Chapter 15

Another Mask Falls

January 22, 1999

Hogsmeade

Draco and Roddy were waiting for Hermione outside the gates to Hogwarts the next morning. Draco was wearing muggle clothes, he felt more relaxed and comfortable in them. In America they only wore wizarding clothes for weddings, court sessions, very fancy dinners and parties, and only some schools required them. Draco had never seen Roddy in robes before. The boys were talking when Ginny walked by. She looked at them but kept on walked. "Ah shit!" Draco mumbled under his breath.

"What ya shittn' there, Draco?"

"See the tall, ginger that just walked by?" Roddy nodded. "Well, that is Ginny Weasley, Potter's girlfriend, and Weasel's little sister."

"Oh I see, I wonder if Hermione, Ron, or Harry told Ginny about you." Roddy laughed seeing his friends nervousness.

"Shut up, Roddy, besides Hermione she is the only other witch I can think of that I'd ever be scared of, but don't you dare tell Hermione or Ginny or anyone for that matter, I just said that."

Again Roddy just laughed and said,"There comes your muse now, and damn, she looks good."

Draco looked up and sure enough there was Hermione, and damn it, Roddy was right she did look good, more than good. "Roddy, I don't ever want to hear you talking about Hermione like that again. You got it? And she isn't my muse." Draco's voice shook, not from rage or anger but that was just how Hermione was effecting him. Damn it!

Hermione saw Draco and Roddy and smiled. Draco looked nice in his muggle clothes and Hermione had only seen Roddy in muggle clothes. Harry said they don't really ever wear wizarding robes in America. The boys greeted her warmly and asked how things with Harry and Ron went the night before. She told them about Harry and how he was willing to be much more accepting and would try his hardest to make amends with Draco. She said that Ron didn't say much of anything, but that he did say he would try. She left out the part about screaming at him and then sobbing until she was short of breath.

They spent the remainder of the morning roaming around. Hogsmeade had really come back to life after the war. There were alot of new shops to visit. Hermione told Draco and Roddy how George was thinking about opening up a smaller shop in Hogsmeade. He wanted Lee to run it and he wanted Dean and Seamus to come and work for him after graduation. Draco said he thought the shop would do well in Hogsmeade and that he would have to take Roddy to the one in Diagon Alley sometime soon.

Soon something in Hermione's handbag got very warm. She reached in her bag and pulled out a coin. It read, "lunch?" Hermione laughed and asked the boys if they would mind having lunch with Harry and Ginny. Roddy answered right away for both of them and Draco just rolled his eyes and pouted. Hermione closed her hand around the coin and thought. "Yes, where?" A few moments later the coin was warm again and it said, "Holly&Vine?" Holly&Vine was a new place that had opened up after the war. Hermione had been there with Ginny on another one of their Hogsmeade outings. It was good. She replied, "Yes. 10 minutes."

Roddy and Draco were staring at Hermione. "What was that, Hermione?" Roddy asked with complete complexion in his voice.

She laughed at the looks on their faces. "Come on, I'll tell you on the way to lunch." She explained the coins and how she used a protean charm on them when they were in the D.A. and then she told them that she made new ones for she, Harry, and Ron after the war just incase one of them needed the other instantly. She said they always carry it with them. The boys wear them around their necks most of the time and that she does if she is not going to bring her handbag with her.

"You really are the brightest witch of the age, aren't you?" Roddy asked truly impressed.

She just blushed.

"I do believe Ginny will be here, so Draco, BE NICE!"

"I'm always nice." Draco scolded.

At that comment Roddy and Hermione about doubled over in laughter.

"You just keep telling yourself that, buddy. You just keep telling yourself that." Roddy gasped through his laughter.

They three of them walked into the restaurant and see Ginny and Harry waiting to be seat. She walked up behind them and greeted them. Harry gave her a giant hug which caused Draco to tense a bit. He relaxed once Harry let go of her. Hermione introduced Ginny to Roddy and Roddy to Ginny. Hermione did love the fact that Roddy had amazing manners. She thought, "If southern American men have one thing going for them, besides their amazing accents, it's there amazing manners. Always such gentlemen." They were seated and ordered their drinks. Ginny excused herself to the loo and Hermione quickly asked if he'd told her about Draco and what excuse did she give her about Roddy.

"I did tell her you and Draco had started up a new friendship and that she had to be nice and that having one Weasley pissed at you was bad enough and there was no reason for her to be cold or hateful. I said that Roddy was a childhood friend of Draco's and that he was in town for work for a while."

"How'd she take the news?" Hermione questioned.

"She wasn't surprised that you had a new friend. She was shocked it was Draco though. She said she'd see about being nice, but I know she will be, if she knows what's good for her." Harry replied with a smirk and a wink.

"Potter, I do not want to know about your sex life. Please spare us." Draco coughed after almost choking on his drink after catching Harry's drift. The rest of them just laughed at Draco.

Ginny made her way back to the table and they talked about quidditch and things at Hogwarts. They talked about what Ginny wanted to do after she graduated and when Harry would be finished with his auror training program. They had a lovely lunch together and even continued it to the ice cream shop, Draco's favorite place. They older lady who worked in there knew Draco by name. This caused some friendly jarring from Harry and Roddy. After their ice cream Harry and Ginny went on their way and Roddy said he was going to head back to America till their meeting Monday night but to owl if anything new arose.

Draco and Hermione were left to their own devices. They leisurely strolled through Hogsmeade and made their way to the shrieking shack. She began to laugh while they were standing there.

"What's so funny?" Draco asked.

"Do you remember the last time we were here together?"

Draco thought about it and groaned. "Please, let's not talk about that. I made a massive fool out of myself that year, didn't I?"

"Oh yes, you did, and the years before that and the years after it." Hermione answered playfully.

Draco transfigured a near by log into a bench and he ushered Hermione towards it. They sat down and Draco wrapped his arm around her and she laid her head on his shoulder. His whole body was tense when she was touching him. Having her head on his shoulder was sending warm pulses through his body. What kind of affect was this girl have on him physically and mentally and emotionally. He was all around changing because of her. Hermione's body was responding very similarly to his. She was warm all over from the contact. She enjoyed being close to him. She really felt like she could stay that way for a long long time. She closed her eyes and just allowed her breaths to match his. They say in silence for a long time just enjoying being with one another.

Hermione had fallen asleep on his shoulder. He could almost die a happy man. Her warm body molded against his, her slightly frizzes locks swept in her face. She smelled of roses. She was so peaceful. He was just enjoying the moment. He was calm and happy. Happy. He wasn't use to that feeling. He didn't feel pressured to be someone he wasn't or to act a certain way. He could be himself without fear of being judged, ridiculed, or killed. He very much liked that feeling.

Hermione began to wake up but didn't move because she just wanted to lie there and be with Draco. Not too long after she woke up she heard a voice from behind them.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Draco Malfoy. What are you doing out here? Trying to get into some girls knickers, I suppose? You have to go and get with Hogwarts girls now? Daddies money won't buy you a good enough whore?"

At these words Hermione and Draco pulled their wands. Hermione sat up and they both turned around wands pointed in the intruders face. Theodore Nott.

"Don't you dare say a word about Hermione! She is far from a whore and I don't have to pay anyone! How dare you! Get the hell out of here Nott before I hex you into a thousand pieces for speaking such vile things." Draco screamed at him, trying to keep his temper in check.

"Damn, a mudblood. Who would have thought you would go for the worst type? I mean she isn't any ol' mudblood either, she is the queen of them all. The golden one. I am sure you dear ol' daddy would not be very proud of his chosen child if he saw this." Theo retorted.

At this Draco lost his temper and cast a levicorpus on Nott. Nott was hoisted high into the air and Draco allowed him to dangle there. Hermione then casted a spell that made him puke slugs for a week and every time he said the word mudblood for the rest of his life he would turn purple and would write muggle born hater on his forehead for 3 days and it would cause him a great deal of pain that no potion could relieve. Draco then hexed him and made him scream in pain. He was thinking some of the death eater training came in handy. When Draco was satisfied with the amount of pain Nott was in he stopped hexing him and allowed him to hang for a while longer. He wrapped his arm around Hermione and pulled her in close.

"Are you okay, love?"

"I'm fine. He's a racist git, it's fine."

Draco smiled at her and kissed her gently on the top of her head. "You really are the best kind of person."

She smiled sheepishly up at him. She desperately want him to kiss her for real. "Maybe you should let Nott go. Send him back to whatever hole he crawled out of." She said instead of kissing him or getting lost in his deep grey eyes.

"Fine. Nott, leave. I never want to see your face ever again. I don't want to hear anything from you ever. Go. You better thank your lucky stars that Hermione was here, otherwise you might have made me into a murder yet."

Once Draco dropped Nott to the ground. Nott bolted out of the clearing cursing the entire way and saying evil vile things about Draco and Hermione all while puking slugs on the ground.

Draco pulled Hermione in with both arms and whispered, "I'm so sorry, love. I'm so sorry. He should have never said that to you. He was out of line, and out of place. To hate on me and my family is one thing, but he had no reason or right to say anything about you." Draco was so angry he was shaking.

"It really is okay, Draco. I'm fine. Thank you, though. Thank you. You really have changed. You really are a good person. Thank you." She just wanted to stay in his arms forever. He led her back to the transfigured bench and they sat back down.

"Draco, what's wrong?" Hermione asked. She could tell by his body language that something wasn't right.

"Nothing. I'm just angry at Nott. He is a real git. Some of his accusations just really pushed my buttons."

"Want to talk about it? I'm here for you, Draco. You listened to me about my parents."

"I know, love. It just really gets at me when people think I'm like my father. I am not Lucius. I never have been and I never will be. I acted like he wanted me to because I wanted to get his approval and his love. He never showed me any kind of love or even acknowledgment except when I was doing something he wanted me to do or when I was being a bigot or doing the Dark Lord's work. I just wanted him to see me, and he never did. I acted on my father's beliefs and his prejudices because I wanted his approval and I wanted him to love me. I never cared about blood. I was only hateful to you and other muggle borns because that's what he would have wanted me to do. He would have called me a blood traitor and would have kicked me out of the house and disowned me if I had been nice to you. He would have called me weak, or a coward, or a disgrace. I didn't want to be any of those things. Now, I see that I'm far from weak. I was the stronger one. I didn't fully give in to something that I didn't believe it. I didn't murder anyone. I tried too, but I really couldn't do it. I couldn't. I didn't want to kill Dumbledore. In all reality, I liked that old man. He saw through me and he knew I didn't want to kill him. He spared me."

Draco took a breath but he wasn't finished. Hermione just sat absorbed everything he said. She knew it wasn't easy for him to open up. She could tell he was holding back. She just let him think. Finally he began to speak again.

"I never wanted to be a death eater. I just wanted to be a boy. I don't believe in blood supremacy. I don't believe that I'm better than you based on who I was born too. I only joined once my father was imprisoned and my mother begged me. The Dark Lord was going to kill her and me if I didn't join. He was at The Manor with is wand pointed at my mother and Avada Kedavra ready on his lips. Hermione, I didn't have any other options. He was going to kill my mother in front of me and my aunt. He would have watched me wallow in my pain and then he would have killed me in front of who ever was going to be there to watch. As evil as Bellatrix was she did care for my mother and myself and she would have been destroyed as well to see us killed by her beloved 'lord.'" By this time Draco had lost his composure. He had tear stained cheeks and they were brimming in his eyes. Hermione squeezed his hand tightly, reassuring him. He continued, "I couldn't do that to myself, my mother, or my aunt. My mother was begging me to join, just so that I would be spared. She didn't want me to die either. I know it seems selfish, but I wasn't ready to die. I wasn't ready to live without my mother either. I couldn't do it. Do you think I'm a terrible person? Do you think I was selfish?"

Hermione gently wiped the tears off of his cheek and said, "No, Draco. I don't think you're a terrible person or that you were being selfish. I think that you were put in a near impossible situation. You were a 15 or 16 year old boy that was forced to make a life or death situation. You chose life. You wanted to live. You aren't bad, Draco. You never were. You were mean, but you weren't bad. You did that to try to win your father's love. I think you also did it to protect yourself and to try to seem aloof to everyone so you wouldn't get hurt. I understand why you did what you did."

Draco and Hermione sat there for a long time. She rubbed his strong hands and he took comfort in her small body. He had never told anyone that, not even Roddy. Roddy figured most of it out, but he didn't know the extent of it. It had been so long since anyone had ever seen him cry.

"I'm sorry I'm crying. I'm acting like a giant pussy. I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Draco. You're far from a pussy."

"My father never let me cry. He told me tears were for the weak and women. He would smack me if he ever saw tears, even when I was a very small boy. He would smack me. Sometimes he would use magic on me and I would be hurt internally. He would do this if people were over or they were coming over, he didn't want anyone to see the marks from my weakness. Bastard. Potter saw me cry the night he used that curse on me and I wanted to cry when I saw Bella torture you, it was almost to much for me to bare."

Hermione looked at him, "I don't think tears mean you are weak. I think that sometimes tears can heal you, sometimes a good cry can make you feel better. Draco, don't be afraid to cry around me. I don't think you are weak. My mum use to say 'that sometimes people have to cry out all of their tears in order to make room for a heart full of smiles.' "

They sat on the bench until the sun had set and their stomachs grumbled. They both blushed when their stomachs started to grumble.

"Want to grab a bite to eat with me, Hermione?" Draco asked.

"I'd love too, Draco."

They headed back into Hogsmeade. They ate at Hog Head. Aberforth was very glad to see Hermione. He said that Harry and Ginny had stopped by earlier to see him. He was very shocked that Hermione was with Draco. He just winked at her. Sometimes the similarities between Aberforth was Professor Dumbledore were scary.

They enjoyed a peaceful meal and good conversation. Hermione had forgotten that Draco was a very smart wizard. He was always second in their class behind herself. It was always Hermione, Draco, Luke. She really enjoyed her conversation with Draco. They talked about Hermione's childhood and things she liked to do as a muggle. She told him that over the Easter holiday that she would take him to see a muggle movie. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. She reassured him that he'd enjoy and she'd even treat him to ice cream afterwards. Draco walked Hermione back to the gate and the entire way he kept reminding himself that she was just a friend. He wasn't ready to date anyone yet, she wasn't ready to date anyone yet. She was just a friend. He hugged her goodbye and said he looked forward to seeing her on Monday night, even if she did have to bring along the other two boys. She smiled and waved goodbye as she walked back into gates.

Hogwarts

Hermione was back in the castle and could see people stopping and staring at her. They were whispering about her and small groups of girls were giggling as they rushed past her. She found herself in the Gryffindor common room and spotted Neville.

"Hey, Neville. How are you?"

"I'm doing well, Hermione. How are you doing?"

"Well, thank you. Can you tell me what all the looks and giggling is about?"

"Well, a bunch of students saw you in Hogsmeade with Draco Malfoy. They said you two looked cozy and they saw you eat lunch with Harry, Ginny, and some American no one seemed to know who was. Some of them said they saw you by the Shrieking Shack together, and others said you were at Hogs Head. Is this true, 'Mione?"

Hermione blushed. "Yes, Neville it's true. But we are just friends right now." Hermione added quickly. "We are just friends. I am helping Draco and his American friend, Roddy, with something and Harry is helping us out now. Please don't tell anyone that Harry and I are helping Draco. What we are working on is very sensitive. I do enjoy spending time with Draco. We get along well. He hasn't said one harsh or bad thing about me or my blood status." At this Hermione got quiet. Tears brimmed in her eyes, and she tried to hold them back.

"Hermione, what's wrong? Did he do something to hurt you?" Neville asked with genuine concern in his voice.

"Come up to my room and I'll tell you about it. I need to tell someone. I'll tell the boys later, but I need to tell someone now, and no, Draco didn't hurt me. He stood up for me, today."

Neville and Hermione walked to her private corders and she made them some hot chocolate and they sat on the couch and she told him about their run in with Theodore Nott. Neville wrapped his arm around her and told her that Nott was a racist bigot and that he deserved what he got coming to him.

"You'd think after all this time of being called a 'mudblood' that I'd be use to it. But every time I hear it I get sick to my stomach and I just get angry. If Draco wasn't there I'm not sure what I would have done to Nott, but if I had been quick enough to think of using Snape's spell I would have probably left him hanging upside down."

"Oh, Hermione. I'm sorry." It was really all he could do. "Hermione, I'm glad you and Draco are friends. I think it's good for both of you. You seem much happier than you have since school started."

"You don't think he's going to hurt me or is evil or anything like that?"

"No, I don't. I think that he wasn't given any other options growing up. He didn't have the option to be good. He was forced to mean. I think that you'll make him a better person, just like you have the rest of us."

Hermione couldn't help but smile and wrap her arms around him. She really did love Neville. He was genuine and reasonable and loyal. Hermione asked about his day and what he did in Hogsmeade. They had a lovely conversation as they finished their hot chocolate. Neville did the final rounds with Hermione that night and walked her back to her room.

Back in her room she wrote the boys and told them about her run in with Nott and what Draco did. She thanked them for being so understanding and being willing to help Draco and Roddy out. Once she finished her note to the boys she went and found her favorite owl. That night she spent over 2 hours going through her list of names. The list was never ending. There were a lot of witches and wizards going in and out of America. She couldn't believe it. The list was extensive. When her eyes were tired of reading names she studied for her transfiguration N.E.W.T. That was the one she was the most worried about. She finally fell asleep on her couch with her books on the floor and quill still in her hand.

January 24, 1999

Hermione's parents

Hermione got to her parents before any of the other boys showed up. Draco was bringing take away for everyone. Hermione was in her parents living room watching T.V. when Ron showed up. He came and sat by her on the couch.

"Hermione, I'm a little early because I wanted to talk to you. I want to apologize for the way I acted on Friday. I was out of line. I was rash and hurtful. Will you forgive me Hermione?"

"Of course, Ron. I knew you'd react badly but I wasn't expecting you to be that hurt. I was probably the one at fault. I should have told you and Harry before I was more or less forced too."

"I still don't like him, lets get that straight, but I will try to not be a git to him, but I can't promise it'll be all the time."

Hermione laughed. She didn't expect anything less from him. Ron put her arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder and they continued to watch T.V. Harry got there next. He asked if she was doing okay from everything with Nott.

"Ah hell! I meant to ask that. I was just so nervous about talking to you I completely forgot. I'm sorry Hermione. How are you doing?" Ron asked.

"Thank you boys, I'm doing fine. I talked to Neville about it too. Draco was more than kind. He really was amazing." She began to blush.

"So how much do you like him, Hermione?" Harry asked with a smirk.

Ron gawked at her. "You don't like him do you?" Ron groaned.

"Yes, she does, Ron. It's written all over her. Really, for one of her best friends you sure don't know how to read her very well, do you?"

"I just didn't want to believe it." Ron complained like a little boy.

Hermione and Harry giggled at Ron's whining. "I think I do like him. I really do. Right now I just want to be friends though. I don't know how he feels about me, and really I have to much going on to date anyone. But I really do like him."

Just about then Roddy apperated into the kitchen. "Anyone here?"

"We're in here, Roddy." Harry answered.

"Hey y'all. How's it going?"

Hermione answered first, "It's going well. Draco should be here soon with take away and the last part of the list. Man, that was some list. It took me over 5 hours to go through that list."

"I knew it'd take forever. I'm glad y'all split it up. When Johnny Ray gave me the list I 'bout died. I was like well damn, they ain't never gonna get through this damn thing. Did y'all get through y'alls part?"

"Yeah, we did. I just finished mine on my lunch today. There were alot more names than I thought on that list." Ron added.

"You're telling me." Harry said.

"Where the hell is Malfoy? I'm starving!" Ron screeched.

"You're always hungry, Ron" Hermione laughed.

About that time Draco apparated into the house. "Sorry, I'm late. I was trying to finish up something at the office and lost track of time."

"Well don't hold out on us, where is the food." Came the first response Draco heard.

"Don't be a git, Ron. You'll eat." Harry said and Hermione smacked him on the head with her list of names.

They sat down and ate dinner and had a pretty decent conversation considering the company. There were only a few snide remarks from both Draco and Ron. Hermione was impressed with both of their behaviors.

Once they finished their meals they moved to the larger dining room to discuss the case. There hadn't been any new murders but Roddy did say that sometimes the murders were spread out. They usually didn't have close together, time wise, or distance.

They talked details of each of the murders and Hermione wrote everything down. They talked about their clothing or any smells that were there. They had nothing to go on. Harry just say back in his seat and tapped his quill until Draco had enough and shouted at him to stop. Ron and Hermione laughed. They had gotten use to this rather annoying habit of Harry's. He was always drumming on something or tapping. They just ignored it. Draco was not so keen on that idea.

"You keep that up, Potter and I'll break your hands."

"You go right ahead and try, Malfoy. I feel like I am getting something on these murders but a couple pieces are missing and I have no idea what I feel like I'm getting. It's like I'm close but so far away. It's frustrating me."

At Harry's statement everyone looked at Harry and got quiet.

"What do you feel like you get, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know, it's like I can almost see how they are connected but I'm missing a few pieces. I don't even know how to explain it. Ever heard the muggle saying, 'it's on the tip of my tongue' or 'close but no cigar' that's what I'm feeling right now."

"Don't worry about it too much, buddy. It'll come to you. I'm just glad y'all are helping me out with this, all of y'all. Johnny Ray was very pleased as well. He sends his gratitude."

"So, what should we do now?" Ron asked.

"I was thinking that we should go back through our lists and circle all the names that were members of The Order, went to school with us, went to school with Snape, or were once into dark arts of any kind even if they weren't confirmed death eaters." Draco replied. "What do you think?"

"I think it sounds like a good place to start. I mean we don't really have anything else to go off of, as of right now, unless Harry can connect the dots somehow." Roddy answered.

"I'm trying mate. It will probably keep me up at night till I'm able to connect those damn dots. I think Draco's idea is a good place to start as well. Should we keep the same list we had or switch?"

"I think we'll be fine with the same list." Hermione chimed in. "When is the next time we should meet?"

It was Ron's turn to contribute to the conversation, "How about Friday night? It'll give us time to look through these lists again. I'll have mum cook us something for dinner and I'll bring that?"

Everyone agreed that they'd meet up again Friday. Harry and Ron gathered their things and headed back to The Burrow, Roddy had his portkey and headed back to America. Draco and Hermione cleaned up the mess left from dinner and Hermione introduced Draco to the T.V. She explained what it was and she turned on a comedy. He was hooked. He wanted one in his flat. She had to explain that they required electricity and if he lived in a wizarding flat they didn't supply that. Draco said he might have to move to a muggle flat then. They sat on the couch for a while longer before Hermione returned to Hogwarts and Draco to his flat.