Sorry, I had to upload this twice!! AGAIN!! This Edit/Preview thing never works for me!
AN Holy Moly, Chapter Seven already. My gosh, I never thought I would get this far. Alright, so one more chapter and then the epilogue after this. I'm pretty sure. hands out tissues. Yes, yes I know, you're all sad, lol. There's still a lot I want to put in but it's doesn't seem like that much. I don't know if anyone gets what I mean, but that's normal because I'm odd. Anyways on with the story…
Disclaimer: Please refer to the chapter before.
Find Me, Help Me, Marry Me
Last time:
Chapter 7
Draco woke with a pounding pain in his head. He always hated talking with the Dark Lord. The guy couldn't even so a simple Legilimens spell properly. The old Dark Lord had a way of easing into your mind so you didn't even notice. It was one of the things that Draco had respected about the snakelike creature.
As the former Slytherin walked out of the room, he heard Granger and Weasel Twin 1 whispering. "No George, I can't let you-!"
"Hermione. Can't you see I have no choice? He threatened you!"
"George," she pleaded, "People – Purebloods- threaten me all the time. You can't just go around beating them to a pulp!"
"I can and I will!" George replied stubbornly.
What's this? Draco thought. A fight? He slipped behind a pillar, keeping his eyes on the quarrelling couple.
"No!" Hermione exclaimed, temper rising.
"Hermione, please try and understand. This is Malcolm Manning we are talking about! Mark my words: he's up to something bad. When Manning threatens, he's means it."
Manning's after Mudblood Granger? Malfoy mused. Interesting… He turned back to the two.
"George, look. I know what he's trying to do. Please try and see, he wants to get to you through me! But he won't!"
"How do you know?" George yelled, the tips of his ear steadily becoming red.
"How can you say that? How can you even go there? You know Voldemort tried to get to Harry through me. You know! And you know that I hate to talk about it!" Then abruptly, she began to sob violently. She made no move to wipe away her tears, seeming to have run out of energy to do anything but cry.
George's facial features softened and he wrapped his arms around Hermione. He wiped her tears with his thumbs before speaking. "I'm sorry, love. I'm just worried about you."
Hermione just nodded and moved closer to George. "I don't know why," he started, "but ever since you became my fiancée, I've become slightly more protective."
Hermione snorted in amused disbelief.
What? Draco yelled in his head. Mudblood and Weasel Twim1 are engaged? Then, vaguely, he remembered Granger telling him when he tried to ruin her day. Sure enough, when he glanced at her left hand, he saw a big, shiny diamond on her fourth finger.
"I understand George," she stated softly, "But you have to understand. I'm a big girl who has been through more than most middle-aged women. I can take care of myself."
"I know you can. But I still want to protect you. You can't really stop me."
"And I'm not going to stop you. I won't even try. I'm just asking you to cool down a bit. We're in everything together, equally. Not you in front of me."
"Equally," he agreed, gripping her tighter.
They stayed like that for a few moments before departing towards the Great Hall, giving Draco a free pass to show himself.
Draco, a silky voice slithered in his head. Let's talk.
'Of course, My Lord.'
Draco stepped back into the room he had left mere minutes ago.
It is time, my faithful servant. The time has come to bring the blood traitor down. Can I trust you enough to know that you will not fail me?
'Yes, My Lord.'
I wonder… the voice mused.
Terse minutes passed before Draco could not stand it anymore. 'Wonder what My Lord?'
I wonder if you will have enough courage Draco, when the time comes.
'What do you mean, My Lord?' Draco replied, hiding his outrage carefully. 'I would never let you down.'
Oh, I'm sure… if the Mudblood wasn't involved. Do you harbour feelings for the filth Draco?
'No, My Lord. Don't fret, the job will be done.'
One way or another Draco, either you'll do it or I will. If I have to, make no mistake, you will be next on my list.
Draco shivered involuntarily. He knew the kind of pain the new Dark Lord could inflict. 'I will not hesitate.'
Very well. Do you remember the objective?
'Yes, My Lord: isolate then kill.'
And pray tell how will you accomplish the objective?
'I will tell him Granger is in trouble, lure him to a room then kill him. It shall be done quickly.'
He will not believe you…
'Yes he will, My Lord, I am sure of it. He loves Granger too much to suspect anything.'
Very well, if you're sure. And Draco? It shall be done within forty-eight hours.
Then the Dark Lord left his brain and Draco found himself wishing he wasn't the right-hand man… again.
The doors to the Great Hall opened imperiously and Draco Malfoy strutted out from behind him. All eyes were on him for one reason only – he was late to dinner. No teacher – with the exception of Moody – had ever been late to a dinner. It was even written in Hogwarts: A History.
But no one questioned Draco. They were all silent as they waited with bated breath for him to reach his seat. Yes, Draco Malfoy had this effect on people. He thought it was because of his hair. But, in truth, it was because every one knew he was in You- Know- Who's inner circle. It was because they knew, should there ever be another Dark Lord he would be the first one to join up. Which he was; but no one knew that.
After Draco started eating, the chatter began to swell again.
"Why were you late?" Hermione asked of Draco suspiciously.
"Grading papers," he replied casually.
"There were no papers to grade."
"Then I was making my own class plans."
Hermione continued to stare at him with narrow eyes before George distracted her with a story from his youth. She laughed loudly at the end – something about Ron turning into Percy and Molly actually believing the twins – and Draco's fingers curled tightly around his knife. Oh, how he could not wait to rid the world of that voice – of both of their voices.
'All in time,' he told himself, 'All in good time.'
He decided to eavesdrop on the almost-newlyweds.
"George, I'll need to stay in my office late tonight. I need to prepare the Grindylows for the third years, the Expelliarmus charm for the seconds, Projecto for the fourth years, theory for the Patronus charm for the fifth years, the actual charm for the sixth years and the Fidelius charm for the sevenths – theory of course."
"What about the first years?"
"Oh I just want to see how much they know. No need preparing for that. In any case, it'll take a while."
Pouting, George asked, "What time will you be back?"
"Late. Like, 1 'o clock late."
"Aw, I'm going to miss you."
"George, it's only what? Four hours? You'll be fine. Besides, don't you have work to do?"
"Well, I was hoping I'd be able to wing it…."
"You can't wing it! They'll never learn anything that way! You must have concrete plans and -!"
"Yes Hermione," George said, wrapping an arm around her, "I know. I'll work tonight."
"Good."
'Perfect,' Draco thought mischievously.
George sighed. Working was no fun without Hermione to irritate. It was tedious. But ever the good boyfriend, he worked because he told his girlfriend he would.
"WEASLEY!" yelled a voice from on the other side of the portrait. "WEASLEY, COME QUICK!"
He knew that voice very well, it was Malfoy's. He wasn't sure if he should trust that voice because, well, it was Malfoy. But he called with such urgency that George began to get worried. What if it had to do with Hermione? Against his better judgment, George opened the portrait.
"WE-!" Draco cut his cry short as the portrait swung inward. "HURRY COME QUICK!" he yelled, not bothering to lower his voice.
George peeled his hands from his ears. "Calm down Malfoy, there's only a foot separating us."
"IT'S GRANGER! HURRY!"
"Hermione? What happened?"
"I DON'T KNOW! I JUST WALKED IN TO HER OFFICE AND SAW HER BLEEDING!"
"Her office? Oh Merlin, I told her not to work late tonight! I just knew something would happen!" He took off, sprinting towards the third floor.
'Perfect,' Draco thought. 'Now to get there before Weasley does and hide.'
He ran to the end of the hall and pressed the left hand bottom corner of Sir Eliot Pumperfice's gilded frame. Sir Eliot's face became pinched and pulled back into the frame, revealing a staircase.
Draco pulled himself into the frame and ran up the stairs, cackling to himself. 'The time has come My Lord; Weasley will be gone soon; wiped off the face of the earth.'
A strange felling over came him causing him to straighten his back, throw back his shoulders, and his eyes to darken. 'Enjoy your last moments, Weasel.'
Taking no notice of his shortness of breath, George threw open the door of Hermione office. "Hermione! Where are you? Are you okay? I'm here!"
Even in the darkness, it was clear. No one was there.
But yet he still searched, even under the desk for Hermione.
"Searching is futile, Weasley," came a cold voice from the door. "I've already disposed of your beloved."
George turned towards the door, fists balled. "Malfoy, even for you, that was a dirty trick."
"Doesn't matter now, does it? Hermione's gone, and you're about to die. All in the name of the Dark Lord. How does it feel Weasel?"
"What are you-?"
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
"AHHH!"
CLIFFIE!
That was A WHOLE page more than my norm. I hope you guys appreciate it ;). I think I used the letter 'M' too much in that chapter XD!
Don't forget to review… please? 'Cause I know you're reading it, and I want your opinions.
Mandy