It's Not Up To You

It was a simple enough goodbye, he mused as he arrived by Floo network into a prefect's chamber. Dusting off ash, he walked out of the fireplace and it shrunk to its normal size once more. He eyed the grounds outside of Hogwarts and saw that it still looked the same as he had left it. It was nearing six in the evening and it was dark, lights from the torches inside the castle illuminated faint light outside. He walked out of the room and entered a corridor. The prefect's chamber was a floor above the library and he wondered if Hermione was there. Descending down to the second floor, the castle was quiet, as it was still a few days till the end of Christmas break.

He passed by the librarian, Irma Pince, carrying a mug of steaming hot chocolate. He greeted in respect and she nodded once, yawning after. The library was closed then, he assumed. He continued walking, speculating if Hermione was in the Great Hall since it usually closed at around nine in the evening. He walked down another flight of stairs and arrived at the Great Hall. The Great Hall's décor transformed the room into a rather cheery place, the centre was festooned with four pine trees in the respective colors of the four houses and the ceiling above swirled with snow. Lights dangled on the walls on wreaths of green and red. At the far end of the tables, he spotted Hermione sitting with Gryffindors from the lower years. He also saw Theodore Nott and some freshman from Slytherin he didn't recognize too well. Clearing his throat as he approached the Slytherin table, he caught sight of Hermione glancing at him for a short while. Then she returned to her animated banter with her fellow housemates and he sat down across Theodore Nott.

"Malfoy," Nott greeted in a nonchalant manner. "I see you're back. Slytherin has been dour without you."

Draco nodded. "Glad you like that fact I'm back, although your derision has been even more welcoming."

Nott laughed and continued to eat the last of his dinner. "Oh, Blaise left two days ago. His mother sent a howler, saying he hadn't done well with subjects and that he was going to get a louder one if he didn't return home to explain... Aren't you going to have a bite?"

"I'm not hungry."

"How about a bite of that?" Nott said, motioning for Hermione who had her back turned. She was dressed in a plain, body hugging turtle neck blouse and dark jeans with her legs crossed.

Draco stared at her back and felt something stir inside of him, he was becoming a romantic git, that's what was happening, but she really was attractive even while her back was turned. She was laughing over some silly joke and the corners of her eyes crinkled a bit as she displayed her perfect set of teeth. He turned to face Nott once more and rolled his eyes testily.

"Not my kind of dessert, either."

Nott studied him and smiled a sly smile. "I think I'll have some of that later."

Draco's jaw hardened but he said nothing. Did he know? Did he find out? Maybe they weren't careful enough, was that why he smiled in such a devious manner? The male Slytherin first year seated beside him looked at Hermione and nodded in agreement to Nott. Draco didn't react and he drank some apple cinnamon tea; to squelch the violent thoughts of beating up Theodore Nott in his mind. The first year excused himself and left, leaving Draco and Nott seated alone across each other.

Nott lowered his head and whispered, "I know what's going on, Draco."

Draco glared at him. How dare he? He fought again for self control. "And what the hell is going on?" Draco hissed back.

"Is the Dark Lord back?" Nott queried, his eyes narrowing.

Draco felt relief. So it was about the Master's return, after all. He raised his chin up and said, "What's it to you?"

"Father's letter arrived after you left for your manor. I went home as well with the pretense of my great grandmother arriving from Bulgaria, only arrived a day ahead of you. He told me to be aware, to support your-"

"Shut up," Draco interrupted. "That is enough. There is a place for this kind of conversation."

Theodore Nott sighed and nodded. He stood up."I'll see you in the Common Room, then."

Draco watched as he left the Great Hall, and he rubbed his eyes and pressed his palms against his eyelids. He wondered if he could sleep again tonight. There was the bustling sound of students standing up and he saw the Great Hall emptying out the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors leaving, still chatting noisily. Hermione left last, her hand lingered on the side of the large door and her face expressed concern. Draco gave a faint smile and Hermione left first. A minute later, Draco walked out and saw Hermione standing beside the edge of a staircase's stone gargoyle.

"I'll see you in an hour near the green house. The Herbology classroom," he quickly whispered. He walked down, heading for the Slytherin Dormitory.

Hermione nodded once and walked up for the Gryffindor room, wondering why Draco looked pale and unwell.

Draco saw Theodore Nott lounging indolently on a green leather couch as he entered the Common Room. The room was colder than usual, probably because of the frozen lake surrounding half of the underground room. Greenish hued lights lit up the room, lending an air of melancholy. In the centre of the room, across the door, was a thick glass partition that showed the murky lake. It was dark blue in color against the glass this time, but during spring; it became clear and showed aquatic life that lived in shallow depths. Draco used to enjoy sitting on the couch during his earlier years in Hogwarts because the scene calmed him so. Now, looking at the dark, nearly frozen water below the surface, he felt an inkling of what was going to happen. He had no concrete plan for himself, just a smattering of ideas to save some skin.

"Are we alone?" Draco asked.

Theodore gave a nod. "I sent everyone out. I told the younger years that some seventh year prefects were planning something for the ball, which I heard would be on February."

"You are aware that there are only two prefects present now in this house instead of six, right?"

Nott waved a hand nonchalantly. "They won't ask questions, trust me. They're lacking in wits and evil intentions, that's what. I believe we are the last generation to plot such measures."

Draco slid into a leather seat with armrests, directly across Nott. "What did you want to talk about?"

Nott sat up properly, his hands in front of him, clasped and icy-looking. "My father's urgent need to have me home… I know there have been new developments. I don't know what they are, even father doesn't know. But he only asked me that I support you in every endeavor, as our families have been age-old allies."

"Is that it?"

"I want to know what's going on, what the plan is."

Draco's nostrils flared a bit. "The bloody hell you'll know what it is. You do understand that whatever the plan is, even I do not know the depth of it. I wait for any order by any member that has conversed with the Dark Lord."

"Do you honestly think that I'll believe the arse wipe story you just told me?"

"You'll believe what I believe in."

Nott slammed his fist down the low dark table. Although it surprised Draco, he managed to look indifferent. Nott leaned on the table, his palms face down on the surface, angrily looking at Draco.

"I want in, Draco!"

Draco looked sideways, his right eyebrow rising up, a thin, furtive smile playing on his lips. "I've never seen you lose your temper before, Theed," he said, using Theodore's childhood nickname. "You were never the type to throw a tantrum."

"Bloody hell, Draco!" Nott said, his voice raising higher now. "You know I gave you my word a long time ago."

"We were too young. You can take it back."

"I made an oath to my grandfather, that I'd be your ally in Hogwarts, as well as outside of this school, an oath I take seriously."

"Just because he was saved by my grandfather years ago, it doesn't mean you have to follow suit."

Theodore Nott laughed hollowly. "Unlike other people, I am a man of my word."

"You're barely a man," Draco said, enjoying the fact that he was teasing Nott. But the color in Nott's eyes changed.

"I don't usually enjoy blackmail, Draco."

"What could you possibly-"

"You'll kill your little Mudblood plaything if you keep on with this," Nott interrupted in a low and dangerous voice.

Draco paused, realizing he really did know. He felt himself grow cold, blood was leaving his hands and face, his heart pulsated wildly, but he couldn't feel the blood flowing through him. He couldn't imagine the harm this gangly pureblood in front of him would do to Hermione.

"Yes, I know about you and her," Nott said with relish, standing up with his arms folded.

"I can see that," Draco said frigidly. "Blackmailing might be something you'll be good at if you try it."

"Are you challenging me, Draco? I find her highly attractive. She'd make a good slave if someone else hasn't plucked her yet."

Draco felt himself seethe. His fist formed into a ball. Still he sat down in the same position he was in, but his eyes changed into a darker shade of grey, almost black. His mouth was set in a thin line.

Nott was studying Draco. He had always been so guarded. Such a strange friendship they had. They had known each other when they were only around five years of age; their families had met for a Walpurgis Eve fête, bringing along the younger generation. Their grandfathers had been the closest of friends from their Hogwarts years. Draco's grandfather, Abraxas, had saved Nott's grandfather from a Chimera while on an expedition to Greece during their younger days. Eternally grateful, he swore to uphold his friendship by having his family follow suit and linking the Malfoys and Notts closer. Nott had been fascinated by Draco as a young child. He was quiet around everyone, sulking into corners or shutting himself in the library. He rarely spoke to Theodore, not until he reached the age of nine.

"I remember," Nott began."We were in your family gardens. Our parents were in another area of the manor. We were talking about power. What kind we'd have, how dominant we'd be, once we'd get into Hogwarts. I remember being drawn to your longing for recognition and lust for supremacy. I had never conversed with any other child that way. We both knew what it was like to live for what was expected of us. You told me it would be an honor to serve the harbinger of authority. I understood you were talking about Lord Voldemort, but I believed in you, as well. And now, you sit here before me, unable to deny the fact that you were seen with the weak kind, the dirty kind. I expected better of you, Draco. I trust your family will feel the same way."

"Be done with it."

"You know I won't do it, Draco. I made a promise to you first. That blood pact in the garden sealed my allegiance to you."

Draco smiled knowingly."I recall that. Childhood silliness, really. We didn't have a grasp of magic yet. But that implicit spell cannot be broken, I don't know why."

It was done simple enough. Draco had taken a dagger and pricked the middle of his palm, along with Theodore's, no words were spoken, no promises voiced out. All in the head, that was what it was. Perhaps that was why they could never hate each other; perhaps it was why they never said anything negative (statements truthfully meant) against each other, despite being apprehensive of each others' abilities and intellect in secret.

"What do you plan to do, now?"

"I don't know," Draco admitted, his voice going quiet."She's not that bad once…" his voice trailed off.

Nott held up a palm. "Spare me the love stories. You do know what this means, right?"

"The consequences are enormous."

"Well, love hasn't damaged your cranium, yet," Nott said wryly. "I gave my word not to betray you. But others will."

"I know."

"Then stop it. To save your arse and hers, if you do really care for her."

"It's not that simple."

"Merlin's blood! You've fallen for her, haven't you?" Nott accused, and it was rightly so. "A Mudblood, Malfoy!" Theodore Nott felt overwhelmed and slumped on the couch behind him. His hands covered his face, laughing first and muttering again. "A Mudblood? This'll be the death of us…"

"It won't be," he said."I've planned it. I'm almost done using her. I haven't found any information from her about any weaknesses Potter may reveal."

Nott snorted and rolled his eyes."Don't lie badly, it's unbecoming of you."

Draco sat up straight. "Listen to me, there is something brewing afoot. The Dark Lord bides his time; perhaps my father is, too. The last I heard from him, he was in Estonia with my Uncle Rodolphus. The Dark Lord's location remains to be unknown. I, thru contact with Aunt Bellatrix, have hatched a plan concerning a second assault in Hogwarts, probably during the end of January or the start of February next year."

"You'll kill McGonagall?" Nott said, incredulous.

Draco shrugged. "I shall play it by ear. I have a month or so."

Nott laughed vacantly. "This is something immense. Will you do it alone?"

"Crabbe and Goyle are of no use to me, I think."

Nott smiled.

Draco smirked back sparsely, knowing he would need his old ally's help to pull through.

Hermione was sitting down on one of the chairs of the Herbology classroom, surrounded by a few blue flames she conjured for warmth. There was a single rusty, brass chandelier with five candles lit above her, the window panes were lined with frost and a mild snow blizzard flurried past outside. Notes were strewn all over the blackboard, the chalk already fading with time.

The door opened and Hermione saw Draco slip in quietly. He smiled, standing in front of the door. Draco made his way towards Hermione as she stood up.

"Hey," she said simply, smiling. Then her eyes narrowed with worry. "Are you alright?"

"What do you mean?"

"You look pale."

"It's cold, my gorgeous Hermione," he teased.

She smiled and pressed on. "Have you slept at all while tending to your mother?"

Draco nodded. "Just a bit," he said. "It's been…a bit of hell."

Hell was an understatement. His mind was in turmoil. What he had failed to do, he would do so again. This time, he would be obvious to everyone. Everyone would know. Harry Potter had accused him justly of betraying Dumbledore the night he was killed by Snape, but he pulled through that ordeal. He would do the same thing again and still get away. The time for being a coward was over.

"Are you sure you're alright?" she asked again laughing. "You're spacing out."

He forced himself to grin. "Listen, Hermione, I read something in my family library the other day. I came across something very intriguing. You might like it."

Hermione's eyes brightened. "You actually read?"

Draco pinched her nose. "The bloody hell I do. There is nothing else to do there at times." He reached for his coat pocket and pulled out a notebook. Then he reached for his leather satchel and pulled out two more books. He showed them to her and then put them back in, much to Hermione's chagrin.

"Would you like to transfer to a Filch-free zone?" he joked.

Hermione nodded, wondering what the books were about. Draco took her hand and led her out of the room and eventually out of the castle. It was past eleven in the evening, and they quietly made their way down to a garden patch and then around the lake aided by Draco's wand with the tip glowing, heading for the underground cavern Draco took her to a few days ago.

Settling down on the moss with candles blazing around them, Draco took out the notebook and opened to a page with the rose petals on it.

"Read the text," Draco prodded, moving a candle nearer to them.

"Always remember. February 13, 1745," Hermione read audibly. She looked up to Draco. "I don't understand…"

Draco patiently opened the book of Notable Hogwarts Students from 1700 to 1860 by Melinda Malden. He flipped for Areatha's page.

Hermione shrugged and read it, the text holding more or less no significance to her, until she reached the last few paragraphs. "Here, the rumors of courtship between her and a muggle-born wizard (in the House of Gryffindor) rekindled, the rumors starting during their 4th year in Hogwarts…"

She looked up to Draco and her eyes registered surprise. "It's…? Is it?" She read again, absorbing the last few sentences. Her eyes widened. "This was the name that was blasted off of the book? Her name was Areatha Black Lestrange?"

"Apparently so."

"She was related to you? She's from your family! But what about the man from Gryffindor? Her lover?" she asked. "His name isn't here."

"I thought you'd go to the library by this time," he grinned. "But I was inspired by you, so I took this book out too." He tapped on the book cover of The Complete Almanac of English Wizards and Witches From 1545-1800.

"You found his name!" she gasped. "You searched for his year of death?"

He nodded and opened for the page with the man's name on it.

Hermione read it. "Colin Thwaite Peverell, Gryffindor, Godric's Hollow- death on Walpurgis Eve…" she stopped and absorbed the facts. She had read The Tales of Beedle the Bard once; Ron had shown it to her before…

"He must be a descendant of one of the Peverell brothers…" her voice trailed off again.

"You forgot one tiny detail."

Hermione looked at him questioningly. Draco pointed the tip of his wand to the mother's name on the book. Hermione's eyes widened again. It was pure shock. A Granger…a muggle woman…they nearly had the same family names!

"I don't know if you've directly descended from them, but-"

"We're just like them…" she murmured, unable to believe it. "Slytherin and Gryffindor…again."

"We're not ending like them," Draco said strongly.

Hermione's eyes were cast down. She then looked up to Draco, a look that would haunt him later on, as did any other memory pertaining to Hermione.

"You really think this is worth keeping?" she asked quietly, her cinnamon colored stare piercing into his slate hued eyes.

"I've never felt more serious for something I thought was so trivial before," he responded, wondering how he could keep up with everything that was being forcefully pushed towards him. He held out his hand to Hermione and pulled her close to him.

Embracing her tightly, he smelled the beguiling scent of Hermione and then he kissed her fully on the lips, her mouth eagerly mating with his own. His eyes opened for a second and saw Hermione's expression, full of love and acceptance for who he was. He closed his eyes once more, praying that the precious and beautiful moment would never end.

A/N: please do give me some review lovin'? Thanks!