A/N: My internet was down because of a storm and I thought I wouldn't be able to get this up today. Fortunately, everything's fine now and I was able to post this. Hope you enjoy this and thanks to everyone reading and to those reviewing. Happy Reading.

Forget Me Not

Chapter 13: Interest in Insane Ideas

Dumbledore summoned us to his office one evening. I knew this was going to happen eventually, but I hadn't expected to waste over an hour of my life listening to everything I already knew. Did our headmaster want a signed confession from the one sent to kill him? I couldn't figure out the point of the meeting, but it was upsetting me more and more with each passing second. I'd check once in a while to see Draco's reactions to this meeting and he didn't seem nearly as annoyed or panicked as I thought he would have been. He still had no concern about his fate. I sighed inwardly and felt sorrow fill me.

That quickly vanished when the next topic of discussion arose. "You want him to do what!" Dumbledore tried to rationalize with me by explaining why it was so important for him to work as a mole and that he was "sure" Draco'd be safe. "That's not happening," I turned to Draco and shook his arm. "Tell them you won't do it," I pleaded with him; he said nothing. I remembered when he said his life was already forfeit, but that didn't mean I felt the same. And it sure as hell didn't mean I was going to let him be the sacrificial lamb.

While I waited for him to protest, I half-listened to Harry and Ron attempt to enthuse him about being a double agent for us. I tossed them a glare after I couldn't take any more of their excitement. Then I quickly stood and pulled Draco up; I didn't look back at any of the others while I pulled Draco out of the headmaster's office. He remained silent, but I was too focused on my thoughts to care. How could the three of them easily dismiss the fact that they would be putting his life in danger? He's only sixteen.

If Dumbledore wants to risk someone's life to further his own goals, then he'd better find someone else. Better yet, he'd better brew a lot of Polyjuice and go himself. Why selfishly risk someone's life on a suicide stunt like that. To hell with them. Use someone else to get inside information.

Later, to add insult to injury, Mrs. Malfoy owled her son a few days after we were forced to listen to Dumbledore's preposterous suggestion. "She said that the Dark Lord has taken over the Manor…" he forlornly informed me while looking at the words on the piece of parchment.

"Your home? Why would he do that?" He didn't look up, yet he shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

"He summoned me back," his voice was monotone and his face was completely emotionless.

"What? When?" I abruptly stood and began pacing in the small space. My mind immediately began racing to figure out a way to get him out of his predicament.

"During the next break."

I stopped and stared at him, "That's in less than two weeks." He nodded. "Draco, you can't go." I walked over to him and stood a few paces away with my arm crossed over my chest and a pout on my face.

"I have to go. He's holding my parents captive in their own home." I shook my head and felt the tears well up behind my eyes. He reached forward, parted my arms from my chest, and then pulled me over to him. I was still pouting as I stood in front of him. He smiled weakly up at me, "I'll be all right. And I might as well go in and see what's happening there."

"So you want to be a spy?"

He shrugged again, "Why not? If I make it out of there, I'll be of some use."

Once again, I shook my head, "It's too dangerous. Don't do it. Don't even go."

"I must go…" As I stared down at him, I realized his only concern was his parents' well-being instead of his own. My loyal and loving Slytherin. If only he'd think about what he planned to do. I leaned forward and pressed my forehead to his. I decided to concede and hope for the best since he clearly had his mind set on this kamikaze mission.

The following weekend I needed to get away from Hogwarts. It felt like awhile since I've been off campus and this weekend felt like the perfect chance to get away. For some time we weighed the pros and cons about going out, and we decided we would. Of course not as ourselves, but I didn't mind. We spent Friday after Potions in the dungeons brewing draughts to mask our true identities. Early Saturday morning we met and took the potions before performing an invisibility charm to use one of the secret passages to leave the grounds.

We safely managed to make it to Hogsmeade and decided to spend at least one day like a normal couple. It cheered him up for a little bit, but at some point, his problems seeped back into his awareness and his mood lowered. Part of me was relieved that he was weighing his perilous decision, but this felt like the wrong moment. I decided it'd be best to take a break from our exploration of the town and that's how we ended up in the couple's café.

I sighed and brushed a few stray strands of hair from out of his face, "Are you sure you want to go home?" I asked as we sat in a secluded corner of Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop.

For a while he kept his head lowered and fixed on his drink. I heard him exhale before answering; "I have to go…" he said sadly yet held his resolve.

"I don't want you to go," I mumbled as I wrapped both of my hands around the teacup. "I wish I could go with you."

"So that we both get killed?" he asked before shaking his head. "My parents' lives already depend on me. I don't want to risk yours as well."

"They won't have to know. These potions are working well." He gave me an incredulous look.

"Do you think a simple spell or a few ingredients will fool him? That's mental." I couldn't help but glare at him then; he didn't need to be rude about it. After all I was only trying to do this for him. "Aunt Bella taught me Occlumency. I know I'll have to use it to block you out when I'm in his presence. But there's no way I'd be able to effectively teach you in a week." He paused and slowly sipped his drink, "Besides they'd find it suspicious if I brought a girl home with me, especially one they'd never met and one who is responsible for distracting me from my mission. It's just not safe."

"Neither is going alone. He's taken over your home and is holding your parents hostage. You don't stand a chance against him."

"There's no way around this. We just have to hope he believes any lie I tell and allows me to return here." He took one of my hands and entwined our fingers together. "At least I'll be able to see what's going on and let you know. You can inform that saint of a friend of yours for me." He smirked and then leaned forward to kiss me. Draco had been constantly trying to convince me that he was able to complete this absurd task. Too bad it didn't work. We were at an impasse with this decision.

After our discussion we finished our light lunch before leaving; the potions wouldn't last much longer. We did manage to make it back to the castle safely before then. Once in the lower halls, we parted, but decided on a place to meet later that Saturday evening.

When I got back to my common room, I was hardly surprised to see Harry and Ron sitting there waiting for me. As they hurried over to the portrait hole, I continued my journey past the two and up the stairwell to my room. They didn't stop, however. The two both banged on my door and yelled for me to open it or come out. I looked over at Crookshanks as he hissed at the door. I walked over to him and picked him up to soothe him. "I should let you scratch their eyes out," I said as I pet his soft fur. His temper began to subside, but he was still upset by their presence. "Go away! You're upsetting my cat!" I yelled at them; they continued.

A moment passed and the noise stopped. "Hermione, open the door. It's important that we talk to you," Harry said from the other side of the door.

"I don't want to hear what you have to say. And I really don't want to say anything to either of you."

"At least listen," he pleaded. I noticed the ginger of the pair remained silent. I wondered if he gave up and left.

I heaved a sigh before standing up from my bed and carrying my pet to the door. I unlocked it before pulling it towards me. I glanced at Ron after realizing he was still there. Next my gaze traveled slightly lower to Harry's.

I stepped aside and let them in. "What do you want?" I asked after taking a seat on my bed and putting Crookshanks down beside me. A moment later he hopped back up and curled up next to my thigh. The smile that had been on my face from watching him faded after I looked back up at the two males. "Well?" I was annoyed and wished they'd both just leave.

"We've both put some thought into this and we think it would be best for you to break up with him."

"What?" I looked between them; they were serious. "Get the hell out," I ordered them in a low, threatening tone.

"It'll be best for the two of you."

"I doubt that."

"Lisa met with Pansy," Ron finally decided to speak. "We went to check it out and heard Lisa telling Pansy about you two."

"Why should I care?" Then their words registered.

"Now you understand…" Harry said gravely. I nodded slowly while I continued thinking about it.

Lisa alone wasn't much of a problem. No one would really take her seriously, but Pansy is a different story. She's one of the reasons we didn't want to be discovered. And out of the people who we didn't want knowing anything, she's the worst. Her words may not be widely accepted, but those who would hear would surely come after us. Maybe we did have to cut all ties and deny anything either of them says. "Leave me alone," I said sadly as I stared at the floor.

"What are you going to do?" Harry questioned. I shook my head.

"Just go…" I didn't see them, but a few moments later I heard their footsteps retreating and the sound of the door closing behind them. What the hell am I going to do now?

I kicked off my shoes and lay on my side. I looked at the clock. In a few hours I'd be meeting with him again. My eyes slowly closed and I thought over every possible course of action. Being a competent witch, I can successfully charm both of them and they'd forget anything I'd want them to. However, in the overall scheme of things, it may be easier to cut ties.

Just as quickly as the thought appeared, it disappeared. They must all be mental. To hell with them all. We got through everything else; one other obstacle won't be hard to overcome.

Before leaving my dorm to meet with Draco, I'd decided to confront the two females and solve at least one problem. "When?" was the only question I still wrestled with.

A/N: Thanks for reading. Some feedback on this chapter would be very beneficial. So if you don't mind, please let me know if you enjoyed this or not.