Recap:

Hermione separated herself from Mrs. Weasley briefly before she felt the keen mother grab her left hand and see the promise ring hanging limply on her finger. The warm mother smiled genuinely for a brief second before pulling Hermione into another hug. "Don't break his heart..." Mrs. Weasley whispered, her voice full of compassion and love for her youngest son. Hermione felt her stomach drop.

Chapter Two

The Lost Prophecy

Draco was winding mechanically through the stone hallways in Hogwarts, his mind racing on all the possible events that may have unfolded causing Dumbledore to summon him so abruptly. The message itself was very cryptic; leading Draco to believe it was a grave matter they were about to discuss. As Draco neared the familiar office, he heard the sound of quick, distinct heels tapping to the rhythm of swift stride. As a result, Hermione and Draco met outside Dumbledore's office at almost exactly the same time. Stopping abruptly in front of one another, they glared in silence for a few seconds before moving further. Draco watched her scrutinize his movements, and found it comical that she appeared to be sizing him up. He had to stop himself from viciously informing her of the Dark magic he knew that would leave her writhing in agony on the floor while her insides slowly dissolved into puddles of fiery blood and substance. His memory flashed with all the dirty Mudbloods just like her that he had already killed mercilessly, without a second thought. And then, after he had told her all of this, he wanted to see the look of horror on her face as he described everything in agonizing detail and informed her of how many tick marks he had scratched into the wall of his bedroom that represented a Mudblood he had ridden the world of. Yes, Draco Malfoy was a sick bastard; he was aware of it and would have worn a badge if he could have. He prided himself on that aspect of it, because it was one angle she would never best him at, one thing he could threaten her with and mean every single word. Dumbledore would kick him straight out of the castle, headfirst too, if he were aware Draco possessed these inner thoughts.

"Granger." Draco spoke curtly, a slight sneer playing at his lips. Hermione said nothing in response, and took the spiraling staircase two stairs at a time. Her heart beating rapidly inside her chest, she knocked briskly on Dumbledore's solid door, hoping to get in and seated before Draco finished climbing the stairs. She had been observing him, downstairs, because there was something out of place that she could feel. Not that she had ever known the boy well enough to be able to figure out when he was having an 'off-day' or anything, but there was something crackling in the air around them that felt... funny. A sick, evil, deathly kind of funny. Right before he had spoken her name, a kind of glum, eerie feeling had swept around her, almost as if he was channeling hatred and negative energy towards her. To be quite frank, it had frightened her significantly, which resulted in her bounding up the stairs to get away from him and it.

"You may enter," Hermione heard Dumbledore call from the other side of the door. Draco was just rounding the last curve of the staircase when he saw Hermione slip inside the door. He took his time following after her, and sat on the opposite end of the couch once inside Dumbledore's office. Both Draco and Hermione were extremely surprised to see Harry Potter and Professor McGonagall already seated in the office. Harry locked eyes with Hermione, a dull, somber expression on his face. Her anxiety immediately heightened. She started to move closer to him, but he shook his head 'no' and motioned that she sit on the couch. Frowning, Hermione mouthed the words What's wrong? to him. He shook his head again and diverted his eyes from her, ultimately ending their communication. Hermione was extremely worried and confused; Harry was acting very out of character, which could only mean something was very, very wrong. She sat idly on the far right side of the couch, squished as close to the arm as she could manage. Draco sat down easily on the extreme left side of the couch and shot Harry a nasty look.

Dumbledore merely looked at the two of them silently for a moment, for no matter how long he had prepared what he was going to say to the pair, nothing ever sounded right.

"I would like to offer my congratulations to the two of you for your outstanding performance during your years at Hogwarts, I am sad to see you leave my halls. I know that you both were never on the best of terms during your years here, and spent... infrequent time together. However," Dumbledore paused at this and took a few steadying breaths. He seemed to decide it was best to not beat around the bush.

"Is everything alright, Professor?" Hermione asked timidly, her palms beginning to feel clammy. Dumbledore looked her in the eyes. She looked so frightened, worried. So innocent, naive. So damn young.

"No, Miss Granger. Everything is very far from being alright." Dumbledore responded, the usual twinkle missing from his blue eyes. "What I am about to tell you and ask of you both is not easy, nor avoidable. A lost prophecy has come into our possession. From what we have gathered, when Professor Trelawney spoke the prophecy about Harry, it was only about half of the true story. The rest speaks of the final Horcrux, the last one to find and destroy. The last one is unique from all the others because..." Dumbledore hesitated. "because you, Miss Granger, and Mr. Malfoy must destroy the final Horcrux together." Hermione scrunched her brow, and Draco rolled his eyes.

"I trust you know of the Horcruxes, Mr. Malfoy?" Professor McGonagall questioned primly, a hint of bitterness evident in her voice. Draco merely nodded, almost lazily.

"Mr. Malfoy and I have been having somewhat frequent communication for the past year, he has expressed wishes to abandon the hold the Dark Lord has over him and his remaining family and join our cause. Do you still harbor these desires, Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore paused and all eyes bore into Draco. He hesitated for a moment before nodding silently again. Harry continued to glare at him scrutinizingly.

"Why do we have to do it? Why does it matter who does it?" Hermione asked, completely confused. She had a dull feeling inside her that screamed she didn't want to know why.

"It's complicated." Dumbledore simply said. "The prophecy speaks of two mortal enemies, coming together to physically create the final Horcrux.-"

"Oh my God..." Hermione felt she might start hyperventilating. "Oh...my... God...a baby? We have to create and destroy a baby?" She was practically screaming by now. She looked wildly over to Harry, who was clenching his jaw and staring at the carpet beneath him.

"Now wait just a bloody minute!" Draco finally spoke up. "I'm certainly no Saint, but kill an innocent child?! I came to you in confidence, thinking that you-"

"I'd rather die!" Hermione interrupted, feeling the hot tears roll down her cheeks fluently. Harry, never missing a beat, had heard Draco before Hermione cut him off and was throwing him a curious, albeit menacing look. Draco had apparently caught his slip and transformed his facial expression back to neutral and passive.

"Miss Granger, the prophecy does not specify what exactly it is you and Mr. Malfoy must...erm... create..." Professor McGonagall offered, her hands shaking visibly.

"Oh yeah? Well, what else is there exactly? What other options are we left with?" Draco spat.

"I can't have sex with him!" Hermione cried shrilly. "I can't, I can't!"

"Like I would want to fuck a mud-" Draco's face was irate, and he had practically jumped off the couch away from her.

"MISTER MALFOY!" Dumbledore's voice echoed in the small room. They all fell silent. "I understand the high level of stress you are both feeling, but I assure you Voldemort would not entrust his final Horcrux into anything mortal. Humans are far too susceptible to being destroyed than other inanimate objects."

Harry had moved over closer to Hermione and had a hand rubbing small circles on her back comfortingly as her tears fell freely.

"Why us?" Hermione whispered. Dumbledore suddenly looked very tired and very old.

"I have theories...one being the obvious fact that Mr. Malfoy is the future heir to Lord Voldemort himself. Also, Miss Granger is a very close friend of Mr. Potter's. There are countless reasons, some of which we may never understand. The point of today's meeting is to inform you both that you must go into hiding immediately until we have gathered more knowledge on this matter."

"How do you know for sure the prophecy was specifically talking about us?" Draco asked suddenly. "Couldn't there be lots of other purebloods and muggle-borns out there who have links some how?"

"The prophecy was clear that it was you." Harry finally spoke. "I've heard it myself, and there isn't a doubt in my mind that it is you the prophecy is referring to. I hate it just as much as you, Malfoy..."

"Can we hear the prophecy, then?" Draco had reseated himself and clenched his fists, leaning towards the desk and looking around for a vial that may hold the prophecy that was completely turning his life upside down.

"I regret that I cannot allow that, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore spoke softly.

"Why the hell not?" Draco demanded, his voice growing louder.

"It has since been destroyed so that it will never again fall into the wrong hands." Dumbledore explained patiently.

"Voldemort knows the whole prophecy?" Hermione asked, her normal voice returning.

"That is another aspect of this that only increases the complexity of the situation." Dumbledore started. "He has only heard a portion of the prophecy, a very crucial portion at that. He knows that two mortal enemies must come together despite their blood to ultimately create his last life-line. Mr. Potter must still follow through and destroy it, as only he has the power to do so."

"What about the prophecy regarding Harry that was in the Department of-" Hermione stopped herself and looked over at Draco. He was glaring at her, aware she knew everything that happened as a result of that night.

"That prophecy still holds truth, Miss Granger, as I said earlier, it was only half of the story."

"I refuse to be a part of this." Draco spat. "I do not agree with it, I do not think it's right, and I certainly don't want to be caught up in anything dealing with Potter and Grang-"

"You have no choice, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore spoke firmly.

"Oh yeah? What's going to happen if I don't play along with this rubbish?" Draco challenged.

"You will be killed. Along with Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, myself, and numerous other people in the wizarding world." Dumbledore responded.

"And what if I don't care?" Draco yelled, on his feet again. Dumbledore smiled sadly, yet calmly at him.

"Well, that's not really a pressing issue, now is it, Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco glared at him with intense malice, but did not contradict what he had said.

"Voldemort's not going to take it too kindly that I just up and leave…" Draco challenged.

"Do not concern yourself with that, Mr. Malfoy, we have means to lead him to believe you are as good as dead." Dumbledore explained quietly. Harry and Hermione exchanged meaningful looks.

"What are we to do, exactly?" Hermione questioned, her expression resigned and tired.

"As I said before, you both must go into hiding immediately for your protection. As Lucius Malfoy is incarcerated in Azkaban prison, and Narcissa Malfoy is currently residing with her family in the South of France, you are both to stay at Malfoy Manor." Dumbledore spoke calmly, as if it was a careless topic.

"Now wait just a minute." Draco interrupted. "Malfoy Manor? She can't stay there! She's a Mud- muggleborn! The house would probably explode into flames if she even steps a foot inside the door!" Draco protested angrily.

"It will do no such thing, Mr. Malfoy. I understand your inconvenience in the situation, but it really works out quite well for the both parties involved. No one will ever expect Miss Granger, a witch of pure Muggle heritage, to be residing in Malfoy Manor, now will they?"

"And for good reason! That house is packed full of so many wards and curses I can't even own a cat because it's not pureblooded!" Draco shouted.

"That, Mr. Malfoy, is reversible." Professor McGonagall spoke once again. Draco appeared to give up.

"Fine. What the fuck ever." He mumbled.

"Language, Mr. Malfoy!" Professor McGonagall lectured him.

"Professor, there has to be another way..." Hermione's bottom lip was quivering and her voice shook. "I don't want to stay at Malfoy Manor."

Draco shot her a disgusted look.

"There is no other way, Miss Granger. I apologize sincerely, but you have to be kept safe, and I truly believe this will be the only place I can ensure that." Dumbledore explained.

"You are also required to sever your contact with any friends and family during this time so no information is leaked." Professor McGonagall added softly. At this, Hermione completely broke down.

"No family, no friends, staying with Malfoy for an undeterminable amount of time! How exactly am I going to be able to do this without losing my mind?" Hermione sobbed. "How can you ask this of me?"

"How can we not?" Dumbledore asked. "This will seem unfair and unjust to you, but think of what may happen if we did not ask this of you. Voldemort would reign free over the Wizarding World, and all of us would be powerless to stop him while he continued to have his last Horcrux."

"Please, 'Mione." Harry whispered. "You know I would never ask something like this of you unless it was the only way." Hermione stared deep into his eyes, hoping to see some sort of doubt that would validate her feelings. There was none. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"When must I leave for the Manor?" she asked.

"Immediately, I will send Mr. Potter to help you pack and tie loose ends." Dumbledore said as Hermione and Harry exited the room side by side.

Draco Malfoy remained, sitting quiet and still on the plush couch. Dumbledore sighed, and pushed his glasses farther up the bridge of his nose.

"A great responsibility now lies with you, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore chose his words slowly and cautiously. Draco's face remained passive. "You are now going to be solely responsible for protecting her from her worst enemy."

"Aren't I her worst enemy?" Draco's voice was subdued, but still had lingering anger laced in it.

"Things are not always as they appear..." Dumbledore's voice tapered off, leaving Draco feeling confused and slightly betrayed.

"Are we done here?" Draco asked, annoyed and anxious to get home to think things through. Dumbledore nodded and stood to see Draco leave. Once he was gone, Professor McGonagall let out a deep breath that sounded suspiciously like a stifled sob.

"Albus, why did you not read to them the entirety of the prophecy?" she asked suddenly, dabbing the corners of her eyes with a delicate tissue.

Dumbledore twiddled his fingers together and closed his eyes.

"They do not need to know their probable deaths before they even attempt anything. I do not have the heart to doom them when we really have no idea what is going to unfold in the next few months..." Dumbledore explained quietly, keeping his eyes locked on the desk below him the whole time.

A/N: For the Americans reading this story- Happy 4th! Oh, I had an email from someone who agreed to be my Beta, but then she never emailed this chapter back to me… it's been quite a while. So, here it is regardless- the next chapters will be coming soon now that I'm not waiting for them to be edited. Anyone interested in beta-ing? Please review- I want your feedback, ideas, thoughts- anything you would like to say!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything affiliated with the stories. Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling except my plot line.