Chapter 7

Summary:

The Harry Potter 7th years are returning for their last year at school, with a little more than magic on their minds, such as the tremendous war between The Dark Lord and the Order. So it would strike the HP7Y's as odd when one of the Dark Lord's most faithful supporter's son shows up, pretending to have changed. Especially since Draco Malfoy had been expelled the year before, and had very narrowly murdered Albus Dumbledore. Even more surprising is the fact that Malfoy had seemed to take an odd interest in one of the biggest members of the Order. Hermione Granger.

Chapter Rating: K+

Summary of chapter: Some surprising news, some to us, some to the HPY7.

Disclaimer: I'm too bored to think of any interesting disclaimers so, I disclaim this story. Suck that copyright. And BTW, shouldn't fanfiction be doing this disclaimer thing for us? It's their site and all...

Last Chapter:

Draco walked around aimlessly, trying his best to keep up with his parent's quick pace, not even noticing until he'd passed her that Granger had been crying. On the floor.

He scoffed. Mudbloods.

He had just bought himself a snitch, just for kicks. He tossed it up into the air, catching it again, before his mother told him to stop it.

'You have school in five days. Do something worthwhile.' He'd shut up and walked off, trying to look unrelated to his parents, although that was impossible. It was the blond hair thing, Draco was sure of it.

As he pondered this, a sea of redheads and Potter zoomed passed him, probably itching to see how their little girl-toy Hermione was doing.

Prudes.

They all really acted as if they were concerned. Any concerned idiot would leave her to cry. Which is just what he'd done. Oh Merlin. What had he done?

A/N-Alright, here it is. Just, please don't hate me. Please.

Almost poetically, Hermione viewed it in slow motion. The tossing of the parchment, Hogwarts seal carefully broken, the sound of the dull clunk on the bottom of the pale metal garbage can, the frantic cries of Hermione, rushing to dig the paper out, the joyful blur as her eyes swam with tears of green, gold, blue and red. The letter, "Dear Hermione Jane Granger," she'd felt like a queen. No, better than a queen, like a, a, like a person, instead of just a muggle-born.

The headboy was a seventh year named Rigardine Dvorak, a rather pompous Ravenclaw she'd come across in the library. He was nice enough, she decided.

Much better than some other candidates that had good grades and were fairly, well, commanding. Blaise Zabini was one, awful hoity-toity he was.

Ernie MacMillan, who was, at the very least, strange, at the very most, quite infuriatingly rule-abiding, in the most damnably, good way. He was another strange, yet capable candidate. She was mentally rattling off names in her head, still viewing her Headgirl acceptance, slowly and fondly. She hardly noticed Ginny come in, and didn't notice at all when she began to prattle on an on about some, meeting.

'As I was saying to Dad, it makes no sense why the Order should want to—Hermione? Herr-myy-ooohhhh-kkneeeee?' Ginny said questioningly, waving a hand in front of Hermione's face.

Hermione snapped up. 'Oh sorry, what?'

'You frightful bugger.' Ginny said good-naturedly. She explained something else to Hermione, that was lost on Hermione's far-away ears. Ginny extended a hand to Hermione, helping her off of the old camp bed of the Weasley's. Hermione allowed herself to be helped up, struggling to keep up with the athletic and fast-paced Ginny, who seemed to be on a roll today.

They walked off quickly, almost skipping down the stairs. They eventually came across Harry, Ron and Mrs. Weasley who were heatedly arguing with Professor Lupin, who had arrived sometime during the night, occupying Fred and George's room.

'But sir, it makes no sense. Why would Dumbledore do this? He almost killed him! That's like, well, like readmitting Snape into school!' Harry said, his hands moving around expressively.

'Professor Snape.' Professor Lupin, said looking uncomfortable. Both Harry and Ron turned bright red.

'What a load of—'

'That's ridiculous!'

'Who the hell d'you think would let—'

'Absolutely, awful! Remus, this is preposterous! This Malfoy boy had almost succeeding in murdering Dumbledore, and Snape might as well have what with all this secrecy and you know, Remus!' Mrs. Weasley had replied heatedly, Ron shouting in between her remarks. Harry had remained strangely quiet.

Ginny's jaw had dropped. She was bright pink.

'What the bloody hell?' She'd cursed hotly. Hermione felt sympathetic. Malfoy had been more of a nuisance to Harry, Ginny and Ron that he had ever been to her. Ron because, well, because, it was hard to explain. With Harry, it was obvious. Harry was better. Malfoy was definitely jealous of him, his Quidditch ability, his fame. Malfoy was just a little kid with a parents with history.

Ginny hated him because his father had tried to kill her. He probably knew, and he hadn't done the single one good thing he could have done. He'd have rather seen her die.

Hermione wondered idly what he had done to her. Nothing much really, except, oh. Memories flooded back, of threats, unkind words, taunts. She shrugged it off.

Wait, Malfoy was back?

'What do you mean, Malfoy? Is he really, coming back?' Hermione said, mentally panicking.

'Yes.' Ron said, pointedly staring agitatedly at Professor Lupin.

'But, he almost, killed, oh my.' Hermione finished, lamely, sounding utterly aghast.

Harry hadn't said a word, and was staring aimlessly out the window. Hermione felt utterly depressed, remembering the strange, almost seductive book. The Omen. It called to her, enticing her to read its pages. Hermione instinctively shuddered, and the feeling was gone.

Wait. They've let Snape in. Hermione quickly processed this news in her mind.

'That's preposterous!' She said accusingly. 'Snape as good as murdered Professor Dumbledore, and now he's letting him back?' She began to ramble on about morals and certain standards before Lupin shut her up with a look.

'Well, Harry, we're at the Weasley's because of something more drastic than Snape's return, actually.' Lupin said. 'And Malfoy's,' Ron muttered darkly.

'Harry, this may come as a shock to you, I can't see why it wouldn't affect you, but, well, it turns out, you, Dumbledore and Snape aren't the only ones who have heard the prophecy. It turns out, Lucius Malfoy has too.'

Hermione looked up, searching Lupin's face for a lie. He looked noncommittal, but Hermione could tell that he was twitching in his stature.

Harry looked around at everyone, his eyes lingering on Lupin, the light in them gone out. He stood up, gave a half-shrug, then walked out of the room.

Draco woke up to the sound of music. Tranquil, calm birds twittered at his window. He gave a wry smirk. Too bad they would face the wrath of his owl before the day's end. He had immense pride and faith in his owl, Hermes. He had never failed to send messages accurately. He caught himself thinking about compassion. He mentally tutted himself, his eye catching the moving black mark on his forearm. He casually shrugged a sleeve down over the arm. He would have to perfect that move, soon enough.

A knock on his door pulled him out of his thoughts, immediately striding in. It was his father.

Draco slid on a robe over his pajamas. His father stared him in the eye.

'I have made the arrangements, Draco. Now, it is all up to you. This is what you have to do…' His father swept a tendril of imaginary blond hair behind his ear, cleared his throat, and began to tell Draco of his part in the horror that awaited the Hogwarts students, especially that group of people that some called the Golden Trio. Draco took a deep breath. It would not be easy, he knew, but it had to be done. For the good of wizardkind, for his master, for himself.

A/N-OK, this is officially the shortest chapter I've ever written, so, please don't hate me. Also, this last paragraph is VERY important to the well-being of Malfoy's character. Also, many of you might wonder why he would not be a giid candidate for headboy. Ok, read the 6th book, and then we'll talk. Once again, don't hate me.

BTW, did anyone notice the reference to the Ancient Greek messenger god, Hermes? I stuck it in as some History. Review, review, review!