I love when people try and guess what is going to happen. It makes me happy. However, I hate when people presume to assume that they know what is going on and claim that certain plots have no reason. How would you know? You're not the author. Not being specific btw, just speaking in general. Anyways, I quite like this chapter.
"I'll tell you whatever you want to know. I'll tell you, Potter, and Dumbledore everything, but you have to… You have to promise me that you'll protect me. You have to give me that, Granger."
Hermione's eyes widened and her confusion grew as Greengrass' voice grew in desperation. The blonde girl suddenly swallowed, eyes becoming misty.
"I need your help…," she softly whispered, eyes pleading as she walked closer.
Hermione watched as she reached down, pulling up her sleeve.
"I want out."
There, on Daphne Greengrass' flawless skin, was the Dark Mark in bold, black ink.
All of the oxygen seemed to escape from Hermione's lungs as her eyes focused in on the mark, the dark ink such a contrast from her fair skin. Daphne Greengrass stood stock still, aside from the slight trembling, waiting for Hermione to say something, anything. Only, Hermione didn't know what to say. She had never anticipated…this.
Her eyes slowly rose to meet Greengrass' and any remark she had, she swallowed with one look into her eyes.
Greengrass was terrified.
The Slytherin was obviously trying to hide it, but Hermione could see the panic swirling within their depths. Before her wasn't the normal confident, fierce girl. At this moment, Greengrass was not her usual cold self who was always so put together. At this moment, Greengrass was a scared little girl who feared for her life, who feared for the mistake she had made, and the possible mistake that she could be currently making.
Greengrass took a risk in revealing all of this to Hermione. She had no reason to doubt that Hermione could just simply report her to Dumbledore.
A million thoughts ran through Hermione's head, and she didn't know where to even begin to start, so she simply said:
"Why?"
Hermione, first and foremost, wanted to know why. What could possibly compel someone to dedicate their life to serving a monstrosity of a person? Even worse, what would drive them to get a permanent symbol of that dedication and servitude?
Greengrass bit her lip and swallowed before shrugging, a sad and regretful look in her eyes.
"…because I was a fool."
The words were whispered so quietly that Hermione had a hard time hearing them. She glanced away, unable to look into Daphne's eyes.
Hermione licked her lips, resisting the urge to back away from the girl. She suddenly thought of something, perking up. She looked up with a frown.
"Why did you come to me?"
Greengrass sighed, rubbing her arms.
"I overheard you and Weasley talking…about Blaise…and Draco," Daphne said, eyes snapping up to meet hers.
Hermione sharply inhaled, eyes widening.
"I…"
"Relax, Granger. Despite my curiosity as to how that even happened, I don't particularly care, at least not now, anyway. I just…I figured that…well, since…"
Hermione put the pieces together with a sigh.
"Since I knew about Malfoy and had a relationship with Blaise, that I'd be more open to hearing you out," Hermione finished.
The other girl nodded.
"I suppose…that it is safe to assume that you and Malfoy aren't the only ones in the school…"
Greengrass' silence was Hermione's answer.
"How many?"
The blonde suddenly shook her head, locking eyes with Hermione.
"I-I can't tell you anything more until you promise my safety," Greengrass forced out.
Hermione sighed, glancing away.
"How do I know that this isn't a trick? How can I possibly trust you? My history with Slytherins as of late…has not been the easiest, and the cuts are still fresh," Hermione spat.
Daphne glanced at the clock, noting that detention was almost over.
"Meet me at the top of the Astronomy Tower tomorrow night…and bring Weasley."
"What could you possibly want with Ginny?"
"You want to know that you can trust me, right? You'll see…"
Ginny scoffed in disbelief, back leaning against the wall as she processed all of this. Greengrass…she couldn't believe it. Well, in actuality, she could believe it, it was just…
"I don't know, Hermione. I mean…after everything you just went through with Zabini and Malfoy? This seems a little too convenient," Ginny said, pushing herself upright.
Hermione bit her lip, clenched fist held up to her chin as she paced.
"You don't think I've thought that? Believe me, I've had that same exact thought a million times. I wouldn't put it past them, past any of them, but…"
Hermione suddenly paused, looking up at Ginny.
"You didn't see her, Ginny. She was so…so scared. She was terrified, and she should be," Hermione whispered.
Ginny sighed, swallowing as she stepped away from the wall, gazing out over the fairly empty school grounds, eyes solemn.
"It's really happening. I mean…Cedric Diggory and The Department of Mysteries was one thing, but now?"
Ginny turned around to face Hermione, eyes troubled.
"They're turning teenagers, kids who should be having the time of their lives, into…soldiers. If she's being sincere, I doubt she had much say in the matter…"
"Well…she said she did it because she was foolish," Hermione said.
Ginny let out a humorless laugh.
"How much of a choice do you think she really had? Suppose she did refuse? Suppose she kept putting it off? You think they'd say 'Okay, sweetie. Take your time'? You think they'd tell her that it's okay if she didn't want the mark? You think they'd pat her on the head and send her off? No, I doubt there was hardly a choice, at all," Ginny sneered.
Hermione nodded in agreement, heart aching at the thought of being put in such a position.
"Well? What do you want to do?"
Ginny sighed.
"I'll go with you, tonight. We'll be prepared in case there's any funny business, but if she is being truthful… We have to help her. We have to try…"
"And Dumbledore? Shouldn't we say something to him?"
Ginny pursed her lips, glancing down.
"I'm not sure…"
"How was detention?"
She looked up as Harry took his seat across from her. Hermione resisted the urge to glance towards the Slytherin table, eyes seeking out Greengrass' form.
"It was detention," she shrugged.
Harry eyed her.
"Greengrass didn't say anything to you?"
Hermione swallowed, the Dark Mark flashing before her eyes.
"No, and why would she?"
Harry shrugged with a sigh.
"I don't know. I just thought that maybe she might have let something slip," Harry replied.
"Harry, I think that you're making the Slytherin house out to be dumber than they are. If any of them are following him, they're not going to be so careless. They're referred to as cunning for a reason," she said.
"Yeah, I know, I just… I still have to lay low for a while, and there isn't much else I can do aside from following any of them, and right now, my biggest suspect is Malfoy," he huffed.
"Who put you into the infirmary, remember?"
"Don't remind me. I just…she has to be one of them, or at least know something-."
"Harry, stop it," she firmly stated, grabbing his hand.
The last thing she needed was for him to focus on Greengrass and start tailing her too.
"Take a deep breath and -."
"If you say relax, Hermione, I swear on Godric's grave that I will scream," Harry spat.
Hermione sighed.
"You know, sometimes I think that I'm the only one who cares…"
Hermione scoffed.
"That is not true, and you know it. We care. Okay? We understand your fears, we sympathize with your fears, hell, we have your fears too! It's just…we have school and other crap to worry about. We still have normal lives to lead. We cannot let this consume us, Harry. Besides, if this school is as overrun with them as you suspect, do you honestly think it wise to let them know that we're on to them? You know he has no qualms about killing off kids," Hermione stressed.
Harry heaved a sigh, reluctant to admit that she was correct.
"Look, I get it, Harry. I'm on your side, but sometimes, you can get a bit caught up in this, and you know it. Isn't your first Quidditch match coming up soon?"
Harry nodded.
"Yeah? Focus on that for now. Just step back and take a breather," she quietly said.
Harry shakily nodded, glancing away, eyes glassy.
"He's just…he's taken so much from me, Hermione…"
Hermione squeezed his hand, frowning as he swallowed.
"…and every time, I could do nothing but watch, powerless to stop it, to do anything," he spat.
"I know, I know…"
"I don't want to sit back and watch anymore, Hermione. I can't, I refuse…," he scoffed "…to be the Chosen One, I feel pretty bloody useless."
"Don't say that. We're here. I'm here, Ron's here, and Ginny's here. We're all here, and I am going to make it my duty to make sure that he takes nothing else away from you. I promise…"
"I'm busy tonight, so I guess that leaves tomorrow evening then," Hermione mumbled, stuffing her books and notes into her bag.
Draco said nothing as he watched her, clearly in a hurry to exit the classroom, to get away from him.
Hermione could hardly believe her luck. Having the duels in two weeks wasn't enough, no, Snape wanted them to practice outside of the classroom as well. She had the faint inkling that he had done this on purpose due to her denied request of a switch in partners.
"Hermione…"
Hermione stiffened, heart beat increasing as she wished that they weren't the only ones left in the classroom, everyone else having already filed out, Snape included.
"I told you…not to call me that," she said.
"There's nothing else I want to call you," he replied, much closer now.
She swallowed, opting to ignore him and continue.
"Talk to him, Hermione…please," he begged.
She spun around, eyes blazing.
"You know, it's almost cute how much you two care about each other. If only he cared about me half as much as he does about you," she spat.
Malfoy looked down at her with those piercing eyes, so close that she could smell the lingering scent of his body wash that still clung to his skin.
"Just let him explain," he tried to reason.
"Why don't you explain, huh? Since there's something else that needs to be explained, why don't you just tell me?"
Malfoy clenched his jaw, looking away.
"It's not exactly my place," he said.
Hermione scoffed, finding an odd humor in that.
"It's not exactly your place," she repeated.
She shook her head.
"You have a weird view of…boundaries," she sneered, throwing her bag over her shoulder.
Before she could leave, her wrist was suddenly in an iron grip, her world spinning and her chest colliding with his. She let out a soft gasp as she laid one hand on his chest to steady herself as she looked up at him. Whatever he was about to say, he clearly forgot as he ran his eyes over face, drinking her in.
Hermione suddenly shoved herself away from his, fists clenched at her sides.
"You hated me with a passion before, Malfoy. You've got what you wanted and then some, so go back to hating me," she hissed, exiting the classroom.
"I love you, Draco, like a brother, but…"
Blaise shook his head, eyes hard and determined as he stared the blond down.
"I'm not going to be selfless in this case. I'm not just going to…back out for feelings that may or may not be fleeting," Blaise scoffed.
Draco expected this response, so he wasn't surprised. It had taken him a while to admit, but it seemed that his friend really did care about the curly haired Gryffindor. Draco bowed his head, resting his forehead on his clasped hands.
"I'm sorry, Draco, but I'm not just going to… I'm not letting her go."
Draco resisted the urge to punch him. He was in the wrong here, not Blaise. He sighed, standing up and gazing at his friend.
"After everything I've done for you-."
"She's not some wand or a fancy broomstick, Draco! She's… This is nonnegotiable. Forget it," Blaise spat.
"You fall for a different girl every other month, Blaise! I've never…-."
Draco cut himself off, chest heaving.
"She's different, and you know she's different, otherwise, we wouldn't be having this conversation, right now," Draco said.
"Forget it. Find another girl, there's no shortage of them," Blaise hissed.
"I won't be able to let this go, Blaise. I can't…"
Blaise clenched his jaw, glaring at his best friend, fingers curling into fists.
"So is this it, then?"
Draco looked away, not wanting to answer that. No, he didn't want this to be it, but he knew that he wouldn't be able to just sit back and… He shook his head.
"I…I like her. There, I said it, Blaise. I was jealous, and that isn't going to change."
"I'm not giving her up, so like I said before, find a way to get over it," Blaise firmly stated.
Draco suddenly blinked.
"What if…what if you didn't have to let her go? What if neither one of us did?"
Blaise spun around, eyes wide as they locked with Draco's. Draco raised an eyebrow as Blaise strode towards him, index finger pointed.
"No, no, absolutely not…"
"I didn't think you'd come," Daphne's even voice said, the coolness of it reaching Hermione as they approached.
"Neither did I," Hermione replied.
Greengrass eyed Ginny as she stuffed her hands into her coat pockets, the chilly air a bit biting.
"…and you brought Weasley. Excellent."
"Why are we here?"
Ginny got straight to the point, already nervous.
"Granger wanted to make sure that she could trust me, so this is me proving that I am trustworthy," Daphne said.
Hermione frowned in confusion, waiting for Daphne to elaborate.
"Weasley here will be our third. If you've never seen it done before, I'm sure Granger here can talk you through it. It wouldn't surprise me to know that she knows how it's done…"
Hermione blinked, eyebrows raising slightly in shock.
"What is she on about, Hermione?"
Hermione and Daphne locked eyes, brown and blue connecting and holding.
"It seems that Greengrass and I are going to make an Unbreakable Vow."
Let me know what you think!