A/N: This chapter has been a while in the making, and is a bit longer than my chapters for this story normally are, and nearly half again the length of chapter 38. That said, I hope you like it, and as always review!

Chapter 39: Trading Faces

I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe it. All this time we thought Hermione was a traitor…

"What I don't get," Ron said as he, Luna, and I mulled around the Room of Requirement, "is how nobody's noticed before. I mean, Malfoy can't be in two places at once – all the Time-Turners were destroyed."

"That's what they say." Luna replied, tapping a quill against her chin thoughtfully. "The Malfoys have a lot of pull in the Ministry; it wouldn't surprise me if they'd managed to knick a few."

I nodded, too shocked by Ron's discovery to say much more than "I need to tell Snape."

"You do that mate." Ron agreed, "Me and Luna will watch the map, and see if we can't figure out a pattern."

"Thanks." I gathered up my books and rose to my feet. "I'll se you in the common room later Ron."

xxx

The trip to the dungeons was largely uneventful, and all too soon I found myself in front of the door to Snape's office. After a moment of hesitation I knocked, praying to whatever was listening that the snarky potions master would be able to come up with a better plan than mine.

"Enter."

"Professor," I began, shutting the door behind me, "I need to speak to you about something very important."

Snape looked up from the papers he was grading and after studying me for a moment, gestured toward a chair and warded the room against eavesdropping.

"Sit." He commanded. "I assume from the look on your face that you come bearing bad news?"

I nodded. "Hermione…"

"Yes?" he prodded when I seemed to have forgotten how to speak. "What about Miss Granger?"

"The Hermione that's here, isn't actually Hermione. We think--"

"We?"

"Me, Ron, and Luna. We think that she was kidnapped during the summer or just before start of term. The Hermione Granger walking the halls of Hogwarts is an imposter, and a very good one at that. We never would have noticed if it wasn't for the map."

"What 'map'?"

"The Marauder's Map. Remus gave it back to me…"

"I see." The dour man stroked his non-existent chin hairs in lost deep in thought. After several moments of silence, I began to worry.

"Sir?"

"Who do you think that the imposter really is? The castle has been warded against Death Eaters – save myself of course – and I don't see how any of them could have gotten away with fooling you and Weasley for as long as they have."

"The castle is warded against marked Death Eaters," I corrected, "and anyone who's had classes with her could mirror her behaviors."

"You're saying that you suspect it to be another student?"

"I'm saying we know it's a student – Malfoy. He shows up on the map wherever 'Hermione' is – even in the common room. I don't know how he managed to be in two places at once – Luna suspects an illegal Time-Turner – but he does and he's the only one who's exhibited strange behavior so far."

"If your conclusion is true, Miss Granger could be long deceased by now. If she isn't, then she'll likely soon be on her way."

"We need to get the Horcrux away from Malfoy." I stressed. "There's nothing we can do for Hermione if we don't have a bargaining chip."

Snape smirked. "What?" he mocked lightly, "No charging in like the foolhardy Gryffindor you are and using brute strength to save the day?"

I shook my head solemnly. "It's too much of a risk. Voldemort could kill her the moment he finds out we're trying to rescue her. I won't take that chance."

"I see. Finally embracing your Slytherin side, are you?"

"Yes sir. Have you figured out what the Horcrux is yet?"

"Yes, it's a locket: gold with the Slytherin mark on it. It shouldn't be too hard to relieve him of it. Now that we know the carrier is Draco, I can simply ask him for it."

"And he'll give it to you? Just like that?" I queried. "What about the Headmaster?"

"I shall send Albus away on a fool's mission if I must. But rest assured I will handle it tonight."

"Thank you Professor. There are not many others that would be willing to risk themselves like this."

The snarky man only sneered in reply.

Xxx

"Potter."

I turned to see Draco Malfoy leaning against the wall opposite Snape's office. Is he following me? "What do you want Malfoy?" I sighed.

"Not much. I just want to… extend the hand of friendship." He answered, crossing the narrow dungeon corridor to stand in front of me.

"Really?" I asked, skeptical of his intentions already.

"Yes. And I come bearing gifts, as it were." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. "I believe this belongs to you. Or rather, it belonged to your family."

I took the box from him and opened it to find a golden locket engraved with a large, serpentine 'S'. I could feel the evil pulsating from it, and quickly shut the box. "Where did you find this?"

"Umbridge had it and I knicked it from her last year while the Weasley twins were causing chaos in the halls. I knew it for what it was – and who it belonged to – the moment I picked it up. It radiates evil."

I nodded, turning the box over in my hands. "Thanks."

He nodded. "I have another gift for you, but I doubt you'll like it. It's about that Granger girl you always hang around."

"You have news about Hermione? I know you've been impersonating her." I accused.

"It was for the best. If it got out that she wasn't here, the Dark Lord would go looking for her. She's fine, but hidden. I have her, or rather, my mother does. They're in hiding. It's safer for them, this way. I've got a house-elf impersonating Mother, since it'd look suspicious if she couldn't do magic."

"Did you come up with this on your own? Or did someone plan it for you?"

"Severus had nothing to do with it, if that's what you're asking. I know you told him – that for whatever reason, you two are allied now – but I'll have to Obliviate him. The Dark Lord can never know that I've betrayed him; he'll kill Father if he finds out." He said, finding something on the floor extremely fascinating.

"What made you change sides?" I inquired, opting to ignore his momentary weakness, just this once.

"Are we allies?" he asked, "Because if not, I can't trust you."

I looked at the box in my hand. He gave me a Horcrux. Even though he knows what it is and what it could cost him should Voldemort find out, he willingly gave me a Horcrux. "Yes, but you better not betray me." I warned.

"Not likely." He was quiet for a moment, his face taking on a troubled appearance. "He has ordered me to kill Dumbledore. It's impossible – a suicide mission and I know it. He wants me to fail, and when I do, he'll kill me to punish Father for the whole Ministry debacle. Or he'll kill Mother to punish us both."

"But it's a house-elf impersonating your mother." I stated.

"Yes, but once he realizes that, he'll likely kill me for my treachery. Severus has taken an Unbreakable Vow to ensure that the task is completed, even if I'm not the one to do it. If I fail, he'll be under fire as well, since I doubt the Dark Lord knows of the Vow. I could lose my Father, my Godfather, and my life. And all because the batty old Headmaster refuses to lie down and die."

"You couldn't kill him, even if you did have it in you." I said. "Voldemort's not the only one with a Horcrux."

Malfoy paled. "How many?" he croaked.

"Just one. But it's Fawkes, and the only way to kill a Phoenix is to drown it on a Burning Day. They resurrect themselves through fire, so once the fire is lit and the old body is burned, you're shit out of luck. Problem is, they only happen once every couple hundred years, and Fawkes just had one back in second year. Or I suppose you could force one by fatally injuring him… Ask Hermione, she'll know. In the mean time, I'd suggest informing Voldemort of this little hitch, and see what he makes of it."

Malfoy nodded. "Thanks, I think I'll do that."

As I watched him walk away, I couldn't help but wonder at the strangeness of the encounter. Who knew I'd find and ally in Draco Malfoy of all people?