Chapter 13: Happiness Can Be So Short-lived

After successfully fleeing from the Great Hall, Hermione was lying wide awake on her bed with the covers pulled over her face. After hours it seemed, when everyone had finally gone to sleep, she tiptoed out of bed. She went to the Common Room and curled up in her favorite armchair, unable to sleep. She knew that the entire school will be waiting to pounce upon them tomorrow. She blushed as she recounted the day's events. And before she knew it, she was fast asleep.

In a state of dizziness, Draco had managed to locate his room and promptly fell on the bed. There was a huge grin on his face. Then he heard a tap on his window. He saw the family owl, Pascal, outside. The sight of the owl wiped the grin of his face. He knew who would write to him at this hour. Of course stupid, he thought angrily. The first thing that the Slytherins did was owl his father. Hesitantly, he opened the window. The owl stuck out its leg and Draco untied the letter from it. The owl took off.

Draco sat down on his bed, his hands were quivering. He opened the letter…

You are a disgrace to my family. I will not stand this. You are coming home tomorrow. I will be sending a Ministry official to escort you home, you pathetic person. No complaints! You will give your OWLs from home. Understood boy? And if I come to know of any further involvement with the mudblood, be prepared for the worst.

Angry tears slid down his face as he ripped the letter into the tiniest pieces possible. Then he set them on fire.

Hermione was excited to see Draco the next day. She looked up and down the Gryffindor table but could not see him. She sat down next to Ginny and put pancakes on her plate. She suddenly felt uneasy and looked up at the entrance. Breakfast time finished, but he didn't turn up. "C'mon" Harry said. Harry, Ron and Hermione left the Great Hall and went to Draco's room.

The door was wide open. They took out their wands and quietly entered the room. They saw that his bed was not slept in and his trunk was gone. The cupboard's door was left open and it was empty. Hermione sat down on the bed. There lay a piece of parchment with a single word – Sorry. They realized he's been dragged home.

OWLs were coming nearer and all the 5th years were in frenzy. Most could be seen in the library or in their Common Rooms with rolls of parchments and textbooks open all around. Even Ron was seen sitting in an armchair, his fingers plugging his ears going through a stack of Hermione's notes. History of Magic was bothering Harry the most. Whenever he was moving to a new topic, he realizes that he has forgotten the previous ones. Neville was seen buried in his potions book. Professor Snape had smiled horribly at him when he had melted his tenth cauldron. Even the Slytherins were seen going through their books in the Great Hall.

Draco was seen in the examination hall. He was always accompanied by a Ministry official, making it difficult for Hermione to approach him. He never looked up; his head was always hung down. During practicals, he was not seen. Whispers went around that he gave them alone, accompanied by the Ministry official of course.

Draco was always glad when he returned home. At least the official was not following him around. He saw very little of his father, which was a big relief. He had a feeling they're onto something. His mother was not at home when he came back after his History of Magic exam. He flopped in an armchair and fell asleep.

BANG! Draco's eyes flew open and he took out his wand. "Draco we have to leave now. The Ministry will be all over the place" his mom screamed. Draco hurried upstairs and started throwing his things in his trunk. "I said now Draco!" Narcissa screamed at him. She flicked her wand and his things and the trunk disappeared. Draco was scared. He had never seen his mother like this. She held out her arm. Draco hurried and clutched it. He felt his mother twist away from him and he doubled his grip. He was surrounded by darkness and a feeling of suffocation crept upon him.

(I'm sure you can very well decipher that the Battle of the Department of Mysteries has taken place and the Ministry is now after the Death Eaters)