Here's chapter two for you guys! Thanks to the people who have already favorited/suscribed to the story! It means the world! Enjoy!

xxx

It was late in the afternoon when Hermione heard the tapping on her window. She was curled up in bed, reading her book, so when the sudden noise drew her out of her fictional world, she found herself a bit annoyed. Nonetheless, she got up and opened her window to find an owl she didn't recognize blinking back at her. It wasn't the usual Hedwig or Pigwidegeon. It wasn't even Earl. It was a snowy white owl though, beautiful.

It held out its leg towards her, beckoning her to take the letter. She eyed it as she carefully untied the letter. With one final glance at the owl, she untied it gently and began to read.

To whoever receives this letter,

I don't know who you are; I don't know what your life story is. I don't know what you have done in your life or who you have become or what people perceive you to be. You don't know who I am. You don't know about the things I've done. You don't know what my situation is like. I think that might be for the best. If you knew who I was, you would probably burn this letter as soon as you got it. Not that I blame you. It's not anyone's fault but mine. I know I am probably deranged for sending this letter, but to be completely honest with you, I am past the point of caring. The thing is... I am assuming you know what happiness is. I don't know what it is... or at least I don't think I do. Is it all true? Does it really exist? I have a task to fulfill... it's not one you would normally get. But it must be done for the good of the people... for the well being of my family. You see... I am someone who shouldn't care about these types of things. I shouldn't feel. I shouldn't be sympathizing. That's not what power is... and yet... I do it. I don't know what I am going to do; I don't know how I'm going to do it. All I know is that I have something to do. I wasn't instructed on how to do it. I just have to do it. But what if I don't want to do it? I'm not supposed to care. To be completely honest, I don't even know why I am sending this letter...perhaps it is because I know I will go mad if I don't put these thoughts somewhere.

Sincerely,

Somebody.

A small frown graced the features of the young witch's face. Who was this? Why had this owl come here? She didn't understand. What was the task? With all these questions came one conclusion. This was obviously a death eater. But who?

"Hermione, darling! Dinner's ready!" Her mother's call snapped her out of her thoughts. Hurriedly, she folded up the letter in fourths and stuck it in the book she had previously been reading as a bookmark.

She looked around her room, as if to clear any evidence, which she didn't know why she was considering she hadn't committed a crime, but something inside her felt it necessary to. Her eyes fell to the owl who was now watching her curiously. She bit her lip. "Don't you go just yet, I'll be back."

She nodded to herself a bit before walking out of her room and closing the door behind her. She then proceeded to descend the stairs two at a time. Once she made it to the ground floor, she found herself engulfed in hugs.

"MIONE."

"Harry?! Ron?! What are you two doing here?" She laughed, a bit surprised.

Harry chuckled. "We decided to stop by and see you! We missed you. And you know, owling each other just isn't the same. Your mum asked us to stay for dinner-"

"So we accepted of course!" Ron grinned, interrupting Harry.

Hermione laughed, "Let me guess. Ron said yes in a heartbeat to dinner?"

Her mother laughed, "Well of course dear, no one can resist my famous cooking."

"Seriously 'Mione. It smells amazing here. Your mum is a fantastic cook!" That she was.

As soon as the trio had caught up with each other, they all situated themselves around the table to eat dinner. Hermione's mother wasn't kidding when she said no one could resist her cooking. She truly went overboard when she cooked dinner on Friday nights, and it seemed they always had company. Often it would be her parent's friends, but today Harry and Ron had made the visit, and she was happy that they had. Beside a few owls and a few gatherings at the Weasley residence, she hadn't seen much of her two best friends.

Soon the topic had turned to school.

"Are you guys ready for another year?" Hermione asked.

"No... I was just beginning to enjoy my summer. I don't want to see Snape's face again. How much are you willing to bet that he will find some way to get me in trouble in the first five minutes of class?" Ron moaned.

Harry laughed slightly, "As much as I don't want to see Snape, I am rather glad to get back home. I've missed the castle. "

Hermione smiled. She knew Harry's summer had been rough. He had been given Siruis's house along with his house elf, and Hermione could only imagine what it would be like for Harry to step in the house again. He took it pretty bad when Sirius died, and really, who could blame him? Sirius was his godfather, and now he had lost him too. Taking a look at the dark haired boy, one would think that he was a normal, functioning human being. Hermione knew better though. Harry had told her about his dreams through owls. And while he tried not to make it too obvious, the boy had a lot of weight on his chest. Hermione could see that.

She smiled slightly and placed her right hand over his left on the table. He smiled slightly at her and nodded, as to reassure her that he was okay.

Hermione was also aware that Harry was staying at the Burrow with Ron. It must have been nice to be surrounded by the Weasleys... As her trail of thought grew, so did the slight smile that was on her face.

"Dearest Mother and Father?" Hermione started sweetly.

Her father raised an eyebrow and her mother pursed her lips.

"She wants something doesn't she, James?" Her mother said to her father.

Her father chuckled and nodded, "I think I know what she wants too..."

"Can I please please please please please stay at the Burrow for the rest of the summer?! Harry and Ron are both there! And I haven't seen them all summer!"

Ron and Harry's eyes lit up.

"Yes, Mr. Granger! Let her go! She will be in good hands, we promise!" Harry said

Ron added, "And my mother will take good care of her! And plus Ginny's there! And Hermione hasn't seen Ginny in ages!"

Her mother thought about it for a moment, "Well, I suppose it could be okay..."

Hermione jumped up. "Oh thank you! Thank you!"

"Just be safe... we know what's going on in the Wizarding World Hermione..." Her father started.

"I will Father... I promise you. Plus there's nowhere safer than the Burrow." She smiled reassuringly at both at her parents.

Her mother smiled at her, "We trust that fully. Now, go on dear, get packing, and don't forget your toothbrush."

"I won't Mother, I'll be back in a few!" Hermione grinned and climbed the stairs two at a time until she reached her bedroom.

Quickly, she started packing her clothes and her books. As she finished, she scanned the room to see that the owl was still perched on her window sill, its head tilted to the side watching her curiously.

Crap, the letter.

She rushed over to her desk and picked up her quill. Dipping it in ink, she wrote a response to the letter that she had received earlier in the afternoon and put it in a white envelope, attaching it to the owl's leg.

The owl flew off once the letter was securely on its leg. With a sigh, Hermione locked her window and picked up her suitcase. Looking around one last time, she turned off the lights to her room and headed downstairs once again.

Ron helped her with her suitcase and Harry bid farewell to her parents. One last kiss on the cheek and a hug later, Hermione was out the door. They walked a few blocks to a toy store where Mr. Weasley had been entertained for quite a while, before apparating back the Burrow.

Draco lay in bed that night when he heard his owl return. He sighed, getting up and letting the owl in. The owl hooted and motioned to the letter attached to his leg.

Draco looked at the owl curiously. "They wrote back?"

Carefully, he opened the letter.

Dear Someone,

I don't know who you are, but just know that these are hard times. For everyone. But things will get better soon. There's always light at the end of the tunnel right? And if you haven't found that light, then you're not at the end yet. Have hope that things will be better. Consider me a friend from now on.

-A Friend

The letter gave Draco a sense of comfort. It only lasted for a few seconds, but it was still there. He carefully slid it back into the envelope and put it under his pillow. Millions of questions flooded his thoughts. Who had written back? Who had received the letter in the first place? Was this safe? The first two questions, he didn't know the answer to. The last, he knew so well. Whoever this person was, was putting themselves at risk, owling back. Surely, someone with common sense would know that. It puzzled Draco that even after knowing that, he got a response. This only peeked his curiosity of who the person behind the handwriting on the parchment was.

He shook his head, to clear it. He had more important things to concentrate on. He wouldn't owl back. He needed his full concentration on his goal

His fucking goal.. He frowned slightly. His goal? Was it his goal? It was his to carry out, but no... he didn't want to. It wasn't his goal. It was an order.

Kill him or I'll kill you.

Six simple words. Six simple words that terrified him. And he hated it with every single inch of hate that one could hold in their being.

Three more days, Draco. Then you're back at Hogwarts.

Then he would have to start plotting, seeking after what The Dark Lord wanted, at all costs. What the hell was he going to do? What if he couldn't fulfill- no. No. He couldn't afford to think of that.

Sighing, he took one of his pillows and hugged it to him. His whole body curled around that pillow. He closed his eyes. All he could do was sleep and hope that the next day would be better. But he knew better than that. It wouldn't get better. Better wasn't an option when you were a Malfoy.

With a final thought drifting towards the mysterious person who said things were going to be okay, Draco found himself plunging into a dream... no, not a dream. His mind wasn't kind enough to relieve him of his worries when he slept. Nightmares. He dove into his own little personal world of nightmares.