Title / One Fine Line
Rated / M because I am paranoid
Summary / With the War coming up, Draco Malfoy accidentally stumbles upon a forgotten prophecy that even Dumbledore himself had forgotten. With twists involving a shocking prophesy, veela blood and surprising news.
Warning / Might be a little unattractive.
Disclaimer / I don't own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling does, except for the new set of twins and Hermione's brother who belongs to me.
Author's Note / so this is more about information filling that is very important in the future. I only know that much. I have the information in here all planned out for the future, but not the final plot. I hope you like it!
Chapter 2: Are you alright?
An afternoon two weeks later
Today was just another ordinary day for Hermione Granger. She stayed at home, helped out her mother with some housework and her dad with some repairing on his and her mother's dentist equipment with some muggle tools. She only had a month till her birthday and it meant a month to go until she's of age in the wizarding world! It was already three weeks into summer holiday, so she quickly rummaged through her phonebook to phone up her muggle best friends- the twins- Darien Mason and Brittany Mason.
The three were best friends ever since birth as they used to be neighbours. The Masons had moved down the road three summers ago for a nicer and spacious house, which they were in need of because the twins always make a mess of every single corner of their house. The Masons were known as the best artists around the neighbourhood with their collection of self-painted canvases of landscapes created with their imaginations. Darien and Brittany's artistic skills often had Hermione green with envy as the twins had open up a website which showcased the Masons' fantastic art pieces to be sold for charity work. A lot of people had requested paintings to be done by the twins at a very high price. Mr. and Mrs. Mason were shocked and proud when they found out about that webpage.
She lay down on her queen-sized bed, closing her eyes and breathed in deep. How I missed home. She smiled to herself. Focusing on her hearing, she could hear her mother cooking lunch in the kitchen while humming a tune, her father talking on the phone to a patient and occasionally asking her mother for her opinion. She laid in silence, smiling softly to herself while listening to the comforting noises that cannot be heard at Hogwarts when her brother's booming footsteps ran towards her room.
"'Mione, 'Mione!" Hayden exclaimed while jumping onto Hermione's bed to hug her. Hayden Granger was five years old. Despite their age difference, Hermione and Hayden were so close, it almost seems like they had an unbreakable bond or a string attached between them that limits the amount of space for them to be apart. He had just come back from his last day of pre-school. "We need to do so many things before you go back to Hodwards. I need to tell you about school, what Kelly and John just told me today in school, we need to go to Hodsmiddy, you promised!"
Hermione chuckled when Hayden pronounced Hogwarts and Hogsmeade wrong. "I remember, Hayden." She smiled as she sat up when he looked at her with wide eyes. When she patted her laps, he crawled onto them and sat there and continued his exciting news. "Come on now, what did Kelly and John said?"
"They said that the tellies told their mommies and daddies, who told them, who told me that the end of the world is coming soon. They said a bridge collapsed for no reason at all. " He looked up at Hermione. "It has something to do with the thing you told me last time right? The one with Harry and Won, and that evil bad guy?" He paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. "Minnie are you ok? You look a bit pale."
She smiled when she saw him furrowed his eyebrow while mumbling Ron's name over and over again after finishing his question. He could never say Ron's name right, it was amusing for Hermione to watch because he can say Harry's name and other name which contains an 'R 'without a problem. Hermione looked down at her brother who was looking at her with tears in his eyes. Sometimes, Hermione thinks that she had given him a bit too much information about the Wizarding World. " Yes, Hayd. That's the one. He took it too far this time. We will have him locked up before you know it and I'm feeling fine."
She kissed his forehead assuring while he stood up to hug her. His tiny arms wrapped around her neck tightly as he whispered quietly, pouting, "I don't want you to be in it, Minnie. Too dangerous."
"It's too late, Hayd. We can't decide what's going to happen, God and Fate had already decided before we were born. I promise I'll come back safe." Hermione said, trying to convince herself or her brother, she wasn't sure. Hayden seems to buy it though.
"Lets go! I wanna tell mommy and daddy what I learned today." The gloomy atmosphere was quickly replaced by his cheerful exclaim as he ran quickly out of the room and towards the kitchen.
His voice faded into the background as an owl pecked loudly on her window. Hedwig. She was carrying two letters this time. Odd. Hermione thought to herself as she moved towards the window to get Harry's letter.
"Hello, Hedwig." Hermione greeted as she ruffled her soft, snow-white fur. "Here's your treat."
Dear Hermione,
I'm at The Burrow. Dumbledore thought it wasn't safe for me to stay at Privet Drive or the Burrow anymore. He said it wasn't safe for the Weasleys to stay there either. Tomorrow, the Weasleys and I are going to be at the headquarters.
I just wanted to tell you that in case you need to contact us. Before I forget, do you remember Fleur? Fleur Delacour? She's marrying Bill in two weeks time. Shocking, eh? Their owl should follow mine next.
P.S: The second letter is from Luna. She owled it to me by accident two weeks ago, it seemed urgent but Hedwig had a broken wing that, strangely, couldn't be healed by magic and Pig was being a lazy arse. I promise I didn't look.
Have a fantastic summer!
Harry
Hermione rolled her eyes as she finished Harry's letter. Almost half the Death Eaters had traced down where in Grimmauld Place the headquarters is and to say that Hermione was shocked at the marriage news was an understatement. Fluer Delacour? Marrying a Weasley? It always seemed impossible for Fleur- who was rumoured and confirmed to be part Veela during the Tri-wizard tournament- to be a part of the Weasleys, Hermione always imagined that the Weasley's wives would be redheaded. No offence to the Weasleys of course. Now, a letter from Luna? Hermione thought confusedly as she opened the second letter addressed to her. Why would Luna owl me? The second letter was written on a very Quibbler-like paper. It was filled with creatures Luna had been telling them ever since they became friends- Nargles, Wrackspurts, Thestrals and so on. Although Hermione thinks that Luna makes the creatures up (minus the thestrals), she couldn't help but to read more about them.
Hello Hermione!
You might be wondering why I owled you. I'm on my way to the Malfoy Manor now and thought you ought to know.
You will need to floo to Malfoy Manor. Before you start protesting, please don't think about Draco or Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. I don't want to do this in school and I'm guessing they won't allow me out the manor for now with the war coming up. I will be asking for permission for you coming over.
Enjoy!
Luna Lovegood or whatever my name is.
Hermione smiled. Luna Lovegood had an extremely unique personality. She wrote her letters with quills that sends off sparkles and berry aromas. Luna can predict what Hermione will think and say whenever someone says or had written something to her. It always freaked Hermione out whenever Luna does that. As she scribbled a quick reply to Harry and Luna, Pig flew into her room, knocking a few things over.
"Thank you, Pig." Hermione said as she retrieved the invitation from him. "Here's you treat."
Hermione quickly replied to the Weasleys' invitation that she will be attending the wedding and gave the note to Harry and the Weasleys to Pig.
"Here Pig, get these back to the Weasleys!" When Pig disappeared from her sight, she turned to Hedwig and gave her Luna's note. "Hedwig, please get this to Luna. Here, the Malfoys are less likely to give you treats."
"HERMIONE?" Darien and Brittany's voice chorused as they called her name from the bottom of the stairs.
"Come up!" Hermione called back as she sealed the invitation up to pin it on her notice board. Loud stomping noises can be heard as the two excited teenagers ran upstairs towards her room. As soon as the two set foot in Hermione's room, they engulfed her in a tight hug.
"That's a nice way of greeting me." Hermione rolled her eyes. "You know how much I hate these suffocate-Hermione-hugs."
Brittany, or Tannie as she preferred it, laughed airily. "Well, it shows you have not changed a single bit. You look a bit pale, are you alright?"
"Yes! I'm feeling fine!" Hermione exclaimed. "Hayden has been asking me the same thing not ten minutes ago." She shook her head. "Darien, you look a bit different. Happier."
"Yes, he does. Doesn't he?" Tannie smirked playfully as she flung her right arm over her twin brother's shoulder that was blushing furiously. "Aww, Darry's blushing. Come on, tell 'Mione."
"I uh, have a girlfriend now." Darien admitted sheepishly as he looked at the ground, then got really excited when he realized Hermione looked interested. "Her name is Astoria Greengrass, we go to the same school, and she's just two years younger than – ow!" Tannie elbowed Darien.
"That's odd, I know someone who goes by the exact same name at my school, the same age as your girlfriend. That isn't a common last name either." Hermione narrowed her eyes curiously at Darien and Tannie, both that are now avoiding her eyes. Darien looked around anxiously after realizing he gave away too much information. Hermione rounded onto the twins as they looked around nervously, knowing what was to come next. "Tell me more about Astoria Greengrass." Hermione wondered with genuine curiously.
"Uh, well. She has an older sister named Daphne, who's our age." Tannie said quietly and remorseful. "We're sorry Hermione."
"Both of you have been in Hogwarts all this time without letting me know?" Hermione said, feeling a bit betrayed as she had told all of them about Hogwarts when she first received her letter. Before they could reply, she put her palm up stopping them. "Why did you keep it from me?"
"Well," Darien started quietly and unsurely as he looked at his sister. "We're in Slytherin? Yes, we're purebloods. The Malfoys, the Parkinsons, the Zabinis, the Notts, the Goyles and the Greengrass' are our family friends. Draco, Pansy, Blaise, Theodore, Greg, Daphne and Astoria always come over during Christmas Break. Greg isn't stupid, you know, he's actually quite smart. He just puts up and act." At Hermione's glare, he blanched and added quietly. "Our real name is Damien MacMillan and Beatriz MacMillan. Our parents ran away before Voldemort got to them…. And they planned to stay in the muggle world as long as Voldemort is around."
"You are Ernie's…?" Hermione asked, frowning, still unable to accept that information she was just given.
"Cousins. Our fathers are related." Brittany/ Beatriz replied. Subsequently followed by, "We are all part of the Order. Only, the Malfoys, Goyles and Parkinsons are Death-Eaters, to give the Order information, of course."
Silence ensued as Hermione walked over to her bed and sat down with her head in her hands. The two embarrassed teenagers stood there awkwardly, trying to distract themselves. Every time when Damien tried to talk, Beatriz would give him a slight glare that says, don't-talk-unless-its-relevant. Hesitantly, Bianca walked towards Hermione.
"We are really sorry Hermione. We had to pretend to be muggles, if not He will come looking for us. He's already got Draco, Greg and Pansy. He's trying to get the Zabinis and Notts. It's really horrifying, the things he can do." Beatriz said uncertainly while playing with her fingers. Before Hermione could reply, an unfamiliar owl flew in. She stood up and walked towards the owl slowly, looking for any signs of danger. The silver owl hooted softly and shook its head, sparkles and berry aroma came out, causing her to smile slightly. Luna.
Hello Hermione,
Attached is a portkey. It will go off in five minutes. I thought you would have replied a fortnight ago, but seems like the Wrackspurts got the owls now.
I'll see you soon!
Cassaundra Malfoy or Luna.
Hermione removed the attached glasses from the letter. It was Lun-Cassaundra's, which she uses to look for Wrackspurts. She seems lost in her own world for a few moments as she inspected the glasses and was brought back when Damien coughed slightly.
"Well," Hermione cleared her throat. "Luna will be needing me at Malfoy Manor. Tell my parents that I'll be gone for a few hours."
"Sure." Damien nodded. "We're also very sorry."
Before Hermione was portkeyed, she gave a slight smile and waved awkwardly towards the twins. When she was gone, Beatriz stood up and declared quite proudly, "That came out better than I thought it would."
At Malfoy Manor
The four residents waited in silence for their guest to arrive. They were sitting in study room, waiting patiently. As the grandfather clock chimed three times when the clock stroked three, the loud crack was heard and a figure appeared in the middle of the room.
Hermione stumbled a bit when she landed and shook her head to dismiss the headache that the portkey had caused.
"Are you alright Hermione? You look a bit pale." Cassaundra asked, standing up as she walked towards her best friend in concern. When Hermione appeared to be uncertain as to how to address her, she added. "Call me Luna. I'm still not used to Cassaundra or Cass or Cassie."
"Do I really look that bad, Luna?" Hermione asked a bit uncertainly. "I've had three people asking me the same thing in less than half an hour."
"You do look a bit sick." Narcissa Malfoy stated with no expression, and then some excitement came in when she carried on. "Come on now, Ms Granger. Please undo your charm. You'll be back home before you know it."
Okay, Hermione thought. Odd greeting. "Luna, this might hurt a bit."
"It's alright," Luna waved it the comment off and added with a stern voice, "Don't exhaust yourself."
Hermione rolled and closed her eyes to concentrated on the spell that undid the glamour charm on the shorter blonde girl. After she whispered the long enchantment out, she felt chills going up her spine and all over her body. When she opened her eyes, Luna had changed a lot, more than the last time- before Hermione charmed the spell. Luna was now taller than she used to be (now standing at a couple of inchess taller than Hermione), her hair straightened out and had darkened a bit, her face features are pointier and she became slimmer but with a figure.
Then Hermione felt the chills again as she began to loose focus. She could hardly make out the words Luna was saying. It sounded like a sigh and a soft 'I thought you said it won't happen again'. Then, she felt a pair of toned arms catch her before she faded into blackness.
~End of Chapter~
Author's Note / As I said above, this is more of a filling chapter. I've actually forgotten what I've planned since I started this last year… hahah but let's see what happens, eh?
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Thank you,
αelyndic
