Chapter 25

Consequences

"Hermione, I really wish that you wouldn't-"

"I'm in the hospital wing, Harry. I get to say it. I told you so." Though guilting him was not her intention, she saw him shrink before her very eyes. However, she would not let up. "I told you that book was going to get you into trouble. I warned you that someone would end up getting hurt. I'm just glad that it wasn't you."

He winced. He looked up at her, cleared ashamed and remorseful for his action. "I didn't know what would happen, Hermione. And I never in my lifetime would have expected you to become my target."

She could have reprimanded him. She wanted nothing more than to do just that. She wanted nothing more than to tell him how dangerous it was to use unfamiliar magic from a source she wasn't sure he could trust. She wanted to remind him, no, she was not the intended target - but his intended target was her boyfriend. No matter who was hit, she would have been in some form of pain. However, they have had a whole year of rough patches, and there was no need to make things worse when they were just now starting to improve. Instead she simply said, "I know, Harry," as she reached out for his hand. "I'm sorry your punishment is so-"

"Hermione, stop, please. My punishment isn't enough," he interrupted. "I would serve detention for the rest of my life if it meant having you here with me. I'm so grateful that Snape saved you, I don't even mind that my detention is with him."

The witch felt an ache that wasn't caused by her injury. She knew how much Harry loved her. She ached knowing how much love they had for each other. "Well I should be out of here by tomorrow morning at the latest. Madame Pomfrey wants at least a full day's rest before she clears me. I should be out for the final Quidditch..." she trailed off.

"You can say it. You'll be able to make the final match. While I'm serving my first detention. I know."

"I'm s-" she tried to apologize again.

"Don't. Please." He wasn't angry. "We still have you. I'd pay whatever the cost."

Hermione smiled and pulled him into an embrace.

Severus had the perfect punishment in mind for Potter and was counting down the minutes until the young wizard would arrive to commence his punishment. He had checked in with Miss Granger the day after she was admitted. The visit was brief and she seemed to be doing better. He discreetly awarded fifty points to Gryffindor for her valor. He had not received any visits from her or Draco since the incident. He believed in the sentiment that no news was good news.

Time passed by quickly and soon Potter was in his classroom with boxes of old files waiting to be transcribed. "Mr. Filch has been looking for someone to clear out these old files. They are records of other Hogwarts wrongdoers and their punishments. Where the ink has grown faint, or the cards have suffered damage from mice, we would like you to copy out the crimes and punishments afresh and, making sure they are in alphabetical order, replace them in the boxes. You will not use magic." Severus then directed the boy to start with the boxes which contained the offenses committed by one James Potter and his gaggle of groupies. It seemed to be the most fitting punishment. Potter needed to learn that one could not go around and act without learning that his actions have consequences for others. He would see the impact his father made on Hogwarts.

Severus had every intention to stay silent for the duration of the detention, but hours later as he watched the mass of black and red retreating towards the exit, he couldn't help but call out. "Potter."

Freezing in his tracks but not turning around, he called back, "Yes, Professor?"

"It is extremely fortunate that Miss Granger was not more fatally wounded."

There was a moment before the young man responded. "I agree, sir."

He couldn't get enough of the sensation of her skin under his. He had been tracing patterns on the back of her hand long enough for his leg to fall asleep because of their positions on the couch. He was only vaguely aware of it, though, completely enthralled by the softness of her skin and fresh, sweet scent. After the bathroom incident, he found himself growing anxious whenever he spent more than an hour or two away from her. He found himself waking up in the middle of the night and sending messages to her necklace so he could check on her. Each of them falling asleep with the pendant and watch, respectively, was a habit they had developed.

"Draco?"

"Hmmm?"

"I have to go now," she reminded, making no move to leave.

He leaned in so he could whisper into her ear. "That's the worst news I've gotten all day."

"I told you I needed to help Ginny study for her O.W.L.s. She's completely brilliant, but her new relationship with Harry has been very distracting. She needs a study partner. I'll come back in a few hours to check in."

He reluctantly agreed to her proposal, knowing he was extremely close to repairing the cabinet. He had lost two days while she was injured. Not that he would change his decision if he could. He moved his hand up her neck and weaved his fingers into her hair. "That is an outrageous amount of time to be without you."

"I suppose I should leave you something to help remember me." The witch leaned into him and swept him into a sweet, slow kiss. She tangled her hands into his hair. Several moments passed before they broke apart. "Hopefully that will prevent you from forgetting me," she said teasingly.

"Nothing about you is forgettable."

He sighed as she rose to collect her belongings. He fingered the pocket watch in his trousers. Perhaps he would check in at the hour mark.

Draco lost track of time as he began working on the cabinet. He hadn't realized that two hours had elapsed before he let out a triumphant cry. Prior to that, he also had not registered the door opening until he heard a voice which was definitely not Hermione's ask who was there. Moving quickly, he located Professor Trewlaney. Thinking quickly, the young wizard stunned the professor then forced her out the door with a knockback jinx. He waited, but she did not try to come back in.

He quickly made his way back to the cabinet where he found a note written by his Aunt Bellatrix. It congratulated him for repairing the cabinet and informed him the Deatheaters would be dispatching within the hour.

It was then that the weight of what he had done dawned on Draco. The Deatheaters knew the cabinet was working. They would come to Hogwarts. He had yet to kill Dumbledore. He had never told Hermione that he had been given the task to kill Dumbledore. He had planned to tell her...

He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do. He hadn't planned to signal the Deatheaters immediately. He had just been so focused on his progress.

Draco did not realize how long he had been lost in thought, nor did he realize he had been fingering his watch, until he felt gentle warmth against his hand.

"Did you repair the cabinet?"

Draco's heart was pounding, unsure of what he should tell her.

A few moments later another message came in, "Harry said you did."

He did not know the circumstances under which Potter would have come across this pivotal information. All he knew was he couldn't allow her to come here when a handful of Deatheaters could come through the cabinet at any moment.

He finally wrote back.

Ginny had run up to her dormitory to grab another book, leaving Hermione and Ron chatting in the Common Room when Harry stormed in. After rushing to his upstairs and charging back down, Harry rushed to explain that he was going to go locate a horcrux with Dumbledore and that "Malfoy" was going to make his move tonight. When Hermione tried to reason with him, he simply talked over her and explained how Professor Trelawney somehow heard that Draco had succeeded. While Hermione grabbed onto her pendant and sent a message to Draco as Harry thrust the remainder of the Felicis Felix into Ron's hands, demanding that Ron, Ginny, and herself use the rest. Harry demanded that Hermione inform everyone to use their enchanted Galleons and warn them. Hermione rushed up to grab hers, sending Draco a second message as she ran up the stairs.

Harry was gone by the time Hermione made it back down to the Common Room. In his place was Ron trying to explain frantically to Ginny and Neville what Harry had explained. Feeling the heat against her chest, Hermione checked her pendent for the message.

"Lake. 15 min."

Hermione glanced at her watch and made note of the time. She joined the group, quickly delegating D.A. member roundup and patrol. "I have to go. I have my Galleon. Give Neville my share of the Felix."

"But Hermione!" Neville yelled in protest.

She started for the portrait door before anyone could stop her. "Take it! I'll be all right!"

Their usual spot was empty when she arrived five minutes later, putting her at eight minutes from when she received Draco's message. She searched in every direction, hoping he would show up early.

When it reached minute fourteen and there was no sign of Draco, she sent Draco a message. "Where are you?"

Sixteen minutes. "Are you ok?"

"Yes." It was only a matter of seconds between her message and his response.

She tried again, "Where are you?"

Nothing.

Eighteen minutes. "Draco?"

Twenty minutes. "Please."

She realized he had no intention of meeting her. Tears began to form in her eyes. She bolted back towards the castle. She had to find Snape - he should know where Draco was. She decided to check his office first. She could feel a stitch forming in her side as she turned down the hallway. She burst through into his office. "Professor!" she heard her voice crack and could feel the tears against her face. "Do you know where Draco is?"

He had been moving toward the door when she burst in and was taken aback. "I don't know where he is. But I know the Deatheaters will be here any moment."

The witch heard a strangled cry escape from her. Her Galleon began to heat up. "Dark Mark. Astronomy Tower."

She gasped, knowing that was where Draco would be. "I know where he is!"

Pivoting, she practically leapt toward the door.

"Miss Granger, wait. There's something you need ton know."

A/N: Hello, my loves. I know it's been forever and a day. I apologize. Big things going down in Arizona.

As you can probably tell, things are coming to a close. I plan to have one more chapter completing the rest of The Half-Blood Prince. That will be posted by June 1st. Our school year concludes May 24th, and I go out of town for three days immediately after, so I believe June 1st is the closest date I can stick to.

Thank you all for sticking with me throughout this journey! Hopefully the next and final chapter will be worth the wait. I love and appreciate you all! 3