CHAPTER 2

DISCLAIMER: SERIOUSLY, I'M NOT J. K. ROWLING.

"So what did Dumbledore want, 'Mione?" Ron asked around a mouthful of roast chicken. Harry looked up from his Defense book and looked at her expectantly.

Hermione glanced around and quietly cast the muffliato charm. "Dolohov and Rowle are dead. They were apprehended with Macnair and died in the struggle. Macnair is in Azkaban."

Harry's lips tightened at that, and she knew it was because it was common knowledge that Death Eaters could break out of Azkaban easily now with the dementors no longer under ministry control. Ron rolled his eyes in disgust and went back to his food.

"Also, he wanted to discuss my plans for after I graduate and recommend some universities." Here Hermione paused and chewed her lip lightly. She wasn't sure how to best go about explaining the situation. "Apparently, I'm to go further away than I originally anticipated."

Both boys' heads snapped up at that.

"What do you mean? How far is 'further'?" Ron asked. "I thought you had decided on applying to Cambridge!"

Harry regarded her coolly with narrowed eyes. "What happened, Hermione?"

"Apparently Professor Dumbledore got some inside information that Voldemort has targeted me. Wait, Harry!" She held her hand up to stop him protesting as she saw his eyes go wide and his mouth open. Ron looked pale. "So far there's really no rhyme or reason for it other than because I'm your friend and I'm pretty much everything that he hates. Everything the Death Eaters fight for, I prove wrong basically. Professor Dumbledore said that if Ron was caught unawares then they would have no problem bringing him in instead of me. But they probably know by now, with their ministry spies, that Ron has applied for Auror training like you so they know it will be harder to get to him. However, everyone knows I'm not a fighter and I want to go to uni. Therefore, Voldemort is banking on you playing the hero and rescuing me."

"I don't 'play the hero!'" Harry sputtered angrily.

Ron snorted. "Harry, you always play the hero. Don't get angry, it's not a bad thing. But Hermione even said it during fifth year before we went to the ministry because you wanted to save Sirius. He played on your tendencies then, and I don't doubt he'll play on them now. Except this time it will be for real."

An awkward silence settled over the trio as Harry moodily digested what Ron said and they looked anywhere but at him. Finally, Hermione cleared her throat and began again.

"So anyway, Professor Dumbledore feels it would be best if I went farther than London. He suggested Bulgaria, but really, I didn't fancy any of their schools and it doesn't seem too much further away. So he suggested Salem Academy." She waited a few seconds but was met with a confused silence. "It's in Massachusetts."

This time the statement got some reaction. Ron still looked confused but Harry looked at her in disbelief.

"You're applying for a school in the States?" Harry still looked flabbergasted and Ron lost what little color he had started getting back.

"I'm almost finished with the application actually. I just need to fill out a few more things and then I'm going to get a recommendation from the Headmaster. I also thought I would ask for one from Professor Flitwick since I will be studying for my Charms Mastery," she explained.

"So you've already decided? Just like that? You weren't even going to talk it over with us?" Ron shot at her.

"Why? You know that once the Headmaster decides something, that's what will happen! Besides, this could be a great adventure for me! I've never studied abroad! Who would I have to discuss it with anyway? It's not like my parents can object!"

"I didn't mean it like that, Hermione! I just meant that I thought we were important!" Ron snapped.

"Of course you are, but this is my life! I can't stay here, Ronald!"

"Then come be an auror with us. You already said that he isn't targeting me because I'm going into training with Harry."

"I don't want to be an auror! That was never for me, you know that. Professor Dumbledore gave me some options and this seemed like the best one. I'm in danger, Ron!"

"We're ALL in danger, Hermione! But you don't see any of us running away!"

Hermione froze as Ron hissed at her, and she felt more than saw Harry freeze across the table.

"Ron, mate, that was out of line-," Harry began but stopped as Hermione stood up.

Glaring at Ron through her tears, Hermione grabbed her book bag before turning and fleeing from the Great Hall.

XXXXXXXXX

"Malfoy, come with me," Snape drawled at the entrance to the Slytherin common room, looking at the blonde in question. Without waiting for him to move, Snape turned and started back towards his classroom. Hearing footsteps behind him, he slowed.

"Yes, sir?" Draco asked as he fell in line next to his Head.

"The Headmaster wishes to see you. You have done nothing errant that I am aware of. This matter is different. All will be explained when we get there," Snape replied in a clipped voice.

"Yes, sir," Draco replied, knowing better than to continue to question the Potions Master. He would get more answers out of a wall than Severus Snape. The wall would take fewer points from Slytherin as well.

As they rode the spiraling staircase to the Headmaster's office, Draco tried to imagine what he would be summoned for. He hadn't been caught doing anything wrong lately. He tried to ignore the chill in his chest and stomach as he hoped his father was still alive. He hadn't heard from him in weeks. After losing his mother, he couldn't bear it if-

"Ah, Mr. Malfoy! Thank you for joining us!" Dumbledore's voice rang out across the office and shook Draco out of his musing. Looking around the office finally, Draco took notice that they weren't alone.

"Father!" Draco crossed the office in a few long strides to come face to face with Lucius Malfoy before hugging him, damn to whoever witnessed it. Lucius gripped his son's back fiercely before breaking the embrace.

"You look like shite, Draco," Lucius murmured so only he could hear. Draco chuckled and nodded his agreement.

"Mr. Malfoy, your father would like to speak with you. Professor Snape and I will give you some privacy," Dumbledore said as Snape turned to walk back out the door. Dumbledore twirled his wand in a few complicated twists to set up some wards and then left to follow his Potions Master.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked immediately.

"I don't have much time, Draco, so I need to you listen to me. Listen like you've never listened to me before. You must do exactly as I say, son. No, don't argue! Listen!" Lucius gripped Draco's shoulders firmly. "The Dark Lord wants you. I've been stalling as long as I can, but he wants you."

Draco felt the blood drain from his face and his whole body went cold. He knew this was coming eventually, but he always hoped it never would.

"He has a task set forth for you, and I think I've found a way around it. I know you're going to hate it, but you must listen to me. You have been working on your occulmency walls, yes? Good. When I bring him before you, he will tell you that he wants that mudblood Granger. I've convinced him that under Dumbedore's nose it would be near impossible. So he feels that he's come up with the idea that you will follow her to uni. You must do this, Draco."

"You want me to enroll at her school? Which one is she going to? How will that satisfy him?"

"I've been working with Dumbledore, son, ever since I heard wind of his plan to use you. I hadn't yet figured out why he needed you, but I assumed it would be to get at Potter or one of his friends. He informed me that Granger will be heading to the states to continue her education. Salem, in fact. He had a hand in coaxing her to stray far in hopes that the Dark Lord would be unwilling to chase her to a new continent. He was correct. Then he called me in and told me that he will have you follow her under the assumption that it was one of your mother's greatest wishes." Lucius paused for a moment as he mentioned his late wife, averting his eyes to let his son compose himself as well.

"Why would she believe my mother would want me to go to the states for school, not to mention one so close to muggles?"

"She would believe that your mother would have wished you as far away from this madness as possible. Salem is one of the best universities in the states and Malfoy's have the best. He will wish you to spy on her, perhaps make her believe you have changed and befriend her. Make her vulnerable. That is what he will task you with. We will iron out the details later, son."

"Does Granger know about any of this?"

"I believe that Dumbledore has spoken to her. She knows that you will be coming along for your safety. She understands that you will both be keeping your eyes open for anything suspicious and that she will have to feed you fake information that I will then feed to the Dark Lord. Severus has been working with me for some time to get my occulmency walls up."

"When will he call for me?"

"This weekend. Tomorrow, in fact. I'm supposed to come to the school with an urgent request to take you home for the weekend regarding issues with your mother's will and such."

"He enjoys using that doesn't he?" Draco snarled.

"Yes, son, he does. He enjoys reminding us all that we are weak, and he is powerful, and he can take us down in a second. He enjoys reminding us all how dispensable we all are to him. That's why I'm doing this, Draco. I lost your mother and my wife because I displeased him. I can't let him take my son too. We're the only Malfoys left."

"I understand, father."

Author's notes: Sorry it was a short chapter. I'm trying to get back into this writing game. I have some serious stuff planned for these characters. My last fic was a kind of feel-good story but this one is already setting up to be a bit darker. I hope it won't disappoint.

Thank you all for reading and reviewing!