hell."

Hermione opened her eyes to see Harry bending over her, with a smile on his face. She smiled back. "You're not angry at me?"

"Nah… I was last night, but you blasted some sense into me."

"Via the eardrums, Harry Potter, so don't forget it!" She sat up, and he slid onto the sofa next to her. "So you won't try and get to the Riddle house?"

"Oh, I'm going. But I will wait and hear how the Order intends to handle it."

"Harry… you know what this is all about. If you go out and get yourself killed before you can face him, then we've lost. It's all over for the rest of us." She put her arms around him and hugged tightly.

"Don't worry," he said. "I won't let you down."

"Ahem!" Ginny was sitting up and looking over at them. "Count yourself lucky, Hermione. If it was anyone else holding my boyfriend, I'd have hexed them six-ways-to-Sunday by now."

Harry laughed. "I'm apologizing, Gin."

"Really!" She grinned at him. "Come over here and apologize to me."

The others were making their way into the common room, yawning and stretching. Harry looked around at the group. "We're turning into slugs here. How about the Room of Requirement after breakfast, and a review of DA drills?"

"Good idea," said Ginny. "We need to work our way through some of this tension."

"Just one thing," Hermione said. Everyone stopped to look at her. "We're including Draco in this."

"Why?" Ron demanded. "Why teach the little ferret everything we know, just so he can use it against us later?"

"He's on our side now, Ron. He has no choice."

"Bring him, Hermione." Harry silenced the others with his statement.

In their dorm room, Ginny pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. "This will be interesting."

"How so?" Hermione pulled her hair back, grateful that it was long enough to braid down her back and be kept out of the way.

"Draco working with us. The boys will probably go out of their way to hex him," Luna said.

"They may find Draco is more than a match for them," Hermione huffed.

"Okay, breakfast. I'm starved." Ginny led the way, and they joined the boys for a noisy breakfast, laughing, and joking. At one point, Remus and Tonks came in and filled their own plates. Hermione watched as Remus caught Harry's eye and raised his eyebrows. Harry grinned in response, and Remus visibly relaxed. She smiled. One thing that was certain in all of this was Remus's absolute devotion to Harry, his best friend's son, and practically his own son in many ways.

The meal concluded, Hermione was able to Floo from the Great Hall to Draco's quarters. Her escort left her there with instructions to join the rest of them in the Room of Requirement as soon as possible.

Draco was dubious when she asked him to go with her. "Are you planning on getting me killed, Granger?"

"Not to worry, Draco. When I decide to kill you, I won't share it with the others. It'll be all for me."

He gave a sharp laugh. "You know, I don't think that Hat sorted you properly. You've got some distinctly Slytherin characteristics."

"You really shouldn't insult me right before you're going to be facing me in a hexing match." Hermione giggled.

Draco brought his fist to his chest in an improvised salute. "Lead on, Empress. We who are about to die salute you!"

Hermione giggled again, and walked over to the hearth. She grabbed a handful of Floo powder and turned back to Draco… and froze.

"Draco, the bowl… the scrying bowl… it's glowing!"

He swung around, his face white. The silverwork around the bowl was luminescent, appearing to be almost transparent.

"Who would have the other one now?" Hermione whispered.

"I don't know. Anyone could have gotten it, even Vol… the Dark Lord." Draco approached it slowly, touching it tentatively, as if he expected to be burned. He placed it on the table.

"Are you going to fill it?"

"Guess I'd better. Someone knows it's connected to me." He pulled his wand and summoned a pitcher of water. About to pour it in, he turned to Hermione. "Better get out of sight. We may not want whoever has the other bowl to know that you're here."

Hermione nodded, and stepped into an out-of-the-way corner of the room. He looked at her, and she could see the fear in his face. Slowly, he poured the water. Setting the pitcher down, he placed one hand on either side of the bowl, and bent his face over it. As she watched, he went still and his eyes narrowed.

"Hello, Father," he said.

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