Disclaimer: Despite the fact that I have taken an insane amount of time to update, that does not mean that I am JK Rowling. Therefore, I do not own Harry Potter, I am merely a devoted fan writing fan fiction.
A/N: I hope you all can forgive me for taking so long to update yet again. Between school projects (including producing a student film), and hurricanes I have barely had time to think about my fic let alone write it and update it. So again I apologize, and I hope this chapter was worth the wait. It's still hard cause we haven't hit the main plot yet, so I hope everyone still enjoys it. As always, I want to extend a great big thank you to everyone who has reviewed:
Femke, Tryix – Thank you! I'm very happy to hear that you guys liked my other fics, and that you're enjoying this one so far too!
Queen of Whatever, pegasusbabi, emily faerie, zuvalupa, piper, Modaprincesa, the mask he wears, midnightwanderer01, sunflower18, FallenTrough, steelo – Thanks for the review, and I hope you like this chapter!
TSKers – yup, a good poke from you was all it took. I'm glad you liked the stuff about Draco's travels. You're find out about the Dark Mark thing in this chapter, but the 'special gift' will have to wait til later. I hope you like the chapter, and thanks so much for the review!
Clear Black Glass – no by all means hate Michael, he's horrible, he's trying to steal Hermione from Draco! Lol and yeah I try to make my writing sound as British as possible, since obviously all the characters are British, so I try to use the appropriate slang whenever possible. I'm glad to hear it's working! Thanks for the review!
elektra30 – I know, it's frustrating to wait to long for a chapter with so little plot content (I'm guessing you'll feel the same way towards this one. I hope you like it anyway, and I'm trying my best to speed up updates, and to get to the real plot ASAP. Thanks for the review!
Now onto chapter 4!
Chapter 4: Reunited
Draco found it surprisingly difficult to sleep that night, and not only for the fact that he wasn't tired. No, it was something else which kept him awake, staring at the dark ceiling of his room. He wished he could convince himself that his inability to sleep was due to his excitement about seeing Hermione the next day, but he knew that was not the case. Nope, his sleeplessness was definitely due to something else, something that he could not place, and something that he could sense that he did not like.
He was about to get up and have the house-elves fix him a late night snack when the cause of his unease suddenly hit. All at once an intense burning sensation engulfed his left forearm. Draco clutched his arm and grit his teeth until the burning subsided. The Dark Lord had called the Death Eaters and now Draco had a strong, foreign urge to apparate to the meeting. Somehow he knew exactly where the Dark Lord was, but he would not come to him. He was able to resist the temptation, knowing full well that it was merely a result of the magic he had been branded with when he had been given the Mark.
He returned to his bed, seeking the warmth and comfort of the expensive linens. But now he lay awake for an entirely different reason. The Dark Lord was meeting with the Death Eaters. That meant that he was planning something. But what was he planning this time? And even more importantly in Draco's mind, did this plan involve him in any way?
Draco lifted his sleeve and sent a hate-filled glare at the Dark Mark. It was already fading back to the red color of blood, but Draco knew that just moments ago, when it hard burned, it had been completely black. Draco threw his sleeve back down to hide the repulsive Mark, but that did not remove the knowledge that it was there, nor did it do anything to ease the hatred Draco felt boiling inside his veins.
Draco remained laying there with his eyes open staring at nothing, and thinking of everything and nothing at the same time until dawn when he finally drifted off to sleep. He did not dream that night. It was almost as if his thoughts had left him too exhausted to think any longer, even in the world of dreams.
- - - - - - - - - -
Hermione was down in the kitchen eating breakfast with Harry and Ron when a small flapping of wings signaled the morning's post. Hermione dropped her fork on her plate and looked up, but it was only the owl delivering the Daily Prophet. She sighed as she took the paper and paid the owl. It had been nearly a week since the parrot had delivered Draco's letter from Australia, and Hermione had been eagerly awaiting each morning's post for word that Draco was back home. She was so sure she would have heard from him by now, but unfortunately there was no such luck.
After an uneventful breakfast, Harry, Ron, and Hermione apparated into the Ministry and smiled at the security wizard who by now recognized all of the trainees. He greeted them with a friendly smile and a nod as they walked passed the desk to their usual meeting room. They arrived earlier than Michael and Toby, but they found the meeting room empty. Within a few moments, the doors opened and Michael entered, "hey guys," he said with a cheery wave.
"Hey," the three chorused in response.
Kingsley didn't arrive until training was to begin, and they began the class with the usual lecture, this time discussing the more dangerous spells they might encounter in their work as aurors.
"Now, I'm assuming you're all aware of the three infamous unforgivable curses." Kingsley began. The trainees nodded in response. "Would one of you be kind enough to remind everyone what those curses are and what they do?"
Everyone raised their hands, and Kingsley chose Michael to answer the question. Michael recited his answer perfectly as if he were quoting straight from a textbook. Kingsley nodded in approval. "Very good, that is of course correct, the most infamous and illegal cures are Cruciatus, Imperius, and Avada Kedavra. But those are not the only curses with potential to kill that you may be facing. There has been another curse invented rather recently that is at the moment not widely known but just as deadly as Avada Kedavra, and one would imagine, just as painful as Cruciatus. Can anyone tell me what that curse is?"
The boys all looked at each other, racking their brains for any other known curse with the intent to kill, Harry and Ron looked to Hermione, expecting to see her looking just as lost as well, but instead they saw her staring at Kingsley stone faced.
Immediately, Hermione had thought of the curse Lucius had tried to hit her with two years ago. The memories came back haunting her like a gruesome nightmare. She took no notice that all eyes were on her, but she did manage to push the memories back and prevent her emotions for taking over. She lifted her head, and Kingsley looked back at her with a kind expression, as if he knew what she was thinking. Michael and Toby were looking from Hermione to the other boys with confusion in their faces, but Harry and Ron were staring at Hermione, comprehension slowly dawning on their faces as they realized what she must have been thinking about.
Finally, as if in slow motion, Hermione's hand went up for the second time. "Yes Hermione?" Kingsley said in a deep comforting voice.
"Glacio Exanimus," she said in a voice barely above a whisper.
Kingsley nodded, "can you tell us what the Glacio Exanimus curse does?"
Hermione cleared her throat and spoke in a louder, more confident tone, "It's the frozen death spell. It slowly freezes your body from the inside, turning everything to ice and thereby killing the victim. There's only one possible cure and that's the revival drought, but it has to be administered immediately, and even then there's no guarantee." As soon as she closed her mouth, her throat went dry, and she felt short of breath.
"Excellent Hermione," Kingsley congratulated, he knew why she was wearing that pained expression. He did not enjoy forcing her back to such a painful experience, but it was necessary to understand what they would be dealing with, and that meant discussing everything. "This is one of many reasons why to be an auror you have to be able to do more than just produce good spell work. Sometimes, the only protection you have against the Dark Arts is the ability to quickly and correctly brew the proper potion."
Harry and Ron groaned softly, they still hated potions, even when Snape wasn't involved.
The rest of the morning's class was much more interesting than all their previous classes because they got to show their stuff. They spent the rest of the morning reviewing all the basic defensive and useful hexes and curses that they were supposed to have mastered already. Harry was clearly the best, followed by Hermione, then Ron. Toby and Michael could perform most of the spells, but they were no where near as skilled as the other three, so Kingsley spent a lot of time getting the two boys up to par with the others.
After a productive morning, morale was running high, but everyone was eager to break for lunch. So, as had become routine, the five trainees ate together in the Ministry restaurant. Toby and Michael couldn't seem to talk enough about how amazing Harry's spell work had been. "I still can't believe you all can produce patronuses already! Where'd you learn to do that?"
Harry, Ron , and Hermione sent each other mischievous glances, "just something we picked up during our free time at school." Harry said finally.
"Right," Toby said suspiciously, "I'm sure you just 'picked it up'." It was clear that both he and Michael knew there was some bigger story behind where the other three had learned some of the more complicated spells, but they didn't bother to ask for clarification, Michael had another story on his mind.
"Hey Hermione, what's the story behind that Frozen Death spell we learned about this morning, you almost looked like someone had cast it on you in the middle of class!" Michael chuckled at his own joke, along with Toby. But Hermione, Harry and Ron glared at him, Hermione looking especially mortified had dropped her fork on her plate.
"Hey mate, don't joke about shit like that, it's not funny," Harry said seriously coming to Hermione's rescue. Ron meanwhile immediately rubbed his hand against her back in a completely chaste gesture of comfort. But Hermione made no motion to show acknowledge either of them, she was staring down at the table without seeing, trying to force the memories from her brain; a task which would have been made much easier if she had seen Draco anytime recently.
Michael's smile turned to a frown, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. But seriously, what's the deal with it?"
Hermione frowned and stared at her half finished meal with absolutely no appetite any longer. Michael rested his hand on her shoulder in a comforting gesture, but it only served to make Hermione angry. How dare this idiot try to comfort her when he had no clue what she was feeling? How dare he attempt to compete with Draco, how dare he think that she would ever flirt back with him after all she and Draco had been through together!
Her eyebrows furrowed together, but before she had time to push him away, there was a loud squawk followed by a flurry of wings and a cry of pain. Michael jerked his arm back and cried out as the eagle owl's talons sank deep into his upper arm. "What the fuck!" he yelled before he had time to stop himself.
Aries landed on Hermione's shoulder and glared at Michael clicking its beak and squawking furiously as if threatening him to come closer. Hermione, shrieked with glee at the sight of Aries, "Aries! Have you come to tell me that Draco's back home?"
Aries turned his head to Hermione and hooted softly as if to say 'yes'.
Hermione was so excited that she had trouble untying the letter and tearing it open.
Hermione,
I'm home! It's good to be back. Well ok, maybe not so much since I still haven't seen you. Not to mention the fact that it's nearly 1am right now, and I feel like it's 10am since that's what time it is Down Under, but at least now I'm nearer to you. I hope this letter gets to you in the morning post, but who knows what Aries will do on the trip there since I have to interrupt his hunting to get him to deliver it. Either way, I'm planning on coming down to the Ministry this afternoon because I can't wait any longer to see you again.
Love,
Draco
As Hermione was reading her note, Harry and Ron, who usually hated these visits from Malfoy's owl couldn't help but burst out laughing, "looks like Malfoy's owl doesn't like you touching his owner's girlfriend," Ron said to Michael once his laughter subsided.
"So that's your boyfriend's owl then," Michael said to Hermione with dislike bordering on hatred etched in his tone.
Hermione responded with an "uh huh," but kept her sparkling eyes on the letter with a wide smile on her face.
"So I'm guessing this means he's back now," Harry made an attempt at conversation, while doing his best to hide his dislike for Malfoy.
Hermione looked up, the happiness in her face was unmistakable, and it couldn't help but make Harry smile as well. "Yeah he's back," she answered, "and he's going to come by here this afternoon once training is over!"
"Oh goody," responded Harry in sarcastic, yet amused voice.
"Oh stop it, I haven't said a word about him since he's been gone unless one of these owls came, so don't you be getting on my case now," Hermione argued.
Harry chuckled and held up his hands as if to back away in defeat, "You're right, you've been good, I won't say another word."
"Thank you," Hermione smiled, relieved that her friends were finally really accepting of her and Draco. Aries then decided that he had been ignored long enough, so he nipped affectionately on Hermione's ear. Hermione giggled, and turned towards the bird. "What do you want?" she asked.
Aries hopped down to the table and stared up at her expectantly, hooting softly.
"Draco told you to wait for a response didn't he?"
Aries hooted again and fluffed his feathers.
"Alright then," Hermione whipped out a quill, and wrote a response on the back of Draco's note:
Draco,
I can't wait to see you! And I'm so glad you got home safely, I was really starting to wonder what happened to you after your last letter. You'll have to tell me all about the rest of your trip, it sounded wonderful. I'll stop there since we've got to get back to training, but now I'm not going to be able to concentrate, and we're doing practical work today! No matter, I love you so much and I can't wait to see you again!
Love,
Hermione
"Alright," Hermione folded the letter and tied it to Aries leg. "There you go." For a moment Aries didn't seem to have heard Hermione, he was staring at Michael, and Hermione had the impression that if he could, he would be sneering. She chuckled to herself at the idea that Aries was so much like Draco, and it made her feel good to know that both of them were so protective of her. Hermione stroked Aries head to get his attention. "Bring that back to Draco for me alright?" Aries lightly nipped Hermione's finger in response, then spread his wings and flew away, straight at Michael's head.
Michael ducked out of the way, but still felt the owl's talons brush against his head. "Damn bird," Michael said as soon as Aries had flown away.
Hermione rolled her eyes and giggled, and the other three boys started laughing again.
"Seriously, it's not funny, the damn thing ripped straight through my robes and my shirt! It probably even cut through the skin!" Michael contorted himself to examine his injuries, "it did! I'll kill that thing if I have see it again."
Ron snorted then leaned over to whisper to Harry, "I can't wait to see how he reacts to Malfoy if he's this sore about the bird!"
Harry and Ron broke into another fit of laughter. "What did you say to him?" Michael demanded suspiciously. Both Hermione and Toby were viewing the Harry and Ron with interested expressions as well.
This time Harry leaned over to whisper to Ron, "You know, he reminds me of the way you used to act when you still had a crush on her!"
Ron gasped at Harry, "no! Was I really like that?"
This time Hermione laughed along with Harry. She had caught on to what Harry and Ron were talking about, so she took the opportunity to answer, "no Ron, you were much worse."
Harry and Hermione laughed even more, and Ron was turning red with embarrassment, but he joined in on the laughter nonetheless.
"You guys aren't gonna fill us in are you?" Toby asked with a bit of annoyance.
"You really had to be there," answered Harry cryptically.
"Well boys," Hermione began as she stood up, "I believe it's time to get back to work." Hermione's announcement was followed by four reluctant groans, but the boys got up and followed her anyway.
- - - - - - - - - -
For the first time since training began, Hermione was the first one out of the room once they were all finished. She half-hazardly gathered her things, and raced to the Ministry lobby. She saw Draco (or at least his hair) instantly and it was all she could do to stop herself from screaming with joy. His back was to her because he was looking at the huge fountain in the center of the room, apparently reading the inscription at the base.
At first Hermione planned to casually walk up next to him and say something witty, but she couldn't contain herself long enough to walk across the room. Instead she ran straight to him and threw her arms around his neck and bouncing up and down like an overexcited puppy. "Draco!" She cried before he even got a chance to speak, "oh my god, I can't believe it, I've missed you so much."
Draco had been idly examining the fountain as he waited for Hermione. The security wizard had told him that auror training should be ending any moment, so Draco was just hanging out until then. He was thinking about something in the back of his mind, but he couldn't entirely place what it was. It seemed as if something important had happened last night, but he could not seem to recall what it was. His thoughts caused him to frown slightly and furrow his brows, but then he heard something which caused all the unpleasant thought to flee from his brain, and his frown was replaced with a smile. He heard the sound of footsteps running towards him. He instinctively knew who it was, but that still did not give him enough time to brace himself before Hermione collided with him, embracing him tightly around the neck.
Draco stumbled sideways and held onto Hermione's waist to steady himself. He smiled at her, for she was already jabbering away. Draco silenced her the best way he knew how, with a deep long kiss. He held her tighter and lifted her off the ground for a couple seconds, and she wrapped her arms even tighter around his neck. "I missed you too," Draco said once the kiss was broken.
Hermione was glowing with happiness as she and Draco stood there holding each other and staring into each others eyes. She had almost forgotten how amazing it felt to look into his swirling silver eyes, or how protected she felt in his tight embrace.
Draco too, had almost forgotten how loved he felt when she held him, how every problem disappeared when he gazed into her sparkling eyes, and how she somehow made his world absolutely perfect. "I swear you look more beautiful every time I see you," he whispered.
Hermione blushed and smiled, "oh stop it, I look exactly the same as I did when you left."
"No, you always look more beautiful," he assured her before kissing her again.
Hermione hugged him again and seemed at a loss for words. "I missed you so much. Do you think you found what you were looking for while you were gone? Cause I'd hate to have to say good-bye to you again."
"Yes and no." Draco answered, "but you won't have to say good-bye again, I'm not going anywhere without you anymore."
Hermione beamed at him, slight blush forming on her cheeks. "But what do you mean, yes and no?" she asked with a confused expression.
Draco first responded to her question with a light kiss to her forehead. "I realized that what I was looking for I had all along, I just hadn't realized how much I needed it."
Hermione still looked confused, so Draco continued.
"You know, I could travel all over the world a hundred times, but nothing I would see or experience can touch what I feel when I'm with you, and what I see when I look into your eyes. You are all I need Hermione. That's what I found while I was gone."
Hermione was utterly speechless; her eyes began to water at his sweet words because she felt the same way. Nothing seemed completely right unless Draco was near. She smiled and pulled his head to hers in another passion-filled kiss.
Draco held her close after the kiss, and he opened his eyes ready to kiss her again, but he was distracted by the group of guys he saw in the entrance to one of the hallways, one of whom was glaring at him and Hermione. Two of the guys he recognized immediately, Potter and Weasley of course, and they were talking to a third person that Draco did not know. But they were not the ones causing him to narrow his eyes; he tightened his hold on Hermione, but continued to glare suspiciously at the stranger, "who's that?" he asked Hermione.
Hermione cocked her head and turned her head to see what Draco was talking about. She rolled her eyes when she saw Michael, and as soon as she turned, he began walking towards them. "That's Michael," she whispered to Draco, speaking quickly to say everything she wanted before he arrived and overheard. "He's the annoying one I told you about in my letters, the one who's been trying to flirt with me ever since training started. You see those gashes in his robes?" Draco nodded. "Those are from today when Aries caught him touching my shoulder; he swooped down and dug his talons into him."
"Smart owl," Draco chuckled making a mental note to reward Aries when he got home.
"Yeah well, Michael's not very excited to meet you, as you can imagine, but I've been dying for the chance to introduce you to him so he'll lay off." Hermione wrapped her arm around Draco as she turned to face Michael and the other three, who had followed over to where Hermione and Draco were.
Draco had his arm wrapped tightly around Hermione's waist, and when the guys stopped in front of the couple, Draco viewed Michael with narrowed eyes. Suddenly Potter and Weasley didn't seem all that bad by comparison. "Potter, Weasley," he nodded to each of them with a formal expression, yet a hint of acceptance and familiarity was hidden behind his grey eyes.
"Malfoy," they both responded, staring back at him with equally formal expressions.
"Draco," Hermione began the introductions, "this is Michael and Toby, the other two trainees. Guys, this is my boyfriend Draco." She kissed Draco's cheek as if to solidify her point. Draco was still glaring at Michael.
Toby stepped forward and shook Draco's hand, "nice to meet you," he said, though he seemed to be wary of Draco.
"Toby," Draco nodded and returned the handshake, though as soon as it was through he returned his icy glare to Michael.
"So this is the infamous Draco Malfoy," Michael muttered without making an attempt to smile or a move to shake Draco's hand. "I was beginning to think Hermione was just making you up."
Hermione scoffed, and clutched Draco's hand tightly, but Draco smirked. "Well, I would say it's a pleasure to meet you, but then I'd be lying." Michael frowned at Draco's words. "But yes, as you so brilliantly noticed, I'm perfectly real," Draco continued, not bothering to hide the sarcasm I his tone.
A few moments of heavy silence followed this statement. Harry, Ron, and Toby kept glancing at each other, clearly trying to stifle their laughter. Michael and Draco were glaring at one another as if challenging the other the break first, and Hermione was becoming frustrated with the whole lot of them. She was annoyed that the other four boys were interrupting her alone time with Draco, so she decided that she would do something about it.
"Harry, Ron," she began finally breaking the silence and bringing everyone's attention to her. "Do you think you guys could take my things back for me? That way I don't have to lug them around."
"Yeah sure," Harry answered, taking Hermione's bag from her. Ron and Toby had clearly correctly interpreted Hermione's words as their cue to leave, so they all turned and made their way to the doors.
Michael however, did not get the message and he continued glaring at Draco, who was sending him and even more intense glare back. Ron was the one to break the staring contest by practically yanking Michael out of the way. "Come on Mike, let's get out of here."
Michael sent Draco one last glare, and was furious to see him wearing a very smug expression, his attention already turned back to Hermione. Hermione sent Ron a thankful smile and grinned back at Draco. "So," she asked, "what shall we do now?"
Draco thought for a moment, "I was thinking we could walk around wizarding London for a bit, then go out for dinner, and go from there."
"That sounds like a perfect plan to me!" smiled Hermione, practically bouncing on her toes.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Hermione had a wonderful afternoon and evening with Draco. He had told her all about his trip, and answered every single one of her questions. She seemed eager to visit all those places, and Draco promised her that one day he would take her to see them as well. Draco had then asked her about auror training, and what type of things they were doing. It did not matter what they were talking about, because every moment they were together, the world seemed completely perfect. There was nothing threatening to tear them apart anymore, and everything was absolutely perfect. Draco had taken Hermione out to a semi-fancy restaurant. Hermione had objected at first, arguing that she was not properly dressed, but Draco had insisted. In the end she gave in, for she could not seem to hold her ground against his enchanting eyes and soothing voice.
The dinner was exquisite and Hermione was glad she had lost that particular battle, because it was definitely worth it. After dinner they walked around a park which had a fountain filled that sprayed water that constantly changed colors. Hermione was dazzled by it, especially because it looked even more beautiful in the setting sun. She and Draco held each other close at they walked along the winding paths, each wishing that the moment would never end. Yet, as the last ray of light from the sun sank beneath the horizon, Hermione let out a sad sigh.
Draco knew what was coming, and he wasn't ready for the night to be over, so before she got a chance to speak, he lowered his lips to her in a soft, gentle kiss. Hermione allowed the kisses to continue for a while. She eagerly lost herself in the sensations his touched sent through her because she did not want the night to end either. However one of them had to be the responsible one, for they could not stay out here all night together. She could not return to Draco's Manor because then Harry and Ron would worry, and Draco was still not allowed to know where Grimmauld Place was.
It took all the restraint she had not to continue kissing Draco, but finally she pulled away. The need and desire in Draco's expression pained her, because she knew that she needed and wanted him just as bad. "I have to go," she whispered so softly she barely spoke at all.
Draco pulled her closer, "no you don't," he insisted, "come back to the Manor with me, you can get your things in the morning."
Hermione smiled up at him, "I can't Harry and Ron will worry about me."
Draco sighed in defeat; this was one battle he knew he had already lost, "just a little while longer then."
Hermione laughed and kissed him again, "if I stay one more moment, then I might never be able to leave."
Draco kissed her this time, "and why would that be so bad?"
"Please Draco," the sadness in her tone was more pronounced this time, "don't make this harder than it already is. I promise, tomorrow after training, I'll come over to the Manor and we'll see each other again, but right now I have to go."
Draco conceded to her wishes with a nod, "alright. Until tomorrow then."
"I'm already counting down the minutes," Hermione smiled as she kissed him once more before apparating away. She had to go as fast as possible because she seriously doubted she would be able to restrain herself from staying with him if she looked into his eyes one more second.
Draco felt a wave of longing and sadness pass over him as soon as Hermione left. He knew it was silly, missing her so much when he knew he would be seeing her again the next day. But he couldn't help it, every time he saw Hermione his need for her grew stronger, which only made the times without her that much harder to bear. He took a final glance at the fountain before apparating back to the Manor. He strode through the dark and empty halls, ignoring the house-elves greetings. When he arrived in his room, he plopped onto his bed with his eyes closed. A vision of Hermione's face swam in front of him, and a smile graced his lips as he thought of her, already eager to see her once more the next day.
- - - - - - - - - -
Hermione apparated just outside the entrance to Grimmauld Place, and already she craved the warmth of Draco's embrace. She took a breath before entering the house, as if preparing herself for a confrontation like the one's she was used to coming from Harry and Ron. But she entered the house to find the hallway was empty, as was the sitting room where they all normally hung out. Hermione cocked her head curiously. She then made her way up the stairs and checked both of their rooms, but they were nowhere to be found. She walked back down to the entrance and called for them. "Harry! Ron! Are you guys home?"
"We're in the conference room!" Ron shouted back to her.
Hermione frowned, the only time anyone used the conference room was for Order of the Phoenix business, so what could Harry and Ron possibly be doing in there? "Hey guys, what are you doing?"
"Hey Hermione, sit down we've got loads to tell you!" Harry began immediately, but he did not sound eager or excited, more like anxious.
"What is it?" she asked, feeling wary.
"Well," said Harry, "shortly after we got home, Dumbledore, Tonks, Lupin McGonagall, and Snape came by, for an emergency meeting. They wanted us to go get you, but when we told them you were with Malfoy, they agreed to let us fill you in afterwards cause they didn't want him getting suspicious of anything."
Hermione was looking rather alarmed, "what sort of emergency was it? What's happened? Everyone's alright aren't they?"
"Hang on, I'll tell you," assured Harry. "Don't worry everything's fine, the meeting was just about something that Voldemort and the Death Eaters are planning. Snape said that Voldemort's getting restless and really impatient with all the Death Eaters, and he's determined to come after me. So basically we were talking about all sort of precautions and security measures they want the three of us to take because Snape didn't know exactly what Voldemort is planning, but Dumbledore doesn't want to risk anything by not being careful. So basically he wants to us to go everywhere in pairs so that we're less likely to be caught or hurt."
"So Voldemort's after you again, but Snape's not sure how he's planning on getting you this time?"
"Right, apparently there was a meeting between the Death Eaters last night, but all Voldemort told them was to be ready to act once they received further instruction." Ron explained.
"Yeah, and Dumbledore reckons that he's going to start sending us out on some small missions, stuff that's not really dangerous, but will hopefully help find information and stuff like that. He said he'd let us know what he wants us all to do soon." Harry added.
"Wow, missions for the Order already, he must be taking this really seriously," Hermione reasoned.
"Yeah well, he thinks that Voldemort's getting desperate, and he does not want to wait and give him the time to act, so he wants us to know as much and be as prepared as possible," said Harry.
"That makes sense," nodded Hermione, "I just wonder what he's going to have us do."
"That's what Harry and me were talking about," Ron piped in, "we reckon it's boring stuff, cause he still doesn't want us in danger if we can help it."
Hermione nodded, but her thoughts were racing. She was rather frightened by the idea of going on a mission for the Order. She was willing and prepared to do it of course, she was ready to do whatever was necessary, however the thought still unnerved her a bit. These were serious Dark witches and wizards they were dealing with, and despite all she'd done in the past, she still did not feel quite prepared enough to face them.
I hope everyone enjoyed it, and I will try my best to make the next update come faster, although the shooting dates for my film are coming up, so I can't guarantee anything. I would love to hear what everyone thought of this chapter!