Disclaimer: We all know that J.K. Rowling is the author of Harry Potter so I'll cut the damn crap now.
Well... Sorry for vanishing. I had a lot of insecurities that needed to be solved and besides I was out camping. Anyway, I perfectly think that this chapter is really rather, the worst chapter ever. Idk but I think I'm missing something big about this chapter. Seriously.
Chapter Seven: The Letter
"I win! I win!" Hermione exclaimed, holding up her palm in front of Draco's clenched fist. She was wearing a chambray blue button-up shirt, black shorts, black converse hi-tops and a purple cardigan. In all honesty, she looked quite cool compared to Draco who was wearing his usual smart suit. Then again, it was Draco Malfoy and he would never stoop as low as wearing muggle clothing when it wasn't absolutely necessary.
"I understand that Scissors can beat Paper, and I get how Rock can beat Scissors, but there's no freaking way Paper can beat Rock. Paper is supposed to magically wrap around Rock leaving it immobile? Why the hell can't paper do this to scissors? Damn scissors, why can't paper do this to people? Why isn't Paper constantly suffocating students while they take notes in class? I'll tell you why: because paper can't beat anybody; a rock would tear Paper up in 2 seconds. When I play rock/paper/scissors, I always choose rock. Then when somebody claims to beat me with their paper I can punch them in the face with my already clenched fist and say, 'Oh damn, I'm sorry. I thought paper would protect you, you arsehole!' but considering that you're a girl then I'll just explain all of this to you while you wallow in misery at your defeat" Draco growled.
"Hot-headed much, Malfoy? Besides. It's just a silly, childish game" Hermione said, rolling her eyes at him "Besides, it's just a silly, childish game" Draco said in a voice much like Hermione's. He rolled his eyes just like she had done then gave her the Slytherin Trademark smirk.
Over the few days that they were forced to spend with each other , the two had become quite... civil? Perhaps, if 'civil' meant that they wouldn't be fighting every five minutes or so then 'civil' they were. They actually had no choice in the matter. It was either they talk to each other or they die out of boredom, the latter being not much of a choice if you asked the both of them.
She glared at Draco who was glaring right back at her. Then it became very clear that the first person who looked away would suffer the consequences of being bothered every second of every minute to no avail. Just to get out of the current situation, Hermione took a frilly emerald quill from within arms reach without taking her eyes off of the blond Slytherin.
"Oooh, you found my weakness, It's pathetic little quills" Draco said sarcastically. Hermione grinned impishly and held the pointed tip of the quill above her open palm. Realizing what she was intending to do he asked incredulously "Are you insane?"
"Yes" she answered curtly while she grinned evilly. "Granger I will hunt you down and tear out your eyes if you do what I think you're going to do" Draco scowled, standing up and trying to take the quill away from her. "Oh, really? Because if you do that then I'm not the only one who's going to lose a couple of eyes" she told him whilst giving him a pointed smirk that would've put Salazar Slytherin's own smirk to shame.
Draco glared at her, if looks could kill then Hermione Granger would already be laying dead on the floor. She gave a small chuckle "Geez... I was just kidding with you" she said, handing over the quill. He scoffed and gave her another one of his infamous scowls.
"I'm trying to clearly understand why you, kicking aside the small fact that you're not a very nice guy, have so many girls falling head over heels for you. It's a romantic, but unhealthy, and unfortunately all too common delusion for the girls at Hogwarts...it actually worries me a little bit, to see young girls swearing undying devotion to a really awful person… I mean, I understand the psychology of it, but it is pretty unhealthy" Hermione said, frowning slightly.
"So it's quite unhealthy to fall in love with a handsome guy like me?" Draco asked, smirking "Uhhh... What do you think, Sherlock?" Hermione answered, sarcasm dripping from her words. Draco gave her a rather confused look "Who's Sherlock?" he asked. Hermione shook her head as she remembered that this was Draco Malfoy and he wouldn't know who the infamous Sherlock Holmes is considering his environment whilst growing up.
"I'm just gonna go and get some air" Hermione said, standing up from her squatted position on the floor . Draco looked up at her curiously "I didn't know you could touch air" he said. "I meant that I was just going to go outside to breathe fresh air, nimrod" Hermione scoffed in a very unladylike manner. With that she exited the tent, giving him one last glare.
Draco sat himself on one of the plush red armchairs in the tent and examined the amulet Tonks gave him. It was inevitable that he had some questions on his mind. Inevitable it really was. What would you think if a person who you weren't even close to mysteriously gave you an amulet through her husband? Creepy, right and it's not stalker creepy. It's murdering your teddy bear creepy.
He glided the pad of his thumb over the side of the amulet and flipped it over so he was facing its side. There was a grove on it. One could have mistaken it for a simple design if he or she was a nimrod but sadly; Draco Malfoy wasn't a nimrod, now was he?
He tried to pry it open with a smirk gracing his lips; this could be an answer to his pleas if he ever got his hands on the contents of the amulet. His face formed into a slight frown then finally into a full-out scowl. "Damn it!" he sneered, throwing the locket towards a corner of the tent. He sighed.
Standing up to get the amulet, an evident frown of disappointment was etched upon his handsome features. He walked over to the corner where he had thrown the amulet in frustration. It was lying there and Draco could imagine the damned thing laughing at his frustration and childishness.
He scowled at the amulet and bent down to pick it up. He straightened up, still scowling at the amulet. He ran his hand over the black crest on it and it suddenly grows hot in his hand "Argh!" he sneered, dropping the amulet and clutching his burnt hand against his chest as it throbbed painfully. The amulet turned into an angry shade of red as an inscription appeared above it. Ego sum a purus sanguine.
"I am a pureblood" Draco translated. The locket popped open, revealing a shrunk piece of parchment. Draco picked up the amulet along with the shrunk letter. He placed the locket on the mantle, above the fireplace and examined the letter.
"Engorgio" he muttered under his breath then flipped the letter on its back. It was addressed to him from Professor Albus Dumbledore.
"That's peculiar" he whispered under his breath when in reality he was thinking the exact opposite. Albus Dumbledore was known as a brilliant lunatic after all, if that made any sense.
He opened the heavily sealed letter and began to read with his eyes.
Dear Mr. Malfoy,
I regret that I cannot guide you in this part of your lives but alas, history may repeat itself but it cannot be changed. Tom Riddle has an unnamed son and it is due to this fact that you must find his son and save him from taking the path the path that Tom Riddle has taken. Prophecies have always been useful in the past, but they are not just predictions waiting to happen, they are a warning that there is something that must be done before all is lost. If you are reading this letter then history must have already started to repeat itself, I also believe that the sworn enemies in the prophecy are you and Ms. Granger. Although it may be hard to believe, I don't doubt that I am correct. Good Luck Mr. Malfoy and remember, Always Seek For What Is Not There.
Professor Albus Dumbledore
After letting it all sink in he burst outside the tent and spotted Hermione sitting on the grass as she looked up at the starless sky. "People always told me that rain symbolizes evil and negativity" she started, not turning her head to meet his gaze "Well I've always thought differently. I think the rain washes away all our sorrows"
Draco stared at her in wonder and curiosity "Don't get all weird and mystical on me now, Granger" he joked "Because I just received a letter from a weird and mystical lunatic"
She turned her head and met his gaze. He was smirking widely as if he had the answers to all the questions in the world. She spotted the glowing locket that he was holding and rolled her eyes "Oh how flattering, Malfoy. It's a shimmering, glimmering necklace. What's next, a map to scry for?" Hermione said sarcastically.
"What do you mean scry for?" Draco asked innocently. Being a pureblooded wizard, he had no idea that 'scrying' was a muggle made-up superstition wherein a witch uses a crystal, a map and something that belonged to the person or thing that they were looking for. It was quite a retarded belief, really.
"Oh, never mind, I didn't say anything" Hermione snapped "Now would you mind? I'd like to know why the most 'manly' and 'arrogant' man in the whole wide world would be waving a glowing necklace in front of my face?"
Draco rolled his eyes at the scowling witch. 'She's quite cute when she's irritated' he thought. He did a mental double-take then realizing what he just thought, he stomped on the notion then just for good measure he spat on it. 'Now that that's done…'
"Take a look at this" he told her, holding up the letter from Dumbledore that he was hiding behind his back. Hermione took the letter from Draco and turned her back on him as she started to read. Draco started to protest but Hermione kicked him in the shins to shut him up "God damn it!" he scowled.
Hermione took a look at him and laughed heartily "Contrary to popular belief, 'Damn It' is not God's last name. Where did you learn that, anyway?"
"Oh please, Granger. I practically live with you. I've heard you swearing on more occasions than one" She gave him a glare and continued reading. She hadn't even finished half of the letter when Draco let out a menacing growl and yanked the letter away from her. "I was reading that, Malfoy!" She snapped but made no move to grab the letter.
Draco smirked at her. "If you want to know what the old coot wrote to 'me' Granger then 'you' will listen to me as I read the words out loud" he said, emphasizing that Dumbledore addressed the letter to him and not to her. Hermione crossed her arms over her chest then looked at him expectantly.
"Go on ferret face! We don't have forever you foolish nimrod!" She snapped at him. "Gee, what's got your knickers in a twist Ms. I'm-the-best-friend-of-the-boy-who-kept-on-living-and-living-and-living-and-living-and-living-and-living…and-living" he added another 'and living' just to annoy the living hell out of her. After all you should love your enemies, it pisses them off.
She scowled at him and gave him a look "At least Harry didn't get a good punch from me during third grade, would you like a repeat performance, Malfoy?" Hermione retorted. Draco went livid at the mention of that horrible day when he practically did the world a favor by getting rid of that hideous hippogriff.
"Well, Saint Potter isn't the one who saved your horrid arse when you were being chased by ministry officials, now was he?" He scowled at her. She rolled her eyes at him "You can thank your lucky stars that what I wish for will never come true since we'll both probably be dead if it does come true" she said
"Do you really irritate the living daylights out of everyone?" Hermione snapped at Draco "Well, My parents almost lost me as a child, but they didn't take me far enough into the woods. Every one has a list of problems and issues. But I am #1 on everyone's list. So that's a yes, Granger" Draco smirked. Hermione rolled her eyes at him "Go on, Malfoy. Start reading" she snapped impatiently.
"Dear Mr. Malfoy..." Draco began. When he was finished reading Hermione's eyes were as huge as saucers. She grabbed her wand which was lain out on the ground and said "Expecto Patronum" Draco looked at her curiously as she began to close her eyes and her patronus looked like it was listening to her thoughts
After a few moments her patronus charm bounded away and she turned to face a curious Draco "What message did you send?" he asked her. "I sent it to Professor McGonagall stating to meet us at the abandoned shack in Nottingham tomorrow at noon" Draco nodded his head.
"So do you really think he's right?" Hermione asked. Draco gave her a confused look "About the prophecy?" Hermione nodded "Maybe" he answered curtly.
"Maybe? Are you kidding me?" Hermione snapped. Draco shrugged "What do you want me to say, Granger? That I know very well that it's not true at all? Well, here's some brilliant news for you. I don't bloody know!" He retorted as they made their way inside the tent.
Hermione gave an exasperated sigh and took a seat in front of the fireplace. Draco took a seat beside her and immediately felt the warmth seeping through his skin. "You're right. We should wait for Professor McGonagall and Lupin's reactions" She said. Draco gave her a bewildered look then he arched an eyebrow.
"You know I never thought you were the type of person to give up without getting your desired answer from me" he said. She gave him a smirk "There are lots of things you don't know about me Malfoy. A whole lot of things" Draco gave her a devilish grin before yawning.
""Well, let's go to sleep Malfoy" Hermione said, stretching her arms out. He nodded "Good night, Ms. Beautiful Beaver" he said. Hermione blushed. It was the first time that anyone had ever called her beautiful, granted he also called her a beaver but it was the first time she ever heard someone calling her beautiful. Not even Ron, her ex-boyfriend, called her beautiful. He would always go for pretty or cute but never beautiful "If I didn't know better I would have taken that as a compliment" she said, smiling whilst she tried to hide the faint blush on her cheeks. He smirked at her and stood up.
He helped her to her feet, then she did something that was completely unexpected, she stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. She smiled at him and said "Good night, Malfoy and thank you" then she spun on her heels and vanished somewhere within the confines of the tent.
The next morning, Hermione treated like usual though she didn't really denied the fact that she kissed him on the cheek. He liked that. She wasn't the same as all the girls he'd dated before. She didn't push the fact that she'd kissed him to his face nor did she pretend like it never happened. He definitely like that.
As noon settled in Hermione and Draco were already dressed up. He was wearing his one of his smart suits and Hermione was wearing dark blue skinny jeans, a black tank top and black sneakers.
"Do you always have to wear suits?" Hermione asked him "It's not that I have to. It's because I want to" he answered and they disapparated.
When they reached the shack Professor McGonagall and Lupin was waiting for them there with a worried look on their faces. The shack was small, dilapidated, and thick with filth much like the shrieking shack although it was a little bit dustier and it was clearly older for the place smelled like rotting wood.
"Professor! Lupin!" Hermione greeted ecstatically and gave both Professors a charming smile. Draco gave a curt nod towards both Professors and turned to look at Hermione "Has something gone wrong, Ms. Granger?" Professor McGonagall asked. Draco shook his head and gave them a wide smirk.
"No Professor. Malfoy found this letter in the amulet that Tonks gave him" Hermione handed the letter to Professor McGonagall and Lupin. They both read the letter out loud and after they finished Professor McGonagall started pacing, leaving behind the a trail of creaking sound as she reread the letter over and over again.
Lupin was immersed in deep thought while Draco and Hermione looked at both adults expectantly. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and said "I need a drop of blood from the both of you" she motioned towards Hermione and Draco. The two teens looked at each other. "Quickly now, use this" Lupin said, seeming to understand what Professor McGonagall was yammering about. He held out a small knife towards both teens.
Hermione took the knife from Lupin and made a small cut on her palm. She turned to Draco and said "Give me your hand" Draco scooted away from the girl with the knife for he knew that there was a tiny bit of chance that she would stab herself just to kill him. She rolled her eyes at Draco and pulled on his hand. He gave a yelp of surprise and she took the chance to make a small slash on his palm. "What in Salazar's Bloody Name was that for!" Draco snapped, caressing his injured hand.
"That wasn't so hard now was it?" she said sarcastically and handed the knife with their mixed blood to Professor McGonagall "I don't see how my amazing and glorious blood mixed with Granger's filthy and..." he was cut off by a deathly glare from Hermione. The Professor instructed Lupin to hold the letter while she held the bloodied knife above it and whispered an incantation.
"What are they doing, Granger?" Draco asked Hermione. She sighed and answered "During the war we used to send each other letters with hidden meanings. That way Voldemort had no clue of what we were truly planning" Draco nodded his head.
The shack shook violently as Professor McGonagall whispered furiously and then everything went still. Professor McGonagall lifted her head and let the blood on the knife drop on the letter. The letter was set aflame where the blood touched it until it was only reduced to a few pieces of paper. Professor McGonagall muttered a spell and the pieces of paper arranged themselves in the air.
The four wizards looked incredulously at the message in front of them "Find the looking glass, to pierce the heart of the dark lord's wrath" Draco and Hermione read out loud. "What is it with bloody old lunatics and bloody riddles!" Draco exclaimed throwing his hands up in the air. "He could have just said 'find the looking glass at _ insert name of place on the blank" Draco scowled.
Hermione sneered at him and thought for a moment "We need to formulate a new plan" she said to the others who seemed to be immersed in their own thoughts "No freaking crap, Rowena Ravenclaw!" Draco scowled. Hermione sent him a death glare while Professor McGonagall and Lupin looked at each other in a silent and heated mental debate.
"Yes, We are well aware of that Ms. Granger. For now, go back to your camp and get a good night's rest. You'll think better in the morning" Professor McGonagall said. Remus nodded while the two teens merely grumbled under their breath. Draco because he didn't like anybody telling him to go sleep when he was supposed to find some sort of 'mirror mirror on the wall' and Hermione because she hated not knowing the answers to something but they both complied because the Professor was right. "Oh right! I forgot! Let's all go get a good night's rest while Cinderella's seven dwarfs die one by one" Draco exclaimed
Hermione looked at him curiously "For your information, Malfoy, it's Snow White and how the hell did you know about Snow White? much less, Cinderella?" she asked. Malfoy rolled his eyes "I'm not that ignorant about muggles, Granger. And besides, everyone knows who Snow Whale is" Draco sneered "Snow White" Hermione corrected "Yeah, yeah. Whatever"
"Mr. Malfoy it's quite necessary to get your bearings together before planning anything out of panic and anxiousness" Professor McGonagall said. Draco didn't put up much of a fight since he knew very well that he wouldn't win this argument. After a pregnant pause, Hermione plucked up the courage to say something first.
"Goodbye Lupin. Goodbye Professor" Hermione said "Goodbye. Take care of yourselves and Good Luck" Lupin said.
When they were about to disapparate Hermione turned to Professor McGonagall and said "Do you think he's right, Professor. Do you think that Malfoy and I could be the two enemies in the prophecy" Professor McGonagall gave her a reassuring smile
"Yes, Ms. Granger. I think he's right" Hermione nodded and with a single glance towards their Professors they disapparated with a pop.
Sharcele