Chapter 18: Matters of the Heart
It was now Monday during lunch time, and Draco's bed was surrounded by his supporters. Even Lilith, who usually spent a fair chunk of her lunch break in the music room, was here.
Greg found it painful to look at Draco. Draco had always been someone he could look up to, someone who was so confident in their abilities that they just screamed out to be leaders.
Now though, he looked utterly destroyed. Already he was starting to lose weight, and big chunks of his once neat hair were missing, exposing the scarred skin of his skull.
And even with his eyes closed - closed for who knows how long - it was easy to tell that he was missing an eye. His left eyelid sagged inwards, reminding Greg of that horrible moment when Nott had pulled out the eye.
Pansy was sitting beside Draco's bed, holding his lifeless hand. Later today Draco would be taken to St. Mungo's, where he would continue to lay lifeless.
Alone.
Details in the Prophet had been hazy, but Draco's mum had been killed, and his father had vanished. There was no mention on who was behind the attacks on the Malfoy's, but everyone knew it was Aurors.
But why would Aurors attack the Malfoy's right after Draco's accident? Greg wished he could ask Draco; Draco would know, but he and Vince were too stupid to figure it out and he didn't want to bother the girls with his stupid questions.
"Alright, Lunch is almost over" Madam Pomfrey said "say goodbye to Mr. Malfoy everyone, we're going to have to get him ready for his trip."
"Can't we stay a little longer?" Millie said "at least until the bell goes?"
"Go and get some food before the bell goes Miss Bulstrode" Pomfrey said.
"Can't Pansy at least stay?" Lilith asked "after all, Draco is her boyfriend."
"I'm afraid she'll just get in the way" Pomfrey said.
"But she won't be able to see him again for ages!" Daphne said.
"It's alright" Pansy said "Come on everyone, let's go get some food."
Pansy held Draco's hand up to her lips and kissed it. She than leaned over his body, and Greg was sure she would kiss his face too. But, maybe the damage was just too much for Pansy. She squeezed Draco's hand once more, and then led the gang out of the Hospital Wing.
They walked along the halls in silence, and Greg couldn't help but notice that despite how calm Pansy had spoken in the Hospital Wing, she was furious.
"Look" Tracy said "It's one of Potter's friends"
"Loony Lovegood" Pansy sneered "let's go tell her what we think of her precious Potter!"
They marched towards the small Ravenclaw, who was sitting by herself in front of a window and reading an issue of the Quibbler. Vince nudged Greg and pointed to the silly tiara Lovegood was wearing.
"Loony Lovegood" Pansy said to her victim.
"Hello" Lovegood said, not looking up from her Quibbler "you're name is Parkinson isn't it? Sorry about what happened to Malfoy."
"You don't sound very sorry" Pansy said.
"Well, I guess it is a bit hard to feel sorry for someone like Malfoy. But I wouldn't wish what happened to him on anyone."
A loud smack rang through the air as Pansy slapped Lovegood across the face.
"Draco doesn't need your pity!" Pansy said "what are you anyway? Just one of Potter's show girls. And if you think your such a princess with the stupid tiara than your even more fucked in the head than I thought!"
"It's not a tiara" Lovegood said "it's a replica of Rowena Ravenclaw's Lost Diadem. The real one enhanced the wearer's wisdom, but this one only aids concentration." Lovegood turned her attention from Pansy to Vince, and with her innocent spaced out expression said;
"You know Crabbe, maybe you should borrow this? A bit of Ravenclaw wit might do you good."
Vince stormed towards her, snatched the diadem off her head, and dropped it to the floor.
"This is what I think of your Ravenclaw wit!" He said as he crushed it under his boot "so much for your superior brain power Loony!"
"My father made that for me!" Lovegood said, showing serious emotions for the first time "that was his birthday present to me!"
"Well tough" Pansy said "You know what, you sicken me. Piss off Loony!"
However Lovegood stood her ground, and Pansy led the gang away before another word was said.
"Are you alright Pansy?" Lilith asked once they had left Lovegood behind.
"I'm fine" Pansy said.
"No you're not" Lilith said "your crying. What's wrong Pansy? Don't let Loony Lovegood get to you."
"It's not just her" Pansy said, allowing Lilith to pull her into a hug "it's this whole school. There are Mudbloods and Blood-Traitors everywhere, and everyone hates us. Now that Draco's in a comma no-one cares about him, and they all think he deserves what happened. I hate them. I hate them all!"
:Later that Night:
Harry and Dennis had been measuring out newt eyes and other small sticky things for an hour now. All in complete silence. All with Snape's disapproving glare hanging over them.
By the time the detention was over, Harry's hands were stained many different colours, and he was glad to be free. He barely acknowledged Snape as he made his way to the door.
"Professor Snape" Dennis said "Can I talk to you about something?"
"If it's about Potions, than your marks are satisfactory enough" Snape said "anything else you should be taking up with your own Head of House."
"But, it's about Slytherin students Sir" Dennis said "and Professor McGonagal said I should talk to you about it."
"Very well Mr. Creevey. Potter, why are you still here?"
"Just leaving Sir" Harry said, closing the door behind him. Rather than actually leave though, he pulled an extendable ear out of his pocket and listened at the door.
"They just go around threatening people, casting jinxes, and the Prefects dock points and hand out detentions for bogus reasons" Dennis said "their main target is my friend Matt Powers; they give him detentions pretty much for just being muggleborn. It's really not fair."
"In that case how come you're telling me this and not Mr. Powers?"
"Because he thinks you're on their side. Everyone does."
"And just whose side is that?"
"The Pure side. The side that thinks all muggleborns are scum and doesn't care about Halfbloods either."
"How do you know I'm not?"
"Because you're a teacher, and if you were into discrimination and You-Know-Who then Dumbledore wouldn't keep you on as a teacher"
"What do you really know about what Dumbledore wants?"
"I know he isn't on their side. If he was, You-Know-Who would have won the war and I'd be dead."
"Mr. Creevey, may I remind you that we're talking about school rivalries, not the war."
"Where were you when Blaise's cat was killed Professor? The war is here!"
"Nonsense."
"It's not! And even if it was, Blaise is a Slytherin, his cat was killed in the Slytherin Common Room, and there are plenty of other bad things happening. Don't you even care about the students in your own House?"
"Do you have any proof who killed the cat?"
"No, but Malfoy has all but confessed."
"The important words there are 'all but'. And do you have any proof that detentions have been unfairly handed out or points docked for inappropriate reasons?"
"About half of Slytherin House will tell you they were!"
"And will the other half refute this claim?"
"They'll lie about it."
"So it's one large group against another. This so-called Pure side is innocent until proven guilty. Now Mr. Creevey, I suggest you leave before you yourself incur more detentions."
"So you're not going to do anything? You're going to totally ignore bad things being done to half your students?"
"And you want me to punish the other half without any proof they did wrong? They are my students too."
"Why don't you just divide Slythrin House in two. That way we can have one House called 'Slytherin' and another called 'Jerks'"
"Mr. Creevey, I don't have to sit here and listen to you tell me how to run my own House. Twenty Points from Gryffindor; and you'll be here serving detention for the rest of the week. Now get out."
"Fine" Dennis said "But you need to have a real long hard think about what type of Slytherin you are. Sir."
Dennis ran towards the door, and Harry was only just able to get out of the way before he swung it open and slammed it shut.
"Oh, you were listening?" Dennis said when he saw Harry
"Yeah" Harry said "let's get out of here before Snape comes out. That was really brave how you stood up to him"
"His a jerk" Dennis said, as he and Harry began to make their way out of the dungeon "If he doesn't do anything he'll ruin Slytherin House."
"I liked your idea for a new House" Harry said "Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Jerks. Sounds like it would solve a lot of problems."
"Yeah, and their house colours can be green and brown and their House animal the Ass. Either type."
"Yeah" Harry said "well, I never thought I'd want to help Slytherin House, but it would be great if the Pure-Freak lot were out of Slytherin. Oh, And Zacharies Smith should be resorted into Jerks as well."
"Definitely" Dennis said "That guy is a huge Jerk."
:Meanwhile:
Hermione's detention was just as uncomfortable as Harry's. Professor Zabini had them polishing duelling plaques and chess pieces in her office, and paid them little attention while she marked assignments. Without the Professor's sharp attention on her, Davis made a number of threatening gestures at Hermione. At one point the Slytherin was able to use an oiling spell to mess up a plaque that Hermione had just finished polishing.
After they were dismissed, Hermione confronted Davis.
"You're a complete bitch" Hermione said "you didn't have to act like such a child in there!"
"How can I be bitchy and childish?" Davis said "seems Potter's number one slut isn't as smart as she makes out."
"You... you... forget it. You're pathetic. I don't care what you say or do to me; I can take anything you can dish out and return it to you threefold! Oh, and if you or your gang torment Luna or any of my friends again, I will hurt you."
"We broke her toy crown" Davis said "that's not nearly as bad as when your Boyfriend Nott ripped out Draco's eye."
"If you say anything to him about that I will cast shrinking spells on all your clothes and use that oiling spell on your face every chance I get! Theo saved your precious Draco's life, and by taking out that useless eye potentially avoided further brain damage. How dare you make out like Theo purposely mutilated Malfoy! Oh and um, he isn't my boyfriend either!"
"You sure he isn't?"
"Well umm... no... I'm, I mean, yes he isn't. Erm, No he isn't my boyfriend, and yes I am sure."
"Well that's a relief. You two would make the ugliest children ever!"
Hermione pulled out her wand, but Davis just casually turned her back and walked away.
"Don't bother Granger" She said "I came prepared."
Hermione hears a quite 'immobulus' and is frozen in place as Crabbe and Goyle step out of the shadows.
"Well Mudblood" Crabbe said "I think it's time we showed you where your place is."
"Vince, we're right outside Zabini's office" Davis said "we were just acting in self defence, now let's go."
The three Slytherins left, and Hermione found to her dismay that she couldn't even move her mouth. Crabbe and Goyle were getting way too good. She silently begged Professor Zabini to come out of her office, but the door remained tightly shut. In the end it was Harry and Dennis, back from their own detentions, who found her and unfroze her.
They made their way back to Gryffindor Tower together, cursing the Slytherin Jerks the whole way.
:Later:
Things eventually went back to normal, with the exception being that Malfoy was gone and Blaise was becoming somewhat scarce. In fact, the only time Ron saw Blaise outside of classes was during their weekly chess game in the library.
"Nice to know you do come up for air sometimes" Ron said as he opened with Pawn to e4 "Hermione and Theo mentioned something about you locking yourself up in some Shop."
"They told you about the shop?" Blaise asked, counter-playing with Pawn to c5.
"They mention it" Ron said, moving his Knight to f3 and being answered by Pawn to d6 "but they don't explain what they're talking about."
"Good" Blaise said, frowning and fiddling with his necklace as Ron moved his Pawn to d3, rather than d4.
"Why good?" Ron asked.
"Because" Blaise said, moving his g Pawn forward one space in preparation for a sort of early Dragon Variation "I don't particularly want you coming down and visiting me in the Shop."
"Why not?" Ron asked, moving a Pawn to b3 "I apologised for getting pissy about the photo, I thought we were being civil again."
Blaise shook his head, and finchettoed his Bishop on g7. "Yes, we're civil" he said, watching Ron's d Pawn take a step forward "but how long until your next hissy fit?"
Ron remained silent as Blaise moved his Queen to a5. Ron was too troubled by Blaise's point to feel too happy about his opponent's Queen blundering out so early in the game.
"I'm sorry" Ron said, developing his light-squared Bishop to d3 "I just, I really don't want you to do anything bad to Harry or Hermione."
"What terrible things could I do to them" Blaise said as the black Pawn finally captured Ron's d4 Pawn.
"I don't know alright" Ron said, ordering his b3 Pawn to take Blaise's attacking pawn, only to be completely ignored. Oh yeah, of course, Blaise's queen was pinning that Pawn in place. Stupid stupid, keep focused Ron!
Ron castled, and Blaise captured the pinned Pawn. Ron couldn't help but feel a bit strange looking at the board; Blaise loved forbidding pawn structures and having his Bishops and Knights out to attack, with the Queen and Rooks safely tucked away ready to unleash carnage later on. These scattered Pawns and the undefended Queen just didn't seem Blaise-like at all. Ron captured the Pawn on b3 with his Knight.
"I don't think you're worried about me hurting Harry or Hermione" Blaise said, moving his light-squared Bishop to h2, and right on Ron's King's doorstep "I think you're worried about me hurting you."
Ron knew he would eventually have to capture Blaise's sacrificial Bishop and leave his king exposed, but that didn't mean he couldn't do something about that vulnerable queen first.
"Are you planning to hurt me Blaise?" Ron said, moving his Queen to a4; right next to Blaise's queen, but protected by a knight and placing the black king in check. "right now, you just annoy me a bit."
Instead of replying straight away, Blaise looked over the board for an escape, and found it by moving his Knight to b6; standing between Ron's Queen and Blaise's King, and supporting Blaise's Queen. Both stone ladies were standing off, growling at each other as they waited to see which player would either come to their rescue or sacrifice them.
"I don't have any intention of hurting you" Blaise said as Ron moved his Queen to b5, still next to Blaise's queen, but now supported by both a Bishop and a Knight, and pinning Blaise's Queen to the edge of the board. "But you're jealous of me, and you're going to get upset every time I go anywhere near your friends."
Blaise moved his Queen back a square to a6. Still he was within range of Ron's Queen, but was protected by a Pawn. And now, the Queen was backing up Blaise's Knight, preventing Ron from unleashing the carnage he had intended upon Blaise's Queenside Pawns. Ron looked at his position grimly, and wondered if it had been worth toying with Blaise's queen. He still had no way of preventing the gap in his Kingside defences that was to come. Then again, if he could capture the Queen, then Blaise wouldn't be so eager to sacrifice one of his Bishops.
"I'm not jealous" Ron protested, moving his Queen to d5, exposing Blaise's Queen to his Bishop. "I just really would prefer it if you didn't try to turn them against me."
"That's stupid" Blaise said, continuing the dangerous dance of the Queens by moving his to a5 "I'm not saying anything to them about you. You turn them against yourself."
Ron took the Pawn he had first moved, and slammed it onto the e6 square. "You're not going to replace me Blaise" Ron said as his opponent used the ease in tension to take the g Pawn and place his bishop right in front of Ron's king. "I've been with Harry through more stuff than you can imagine - " Ron's King took the bishop " - and I don't care if he has other friends, but please just leave me my best mate!"
"What the hell is with you?" Blaise said, capturing Ron's e6 Pawn with one of his pawns "I'm not trying to break up your soppy little love affair with Harry, I just think his a swell guy and a good friend."
Ron moved his Rook to e1, ready to cause havoc if the e file became available. "Look, just stop crowding me out!" Ron said as Blaise activated his Knight to f6, threatening Ron's Queen.
"I'm crowding you out?" Blaise said as Ron retreated his queen to c4 "You're completely mental!" Blaise shoved his queenside Rook next to his King, looking straight down the d file at Ron's Bishop.
"I guess so" Ron said, retreating his Bishop back to c2 "Don't worry about it. I'm sure everything will work out in the end. Is that necklace the locket Harry gave you to work on?"
Blaise clutched the locket, and if looks could kill Ron knew he would be dead.
"Harry didn't say I couldn't wear it" Blaise said "shut your trap and mind your own business."
"Okay okay. Your move."
Blaise looked at the board in frustration, and then knocked over his King.
"I've had enough" he said "I forthfit. Good-bye Weasley, I'm going to go back to the Shop. Where yes, I will actually work on opening the locket."
Blaise stormed away, leaving Ron to pick up the pieces of the game and wonder just what was so wrong between the two of them.
Ron slept uneasy that night, wondering how he could stop Blaise from taking away his friends without acting like a complete moron.
Maybe I should just accept the fact that Harry and Hermione are too good for me. He thought.
No! Hell no they are not too good for me. I'm the one who sacrificed myself on McGonagall's chessboard for them. I'm the one who went to Aragog's Lair with Harry. It was Harry and I who went into the Chamber of Secrets, and who crashed my Dad's car into the Whomping Willow. I was the one he rescued from the bottom of the lake, I was a founding member of Dumbledore's Army. Hell I even joined Spew for Hermione. I'm their best friend, not Blaise!
Ron felt better, and soon fell asleep. He couldn't remember any of the dreams he had, but when he woke up in the morning he felt more confident than he had all year.
He decided that sometime today, he would tell Hermione how he felt. After all, he had heard whispers in their last Prefect meeting that the Newt Ball would be announced soon. This could be the perfect time to make her his girlfriend.
Unfortunately, Hermione wasn't around at Breakfast.
"She said something about going to a Shop and studying with Blaise and Theo" Lavender said "What Shop is she talking about, do you know?"
"No idea" Ron said.
The first lesson Ron had for the day was Potions, and Hermione and Theo emerged for that.
But he didn't get a chance to say anything to her during Potions, or during Defence. When they did speak, it was about Blaise.
"What did you say to him about the locket?" Hermione said "he stayed up all last night working on it. Theo and I camped in his Workshop to try and get him to come out. Now he won't wake up at all."
After Defence, Hermione stayed back to talk to Professor Zabini about Blaise. Harry and Ron didn't see her at all during lunch, and she wasn't in their Charms class. Since Charms was their last class of the day, Harry and Ron both retreated to the library to study for their Potions assignment.
An hour later, they were joined by Theo.
"Mind if I sit with you two?" Theo said "it's getting packed in here."
"Sure" Harry said. Theo sat down next to Harry and proceeded to take a number of medical texts from his backpack.
"Tough Healing assignment?" Ron asked.
"Nah, I've finished that" Theo said "just doing more research on brain injuries. Trying to make sure I'm prepared in case well, what happens to Malfoy happens to one of you."
"You did well on Malfoy" Harry said "Madam Pomfrey said you saved his life."
"I ripped his eye out."
"He would have lost it anyway."
"Look, what's done is done" Ron said "If I get my head split open on the Quidditch Pitch, then I'm sure you'll save me. Put your book away Theo, I think you need to take a break from all that Healing stuff."
"Shall we work on your Potions stuff instead?" Theo said "I know a lot about Medicinal Potions if you need any help."
"No, no Healing stuff" Ron repeated "Damn Theo, you're worse than Hermione. Let's just hang out, like regular guys."
"Ron, we kinda need some help with the Medicinal Potions" Harry said.
"We'll do it later. For now, let's just talk about normal teenage stuff. Have a break from You-Know-Who and the Pure-Freak Slytherins and Malfoy's accident"
"What type of 'normal teenage stuff'" Theo asked "Quidditch? Pranks? Girls?"
"Girls?" Ron said.
"Umm... yeah I guess" Theo said.
"Are you sure you want to go down that lane Ron?" Harry said "I mean, you told me not to tell anyone about um, your girl concerns."
"Girl concerns?" Theo asked.
"Well um, oh you can keep a secret right Theo?"
"Yes, of course."
"Well... I kinda like Hermione."
"Oh... you do?"
"Yeah. I wanted to tell her how I felt today, but every time I got a chance to speak to her today, she just wanted to talk about Blaise. You sure there isn't anything going on between those two?"
Ron thought he saw a sour look cross Theo's face as the Slytherin turned his gaze back onto his book.
"Hey, it was just a joke" Ron said "sorry, I know they're just friends."
"Yeah" Theo said "just friends."
"Do you think it's a bit weird that I've started feeling things for Hermione? I mean, last year she was just a friend. A special friend, but still."
"As long as you two don't start acting like Bill and Fleur I don't mind" Harry said "Though... you two have to make it work, otherwise well, I don't want to think about that."
"When did you start feeling things for her?" Theo asked.
"I'm not sure. I guess well, it just happened."
"Oh, I see."
"Yeah, I hope things don't get awkward if she rejects you" Harry said.
"Do... do you think she would reject me?" Ron said, some of his self doubt returning.
"Well, she could" Harry said "though, I don't know, there might be a spark there. Not that I'm an expert on such matters."
"She better not reject me. That would just suck... what if we couldn't talk to each other as friends afterwards? Though... I think your right... I mean, why would she turn me down? And even if she did, we'd still be friends. After all, we've been through so much together."
"Yeah" Harry said "I'm sure she'd still be friends with you. Hey Theo, are you alright? You're looking kind of pale."
"I umm... I have to go" Theo said "I um, I forgot... something. Bye guys."
Before Harry or Ron could say another word, Theo had packed his books and was practically running away from the table.
"That was weird" Ron said "I wonder what's wrong with him?"
"I'm not sure" Harry said "maybe his still a bit shook up from the whole Malfoy thing."
"Yeah, that must be it" Ron said "so um, do you think I should tell Hermione tonight or wait for the Newt Ball?"
:Later:
Theo ran out of the library, past the hidden Room of Requirement, up a floor, past the Music and Art Halls, and eventually found an empty classroom to hide in. He sat down behind the deserted desk, hid his face in his arms, and cried.
She'll say yes. He thought she'll say yes and then she'll be with Ron. And she'll be better off with Ron, they have been through so much together. Who the fuck am I anyway? Just some messed up nerdy Slytherin. Just a Death Eater kid. Hermione will never be with me!
"Oh that's bullshit, you and Hermione are made for each other!"
Theo jumped, spun around, and saw Dave looking down at him from a large watercolour landscape.
"How long have you been there Dave? Was I really saying all that out loud?"
"I saw you run past the Music Hall and thought I better make sure you were alright. As for the mumbling out loud, I only caught 'Death Eater' and 'Hermione will never be with me', which as I said, is bullshit."
"It's not bullshit. Seriously Dave, why would Hermione want to be with me?"
"Well, you're both smart, you both have similar interests, you laugh at each other's jokes, even when they suck. You two have chemistry."
"These a better guy out there for her."
"Is it the rock star I was modelled off?"
"Very funny. His name is Ron Weasley."
"That arsehole?"
"You know him?"
"I spend most of my time listening to Blaise. I know of him."
"Well, his not that bad. He and Hermione have been friends since First Year. Them and Harry Potter. The three of them are like a real dream team; they've saved people, fought Voldemort, saved each other. How can I expect to compete with him? I'm not a hero."
"No Theo, you're not a hero. You're a survivor. And an intellectual. And a real gentleman. You're what Hermione wants. She's a hero, so you really don't have to be."
"But Ron really likes her."
"So? But you really like her! What makes this Ron Weasley guy such hot shit that you're just going to let him have what you want. What about what Theo wants?"
"It's about what Hermione wants Dave."
"Does she want to be with Ron Weasley? Did she ever say she loved him or wanted to be with him?"
"Well, no, but -"
"No buts! Theo, you always sell yourself short. How do you know that she wouldn't want to be with you unless you asked her?"
"Well, I... umm..."
"Exactly! Now I may just be a poster with a thing for a painting, but I can tell you a few things about your situation. For one thing, you really love her. This isn't just some sort of high school crush, you have really deep feelings for her. For another, there is chemistry between you two. If you told her how you felt, I bet she'd fall into your arms."
"She wouldn't."
"Yes she would. And most importantly, you are a really top guy Theo. Hell, Blaise thinks your awesome, and we all know how hard he is to please."
"I'm not that awesome."
"Yes you are. You know Theo, I think that's the only really problem here. You don't think you deserve to be with Hermione. You don't think your worth anything. Look Theo, if you just believed in yourself a bit, you'd be fine. You'd probably be off making out with Hermione somewhere and you'd be able to stop all those Pure-Freaks single-handedly."
"Camille said something similar to me once before" Theo said "but it's too late Dave. Ron's going to tell her how he feels tonight. Probably at dinner in oh, twenty minutes or so. And she won't turn him down."
"Well, you're just going to have to get to her first aren't you?"
"But after Charms she went up to the Gryffindor Common Room. I don't know the password to get in."
"It's 'Amortentia'. But you don't need it, I'll take you there."
"But -"
"Come on!"
Theo ran out of the room after Dave. Following a portrait along the walls of Hogwarts at high speed was quite a challenge, especially with all the moving staircases Theo had to run up but Dave was oblivious to.
But he kept up.
There was a part of him, growing larger with every step, that thought that maybe, just maybe, he was about to become Hermione Granger's boyfriend.
He arrived at the Portrait of the Fat Lady panting and out of breath. Dave was standing next to her, and judging from her blush and giggles, he was working his magic on her.
"His totally nuts for this girl" Dave was saying, "Ah there he is. Say Hi to M'Lady Theo."
"Hullo there."
"And if he doesn't tell her how he feels right now, some other jerk is going to go and take her!"
"Oh Davey, I really feel for the poor boy. But he'll have to wait here until she comes out. I can't just let in strange boys from other Houses. Especially after those two Slytherin boys went on a panty raid in one of the girl's dormitories last month."
"Amortentia" Theo said.
"You... Dave!"
"Sorry, it must have slipped out. But he has the password, and his a real gentleman too. I vouch for him."
"Well, oh alright. In you go dear."
She opened her portrait, revealing the passageway to Gryffindor Tower for him.
"Thank you" Theo said.
"That's alright dear. Now you! Dave, you have some explaining to do!"
"But, M'Lady..."
"No buts! I trusted you with those passwords!"
Theo was almost too nervous to feel sorry for Dave. He walked into Gryffindor Common Room, ready to face Hermione.
:Meanwhile:
After classes, Hermione found herself in her favourite armchair reading the Tales of Beedle the Bard. It was the first time she had picked it up since Theo had leant it to her. With everything that had happened since them, she had almost forgotten about it, but now that she was up to date on all her assignments it seemed the perfect chance to make a start on it.
Of course, a distraction cropped up almost straight away. She was halfway through 'The Wizard and the Hopping Pot' before Lavender and Parvati sat down next to her.
"Hermione, did you see the noticeboard?" Pavarti asked.
"No I didn't look at it. Why?"
"The Newt Ball has just been announced!" She said.
"Oh yeah, that's right" Hermione said. The Newt Ball - an annual dance for the Sixth and Seventh Years - would be held on the last day of the school year. It was the Head Boy and Girl plus the Seventh Year Prefects who did all the organising for it, but she had heard them talking about it during some of the Prefect meetings."
"Padma and I went last year with Roger Davis and Mark Hilliard" Parvati said.
"I remember" said Hermione "you both told us all about it afterwards."
"It was so amazing. I wonder who I should go with this year?"
"Who are you going to go with Hermione?" Lavender asked "Are you taking Ron?"
Hermione thought she detected some faint aggression in Lavender's voice, but before she could dwell on it Emma Malone joined them, with a sulky Sally-Anne tagging along.
"Have you guys heard?" Emma said "the Newt Ball is on. And we can finally go."
"You went last year" Sally-Anne said.
"I know, but this year we're all going, as actual Newt Students! Isn't it exciting?"
"I guess it is" Hermione said "are you still with what's-his-face Emma? Umm... the Quidditch Captain Guy."
"Garth" Emma said "yes we're still together. I would have thought you'd have remembered his name Hermione."
"I just had a mental blank" Hermione said "Yeah, I know who he is of course."
"Well you lot all have fun" Sally-Anne said "the whole Yule Ball fiasco has turned me off dances."
"Sally-Anne, you can't let one jerk ruin your whole love life" Parvati said "come on, it's been two years. I'm sure we can find you a nice guy to go out with."
"Wait um, Sally-Anne" Hermione said "Um, about the whole Blaise thing."
"What about it?"
"Well, I'm sorry. What happened then was um, it was sort of my fault."
"Your fault?" Sally-Anne asked "how was Blaise Zabini standing me up your fault?"
"He didn't stand you up" Hermione explain "his best friend was really umm... sick. Yeah, Theo had a really bad stomach bug, and he got it because I gave him one of the Weasley twins prototype Skiving Snackboxes. The reason he didn't tell you exactly what was wrong with Theo was well, because some of his Symptoms were quiet embarrassing."
"He actually was staying back to be with his sick friend?" Sally-Anne said.
"Yes. And because I gave Theo the thing just an hour before the Ball, he didn't have time to tell you. Anyway, it's my fault the Yule Ball was such a bad night for you. And Sally-Anne, I'm really sorry."
"I cannot believe that you actually fed someone a Weasley twin experiment" Emma said.
For a second Hermione panicked, she had never been that good at lying, and how could she invent a plausible excuse for that?
"Well I... well, okay, sometimes, I just do stupid things. I'm not perfect."
"Well it doesn't matter" Sally-Anne said "Blaise is still with Xanthe -" She spoke her name with venom "- and he doesn't have any trouble making out with her in front of me."
"I've rarely seen them being affectionate in public actually" Hermione said "and Xanthe is pretty cool."
"Even you like her Hermione?"
"Why not?" Pavarti said "Xanthe is friendly enough."
"Hmpf. Well no offense Hermione, but I don't particularly care for either one of your Slytherin friends."
"Well okay, we won't try and get you back together with Blaise" Lavender asked "but there has to be another boy out there. Oh, why not Neville?"
"No thanks."
"Now Neville is a great guy" Hermione said.
"Yeah, but I don't think his my type."
Hermione, Lavender, Pavarti and Emma all started listing every decant boy they could think of, but for every one there was a reason for Sally-Anne to object. This went on until Hermione saw Theo walking across the Common Room, his green and silver tie and robe trimmings drawing some suspicious glances.
His eyes locked onto Hermione's, and with the briefest of pauses, he made his way over to her.
"Whoa whoa, what are you doing here?" Sally-Anne asked as Theo joined them "... again."
"I um... I um um, err, I umm..."
"Do you need to see me Theo?" Hermione asked.
"Yes" he said "yes yes I do. Um, Hello Hermione."
"Theo how did you get in here?"
"Well I um, errr... well... Dave."
"Dave?" Hermione asked "oh yes, of course it was Dave! I should have realised last time. How could I not see that? Well Theo, you tell Dave that if I catch him giving out our password again I'm going to scribble all over him as he sleeps!"
"Don't, please go easy on him. The Fat Lady is already threatening to do some bad things to him."
"Alright then. Anyway what brings you here Theo? Is anything wrong, you seem a bit rattled?"
"Well um I um er, you are a umm... good friend Hermione. A um, very very, good friend. And erm, well I... I um, I'm a bit scared to say this but I I I... erm... can I talk to you alone please?"
"Oooooo" Lavender said "are you asking Hermione to the Newt Ball?"
"I... yes. Yes I guess I am. Hermione, would you like to go to the Newt Ball with me?"
Hermione hesitated for a second as she thought of Ron. She had thought she felt a spark between her and him the other week in Hogsmeade, but since then, there had been nothing. But with Theo... once she had admitted to herself there was a possibility of her feeling something for him she had just been feeling more and more drawn to him.
"Yes" She said "I'd love to Theo. That, that would just be awesome."
"Wow, really?"
"Yes really, I bet it will be a lot of fun to go together."
It was only then that she remembered how she shot him down for the Yule Ball. She watched his face burst into that big cute smile of his, and felt so relieved that she had finally made things right with him. She wondered if this meant they were together? After Viktor asked her to the Ball he had taken hold of her hand, but even then they hadn't really been like, dating dating. Had they? Either way it didn't matter, Theo was keeping his hands firmly in his pockets.
"You two are so cute together" Emma said "Oh, Nott, can you help us out a bit? We're trying to think of a date for Sally-Anne. Know any other quiet Slytherin's she could go with?"
"Umm... why don't you and Urquhart set her up with Bletcherly?"
"Hmm... maybe. But I think he has a thing for Tara McDuffie."
"I don't want to go out with any bloody Slytherins" Sally-Anne said "no offence Nott."
"Um, that's alright."
"Well, If Miles doesn't want to go with McDuffie then I think he'll be a good match for you" Emma said.
"I'd rather Neville."
The rest of the girls continued arguing about matches for Sally-Anne, but Hermione found her attention fully on Theo.
"Reading Beedle?" He asked.
"I finally got around to starting it" Hermione said "Sorry it's taken me so long."
"That's alright. It's been really busy for everyone lately"
"Yeah, but thanks again for letting me borrow this. So far it's an interesting look on Wizarding Society."
"Yeah, I felt pretty similar when Alice and I first found muggle fairytales."
"How did you find out so much about muggle culture? Was it all during those few days when the muggle child services took you and Alice away?"
"Nah, we'd been going to the local library for ages. The librarian was really nice to us, but... well um..."
"She was the muggle that Gabriella made erm...,"
After the flashback in the Hospital Wing, Theo had told her a generalized version of what happened to Alice. She knew that a muggle had been put under the Imperious Curse and forced to stab Alice, but to think it was someone he knew!
"Yeah" He said "hey, have you ever seen the Original Series episode where Kirk has to fight the Gorn?"
They spent a while talking about Star Trek. And then they went back to Fairy Tales, and then they rejoined the main conversation that was still about getting Sally-Anne a date.
"What about Ron?" Theo suggested.
"Ron Weasley?" Sally-Anne said "hey, he wouldn't be too bad.
"Hell no!" Lavender said.
"Why not?"
"Because!"
"Because why?"
It was then that Harry and Ron entered the Common Room. When they saw Theo they both had the most peculiar expressions, and Theo went visibly paler.
"Hello there Ron" Lavender said.
"Hello Lavender" Ron said.
"We were just talking about you" Sally-Anne said.
"Really?" Ron said, shooting a curious glance at Theo.
"No we weren't" Lavender said.
"Yes we were"
"Were not"
"Whoa whoa stop!" Ron said "what's going on here? And Why is Theo here?"
"He came to ask Hermione out to the Newt Ball" Parvati said.
"You... you asked Hermione to the what?" Ron said, glaring at Theo with a rage that scared Hermione.
"The Newt Ball" Pavarti explained "every year the Sixth and Seventh Years get to go to the Newt Ball. It was just announced about an hour ago, and Theo came up here and asked Hermione out. It was really cute."
"You asked her out to the Ball that was only announced an hour ago" Ron said to Theo "YOU?"
"I... I'm sorry" Theo said "It...it's not like you think."
Not like you think Hermione replayed in her head. So there weren't romantic feelings there. But still, Ron's possessiveness had gone way too far.
"Ronald Weasley just what is your problem?" Hermione said.
"My Problem? That sleazy Slytherin had the gall to ask you to the Newt Ball!"
"And I said yes, because I want to go with Theo!"
"You... what? But his a... a... a complete arsehole!"
"Like how Blaise is a complete arsehole?" Hermione said "just because his a good friend to Harry and I? Ron, this has gone too far! I'm not yours; you can't control who I'm friends with, or what I do!"
"But Hermione... I... I wanted to go to the Newt ball with you."
"Well I wouldn't have gone with a close-minded mean tempered control freak like you anyway!"
Hermione regretted the words straight away. They were way harsher than she had intended, but she didn't apologise. Ron needed to hear it.
"Hermione you.. your... fine! Have it your way!"
Ron stormed out of the Common Room, with all eyes turned to him. Harry looked torn between going after him and staying, but in the end it was Lavender who ran out after Ron.
"Um Harry" Theo said "Can... can I please talk to you. In private?"
"Alright, let's go up to the Dormitory" Harry said "this had better be good."
:Meanwhile:
Lucius Malfoy was finally going back to Malfoy Manor. With Narcissa's funeral and his disappearance, the family lawyer had managed to transfer ownership of the manor to Draco. Now the manor would remain undisturbed until Draco regained consciousness. It was a good hideout for the Death Eaters.
Dumbledore had allowed Lucius to see Draco one last time before he disappeared. When the Order of the Phoenix discovered Narcissa's body, the two of them had made their desperate plan.
They planned for Lucius to gain Voldemort's complete trust, by disowning his dead wife and unconscious son.
"I am sick of the Malfoy name being associated with failure My Lord" Lucius had told the Dark Lord "I wish to sit at your right hand one day, and to do that I need to redeem myself. But Narcissa and Draco are beyond redemption, and I do not want their failure dragging me down. They are useless to me; I wish to devote every day of my life to serving you."
He had expected Bellatrix to say something in support of Narcissa, but there was none forthcoming.
"I agree with Lucius My Lord" Bellatrix said "Your cause is too great for such terrible failures. I have no sister!"
Lucius felt a fresh stab of grief. This conversation had taken place on the day of Narcissa's funeral, and as far as Lucius knew, no-one had shown up.
"So Lucius, you want nothing to do with your failure of a wife and son?" Voldemort said.
"Nothing at all" Lucius said "they are a shame to the name of Malfoy."
"Liar!" Voldemort said, striking Lucius down with the Crucio curse "You still have feelings of longing for both of them! You still love them!" The pain stopped, and Voldemort smiled at Lucius "but your mind wants to be free of them. Your desire is to serve me. Alright Lucius, I'll give you the chance you seek. I'll help you eliminate this weakness of love so that you can restore your family honour."
It was a cruel plan that Dumbledore had come up with. He had used magic similar to the Imperio Pins on Lucius not to change his thoughts, but to trigger a sense of disgust every time he thought of Narcissa or Draco. Lucius's loss would now be used to build more trust with Voldemort, so that Lucius could still carry out his mission.
Dumbledore was a sick bastard for using Narcissa's death and Draco's accident this way.
But Lucius didn't know what that made him, since he was the one acting out this heartless plan.
But so far things had been going well. If you could call living in this memory filled manor with no company but a few House Elves and Lord Voldemort himself well.
Today, the Dark Lord had invited Lucius for a stroll around the grounds. Lucius accepted the invitation; Voldemort was the new master of this household, and one did not keep him waiting.
"How are our plans going My Lord?" Lucius asked as they passed Narcissa's favourite rose beds.
"Well, very well" Voldemort said "Avery has Pius in position. We simply need to wait until the best time to kill Scrimgeour and then Imperio him. Now Lucius, how are your plans going?"
"My Plans, My Lord?"
"To restore the Malfoy honor?"
"I cannot plan for that My Lord. All I can do is to wait at your feet for an opportunity."
"Oh Lucius, it appears that in learning humility and loyalty, you have lost your initiative. You know what I was thinking?"
"What were you thinking My Lord?"
"Now that Draco is gone, it seems almost pointless to restore the Malfoy honour when in a few decades there will no longer be a Malfoy family."
"Yes, it is unfortunate. But I guess it can't be helped."
"Can't be helped? Why not Lucius? Are you sterile?"
"Well, no My Lord, I can still have children, but without Narcissa - "
"There are plenty of other Pureblood Women out there."
"But My Lord, I've disappeared... I can't just go out dating again."
"Dating? Oh Lucius, you seem to be missing the point entirely. Dating is at best for making sure we can live with the other person, at worse, it is a way that love can weaken us. You do not need to go dating Lucius; you do not need love. The Dark Side needs babies Lucius, and I want your Pure Malfoy Blood to provide me with them."
"Yes my Lord, of course my line will continue. But as I said, I have disappeared from society, how can I find a wife?"
"Oh Lucius, you are not the only one of my servants currently in hiding. Let's go back to the parlour; I have someone I'd like you to meet"
"Yes My Lord" Lucius said as they headed back towards the Manor.
"Lucius, do you remember many years ago, when you tried to make a marriage contract between Draco and Alice Nott?"
"Peter Nott's youngest daughter?"
"Yes her. She isn't with us now; good thing too, she went Mugglelover. Imagine if her and Draco had babies. And if those babies inherited Draco's unaltered demeanour."
Lucius felt his blood boil at the mention of Draco, but he kept calm and agreed with Voldemort that such a thing would have indeed been terrible.
"Yes, so terrible. But the merging of the Malfoy and Nott bloodlines itself wasn't a bad idea at all. Two of the Purest lines in all Britain, what a good linage for the Death Eaters of the future."
They entered the Malfoy parlour, were they were greeted by a women Death Eater. He recognised her as being amongst the group that escaped from Azkaban around September. Lucius doubted she had ever been pretty, but her time in Azkaban had ruined any beauty she once had. Her straw coloured hair was long and limp, and her nose was a bit too large for her face. Some of her teeth seemed to have rotted away in Azkaban, but her front teeth were still visible, showing the hideous gap between them.
"Lucius Malfoy, I present Miss Gabriella Nott, eldest daughter of the Nott Family, and the last Death Eater to be initiated before Harry Potter... delayed our plans last time."
"Mr. Malfoy" She said "A pleasure to finally meet you. Let me warn you straight up, I am going to be like my mother before me; a warrior as well as a mother."
He was going to put his own wife and son behind him, for this woman?
Of course he was. He had to be totally loyal to the Dark Lord now.
For the first in his life, Lucius found that he truly hated Lord Voldemort.