Hermione shrieked with laughter as she ran across the lawn from Theo and Draco, Pansy already having disappeared into the maze ahead of her.
"I don't have to be fast, I just have to be faster than you." The girl had cooed before they took off. Pansy even kicking off her shoes to run barefoot through the grass.
The boys had what looked to be enchanted water balls that doused the target head to toe in ice cold water on impact. Courtesy of Lucius Malfoy who'd conjured them as he took a turn through the gardens with his wife, wisely going the opposite direction of the children.
Hermione had spent at least two days a week at the manor since summer started, often more than that if Pansy wanted to meet there instead of staying at the Parkinson Estate.
Draco and Pansy had even come over to her house several times, Pansy fascinated with muggle make up while Draco had discovered a love of tinkering with things, courtesy of Hermione's father.
So it was easy to accept when the Malfoys offered to take her school shopping, especially since Uncle Hector was currently holed up in his lab, insisting he was about to have a breakthrough.
She walked down the cobblestone street with Draco, having taken his usual offered arm as his mother insisted on such things when out in public.
They got all their new school items, leaving the books for last since it was such an extensive list this year. They stopped at the ice cream parlor before heading towards Flourish and Blotts, which is where her happy day went downhill.
They were ignoring the book signing going on, Narcissa having leaned down to whisper, "He's lovely yes, but a fraud. Pawning other accomplishments as his own."
Hermione's crush had been instantly squashed, nothing being more unattractive than lacking in integrity or a real work ethic.
She was showing Narcissa the extra book list her uncle had sent with her, looking sheepish when Narcissa raised a brow at some of the titles.
"Hermione my dear, some of these are very advanced texts."
"Yes ma'am, but Uncle says knowledge is power and as long as I'm not trying to apply the knowledge right now, just reading can't hurt." Hermione mumbled, making Narcissa laugh.
"I suppose as long as your uncle knows about these, I don't mind getting them for you. Why don't you-"
Their heads snapped around at the sound of a ruckus and Narcissa looked horrified to see her husband physically fighting with another man. Draco was nearby and that seemed to jolt Narcissa into action.
The blonde woman began striding over with Hermione following close behind, Hermione startling to find Ron and Harry there along with a young redheaded girl covered in freckles. She vaguely remembered Ron mentioning a younger sister.
Hagrid was here for whatever reason and jerked the two apart. She finally got a look at the other man and was left with an unsettled feeling that this was Ron's father.
Two ministry workers brawling in the middle of a shop like a couple of school boys. It was like looking into Draco and Ron's future.
Narcissa dragged Lucius out to speak, Draco following behind, while the boys finally seemed to realize Hermione was there.
Ron awkwardly introduced her to his mother and father, while also letting her meet his final sibling, Ginny.
She exchanged pleasantries rather stiffly, trying to keep an eye out for the Malfoys who had yet to come back in.
"Miss Hermione, you are free to join us for a spot of lunch at the Leaky Cauldron." Mr. Weasley smiled kindly at her, "Your parents as well!"
Harry and Ron nodded happily when she spotted Draco storming back in and catching sight of her. She was very proud he managed to wipe away his sneer by the time he made it over to her.
"Actually Mr. Weasley I'm here with my friend and his parents." She told the man politely, noting an odd look crossing his face when she started to walk over to Draco, just as Narcissa stepped in and called their names.
"See you on the train Harry! Ron! It was nice to meet you Ginny!" She called, walking with Draco towards his mother.
Narcissa fussed over the two of them, apologizing profusely to Hermione for the scene, "I'll order your books to be delivered to the manor tonight dear. I think it's best if we head home now."
Hermione nodded and Draco relaxed slightly when she took his offered arm and walked out of the store. She tried very hard to ignore the dagger-like stares aimed at her back.
Harry didn't want to upset anyone, but he frowned when Ginny asked why he was friends with someone like Hermione.
Ron muttered that he was questioning that himself right now.
Harry didn't like that, but he also didn't know what to say that wouldn't come out extremely rude.
Hermione had lots of friends so she didn't have to be his or Ron's, but she was.
They'd both been downright nasty to her at the start, but she'd repaired his glasses and offered to help them study.
They'd gotten her inadvertently trapped in a bathroom with a giant troll and could have rightfully told on them, but she'd lied instead.
She didn't have to follow him to illegally smuggle a dragon out of Hogwarts. But she had.
She didn't have to face off against black tentacles plants, but she'd done it.
She didn't have to almost get brutally murdered by giant chess pieces, but there she'd been.
She didn't have to follow him quite literally through a wall of fire and riddle out a potions quiz that could have poisoned them, but she'd done that too.
So what if she was friends with Malfoy too. Maybe some of her kindness and goodness would rub off on the pointy-faced git.
Where the Weasley's saw a traitor, Harry saw someone who was loyal. Even when it made others upset with her. So staying silent just wasn't an option.
"Hermione is one of my best mates." He told her coldly, making Ron glance his way in shock while Arthur Weasley regarded him with surprise.
"Of course my boy, Ginny meant no harm. Just running off high tempers at the moment. Runs in a family of redheads you know." Arthur told him, smiling kindly and Harry relaxed slightly.
"We should invite her over so you all can catch up!" Molly offered, gathering all the children like errant chicks to usher them towards the Leaky Cauldron.
"We'd like that, wouldn't we Ron?" Harry stared at his other best friend, who sighed before voicing his agreement.
"Were you really going to go over to their house?" Theo asked Hermione from his seat across from her.
"No there wasn't time. I probably wouldn't have even if there was time, but it was Harry that owled." The girl replied, making Draco's lip curl in disdain.
Hermione caught it and glared at him, "Squabbles between your families over the ministry or whatever it is are no concern of mine. Harry is my friend and I'm not going to pick between you."
"Yes, yes, Granger. You've already given me the spiel when we got back to the manor." Draco waved her off, then smirked, "But you did choose to sit with me and not them."
"Did I?" She challenged, smirking back and making his own falter slightly. He narrowed his eyes and she just smiled innocently before returning to braiding Pansy's long hair.
She and Blaise sat on the floor playing wizard's chess from a small portable set Blaise had brought.
"She said she wasn't picking between you and Harry." Pansy mused as she moved a pawn. "She didn't include me in that. I'm her best friend so I always get picked first before any of you. Hence why she's sitting here. With me."
"Exactly." Hermione nodded firmly, leaning over to squeeze Pansy's head affectionately.
"How come she gets the title of best friend? I met you first!" Draco protested.
"Ah, but she gave me jewelry. So I win." Pansy snarked, holding up her wrist where a glowing charm sparkled. The two girls never took them off.
Draco muttered dramatically, but was secretly pleased.
Pansy was one of his oldest friends and she was so happy to have a close girl friend. Draco and Theo were thankful too. No more talking about boys and clothes, thank Merlin.
Hermione spent the first part of her return to Hogwarts happily bouncing from one pack of friends to the other, keeping Draco and Ron as far away from each other as possible.
She had thought Ginny would end up being a friend, but the girl had went from hot to cold, seeming to withdraw the further they got into the year. She still tried to talk to her every now and then, but had little to no success. Even the twins were starting to get concerned and thanked Hermione for continuing to try.
Things came to a head when Draco excitedly told her he'd gotten the seeker position on the Slytherin team. His father had bought the team all new brooms to celebrate. Set to arrive the following week just in time for his first training session.
Hermione didn't tell Harry or Ron this, not seeing it as any of their business frankly. They'd made it clear their stance on Draco Malfoy and vice versa.
So when it imploded at the practice, she sighed, Pansy and Theo following behind as she hurried to the arguing quidditch players.
"No one on the Gryffindor team had their daddy buy their way in. It's actual talent." Ron sneered at Malfoy.
"Ronald!" Hermione snapped, arriving at the pitch, "That's unnecessary and completely untrue."
"Oh come off it Hermione. You don't have to defend him. The Malfoys are known for their hatred of people like you." Ron hissed back, the venom in his voice making her take a step back before her temper caught up.
"People like me? What's that supposed to mean?" She spat. Ron turned red and she noted Draco take a step forward, his eyes intent on Ron. More students from both sides had joined at this point, tempers flaring and Hermione was vaguely wondering if she was about to see Flourish and Blotts round two, this time everyone joins.
"He means a filthy little mudblood!" Someone called from the Slytherin side of the pack, causing Draco to whip around and demand to know who said it. No one spoke and she'd never seen her friend so furious.
While his back was turned, the Gryffindors took it as an opportunity to pounce, and soon both sides were in an all out brawl.
Theo wouldn't let Hermione intervene, but she wasn't exactly trying to step in this time. Pansy took her hand gently, while Hermione stood as if frozen.
She was able to piece together that it wasn't a good word, but she was distracted by Ron whipping out his wand and casting a hex. Decent wand work, but it was wasted when he went shooting backwards instead of his intended target, which had been Draco.
Harry and one of the twins were pulling Ron to his feet while the Slytherin team laughed at the large slimy slugs spilling from his lips. They started hauling him towards Hagrid's hut, Harry glancing back to her. Hermione didn't move to follow them.
Hermione's stomach turned when she stared at the slug squirming on the ground, but when she tore her eyes away from it she noticed Draco wasn't laughing. He was approaching her slowly, grabbing her free hand and squeezing gently.
"I don't think that about you. My mother doesn't think that. My father doesn't think that." He told her quietly, sincerity in his eyes.
"I don't think it either. Neither does my mother nor my father." Pansy whispered softly.
"I don't think it." Theo told her, but blunt as always he added, "But my father does."
Draco scowled at his friend, but Hermione was grateful for the honesty from the tall boy. Hermione squeezed her friends hands and then asked Theo if he'd like to take a walk with her while the quidditch team got things sorted.
Pansy insisted on coming along, but Draco didn't let go of Hermione's hand until she hugged him and assured him everything was alright. She just needed to get her bearings.
They walked for a bit in silence, Pansy still holding onto her when she finally asked, "Your father?"
Theo's jaw clenched, but Theo never lied to her. It was one of his most grating and endearing qualities. On bad hair days, she tended to avoid him as much as possible because of this tendency.
"There are purebloods who would think less of you, who would think the worst of you, for having non-magical parents Hermione. That is the world we live in." Theo shrugged, "The Malfoys have been part of that pureblood scene for generations, but they adore you. Sometimes people can change, it just takes the right push."
Pansy remained quiet, simply acting as a supporting presence. Hermione pondered over his words, but he kept speaking after only a moment of pause.
"However," Theo continued with rage finally seeping into his voice, "Despite what the Weasel or others might imply, you are not a muggleborn. You can trace your family lineage back to the Dagworths, even though the past generations are squibs. You're a half-blood at worst. No different than Potter. I don't see the Weasel saying things like that to him however."
She nodded, letting him chuck her under the chin. She had another question however, "Mudblood?"
It was Pansy who answered this time, "It's a slur. I'm surprised anyone has the gall to use it these days. Even the worst of the pureblood families would never say it in public."
"Exactly. My father is one of those bad ones, but he knows that kind of language would draw the wrong attention. I don't know who said it, but notice that they didn't say it again, did they?" Theo wrapped an arm around Hermione's shoulder, "Just promise me you won't punish Draco for something he didn't do. He's a pompous prat, but he would have fought even Marcus Flint over you. Definitely would have been pummeled, but he would have tried."
Hermione laughed, "I don't blame Draco at all. I just needed some answers, and he probably wouldn't have been so honest about it."
Theo smiled at the inadvertent compliment, turning them back around to go wait for Draco's practice to end.
Hermione didn't go check on Ron.
He didn't say the word, but he'd implied it well enough. It was almost worse that way. He was supposed to be her friend.
Draco shoved through the crowd to stare at the scene before him. He felt Theo and Pansy push into him before they too came to a dead stop.
The hall was flooded, the caretaker's cat was hanging upside down in a grotesque manner, while fresh blood slowly dripped down the wall.
Across the large puddle of water that covered the floor, was Hermione Granger, staring wide eyed at the message written in red.
Harry Potter had an arm around her shoulders while Weasley was swallowing thickly on the other side of Potter.
The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir…Beware.
A voice from the third side of the puddle called out, "You'll be next mudbloods!"
Draco looked into the crowd, but once again couldn't see who'd said it. This time it had been a girl's voice, not a boy's like on the quidditch pitch.
Draco looked back at Hermione feeling helpless. He wanted to go to her, as did Pansy clearly by the way she was shuffling about, but the teachers had arrived and were staring at the wall with expressions ranging from grim surprise to outright shock.
Filch was accusing Potter of all people, as if the boy had the magical ability to petrify a fly, let alone a cat.
They were ordered back to their dormitories, but try as they might they couldn't catch Hermione's eye. She just stared at the wall, even turning her head to look back as Neville Longbottom stepped in to lead her away.
They all filed into the dorm Draco shared with Theo, Blaise, Greg, and Vincent. Pansy was the only one that didn't have a bed to lay on, so she sprawled across Theo's.
"So it's been opened, but by who." Theo wondered aloud.
"I'm not sure. My father told me that the Dark Lord was the last of Slytherin's line. Unless he's hiding under someone's robes after being gone for over a decade, I doubt it's him." Draco replied, not enjoying this feeling of uselessness.
"Did you see her face?" Pansy whispered. Draco and Theo turned in unison to see their friend looking distraught. Theo went to sit with her and smoothed her hair down.
"She's a tough witch. We will check on her first thing in the morning Pans." Theo assured the dark haired girl.
"She's not though, not in the right way." Pansy cried, "I mean she is. She could hex circles around anyone of us, but she's not like we are. Hermione is soft inside, Theo."
"I know Pans." Theo said softly, "Do we really think Potter did it?"
Draco shook his head, "No. Potter is more goody good than Granger. I don't know who it could be."
"Reckon Granger is going to be targeted? She's a muggle isn't she?" Greg asked, making Draco cock his head slightly and study the boy.
Had Goyle been on the Quidditch pitch that day? He wished he could remember, but his temper and a fist to the face had seemed to dull his recollections of the finer details of the fight.
"She shouldn't be. She's related to the Dagworths, last of the line if I remember right. Other than her great uncle and I don't see him popping out any sprogs given his age." Theo replied in that soft easy voice he often got when he was angry.
Theo must have picked up the same line of thinking as Draco.
Greg shrugged seeming oblivious to the way the two boys were watching him, "I dunno any Dagworths, but the family tree lines have always been a jumble to me. I'll take your word for it."
"Nothing we can do until morning anyway. Let's try to get some sleep." Blaise announced, not even bothering to usher Pansy out of the room. The girl would only go when Snape came to activate the anti-fraternization wards.
Hermione was smothered in Slytherins when she walked into breakfast. She assured them she was fine and would meet them at the doors to go to class.
The boys went grumbling back to their table, but Pansy was having none of it. She stuck her nose in the air and simply slid into the seat beside Hermione, loading up a plate and ignoring the stares from the Gryffindors.
"Are you alright? We tried to get to you, but we couldn't get around the puddle." Pansy asked under her breath, then snapped her head to look at the spectators. She snarled, "Find Creevey, he can snap a photo for you and then you can all piss off."
Hermione snorted, but ignored the stares, whispering quietly with Pansy until Harry Potter slid into the seat across from them.
He raised a brow, only visible because his unruly hair was standing up horribly this morning.
"Morning Potter. Come to leer or begging to borrow a hairbrush?" Pansy asked with false sugar in her voice.
"No. Just wondering if you'd pass the marmalade." Harry said easily, holding out a hand expectantly.
Hermione bit her cheek to keep from laughing at the venom leaking out of Pansy as she handed Harry the jar with a less than enthusiastic glare.
"Did you finish your potions homework Pansy?" Hermione asked to change the subject, laughing when both Pansy and Harry groaned.
"I forgot during all the madness last night." Pansy whined, turning large blue eyes on Hermione in desperation.
"Oh alright. Go get it and I'll help you. Same with you Harry."
Harry pumped a fist into the air, digging into his bag while Pansy rushed across the hall to grab her bag, ignoring the boys who were pouting at the Slytherin table.
She brought it back and Hermione was reviewing with them when Neville came in. He smiled a little nervously, but he sat beside Harry and slowly pulled out his potions essay with a hesitant look at Hermione.
She grinned and nodded. Ron openly stared in confusion when he finally arrived, just as they were wrapping things up.
Pansy stiffened again, that haughty posh look back on her face. Hermione hated it when she did that. When any of them did the aristocratic thing. The expression made Pansy's face look pinched and took away from her pretty features. The boys all went blank and expressionless, as if they were flat statues instead of humans with emotion.
"Come on Pans, let's see if we can get sweet talk the boys into carrying our bags to class." Hermione grinned, making Pansy smile slightly as they got up.
Pansy didn't relax until they'd made it to the doors. When Blaise made it to them first, Pansy shoved her bag into his arms.
"I'm exhausted from being a spectacle. Be a good boy and carry this." She patted his dumbfounded cheek and sauntered out into the hall.
"Oi! Pansy!" Blaise hollered hotly, going after her, but still carrying the bag. Hermione was laughing so hard she barely noticed when Draco snagged her bag from her and started walking, Theo dragging her along with them even as she giggled.
When Harry and Ron had approached her with the idea to infiltrate the Slytherin common room to find out what they knew, she'd told them absolutely not.
Draco or Pansy would have told her if someone there was behind anything. Ron scoffed at this, but Harry had slightly more tact.
"That's the thing, they all know Draco and Pansy are friends with you. They wouldn't say it around them."
"And they won't say it to Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley either." She snapped, stalking off towards the library.
She was settling back down, reading peacefully when Draco and Theo pounced on her. She jumped at their sudden appearance, glaring at them when they smirked over her flinch.
"Granger, we have something to ask you." Draco whispered, she turned to give the two a questioning look.
"We think we need to infiltrate the Slytherin common room." Theo announced quietly.
Hermione just stared at them for a long moment before speaking slowly, like they were stupid, "You are part of Slytherin. I don't know how you weren't aware."
"Obviously Granger. We can't be us though, we'd need to be someone else. They won't talk to us if anything is going on. They know we'd tell you."
Hermione felt like she was being pranked. She looked around wildly, going as far to check behind nearby bookshelves.
"Hermione?" Theo questioned her and she realized she probably looked a bit dotty searching for Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.
"What exactly is your plan here?" She asked slowly, not sure if she liked the glimmer in their eyes.
"This is mad." The curly haired witch groaned. "When I said I wanted you all to get along I did not mean like this."
Draco smirked, but made a show of patting Hermione's curls in sympathy. He loved how soft the brown spirals were even if he'd never tell her that.
"It's brilliant. This way we for sure won't get caught." Theo insisted. "They will be us, and we will be two other Slytherins."
"Who drew the short straw of being Millicent Bulstrode?" Hermione asked and Theo grimaced before a cheeky grin passed over his face.
"Boobs are boobs even if they belong to Bulstrode the Brutal." He reasoned, making Draco laugh as Hermione scrunched her nose at them.
"Ok let's pretend this works. Why wouldn't you all just stay as yourselves and then let those two be Millicent and Crabbe?" She gestured at Ron and Harry.
"No offense, but they wouldn't know how to properly manipulate the other Slytherins to get the information." Theo reasoned, sounding like he meant full offense.
"Then let's circle back to 'we are in way over our heads'! This potion will take a month to brew and it's the most complex potion I've ever seen. They don't even learn this until seventh year." Hermione was chewing on her lip as she flipped through her copy of Most Potente Potions, procured by Draco's own mother. He shuddered at the thought of her finding out about this.
"If anyone can do it it's you Granger. You're brilliant at potions. Runs in the family if I recall." Draco grinned as she wrinkled her nose once more.
"I appreciate the faith, but I'm only thirteen." Hermione was back to gnawing at her lip.
"Exactly. You're an old woman compared to the rest of us. So you're the best one to do it." Theo insisted. Draco noted that Theo was conveniently not bringing up that his birthday had been last week making him the same age as Hermione.
"Hermione half the muggleborns in the school could be dead by the time you decide!" Ron snapped. Draco frowned, not liking his tone. Hermione seemed to falter in her stance though, so it worked.
"Alright. I'll try, but no promises you all won't end up in the hospital wing. I know a place we can brew." She mumbled, Draco letting out a sigh of relief when her eyes began quickly focusing and skimming the pages. They had her. "Where are we going to get these ingredients?"
"We will distract, you're going to take the invisibility cloak and grab it from Snape's stores." Theo told her as if it was obvious.
Hermione went pale, but nodded slowly. Draco threw an arm around her waist, Theo doing the same on her other side with his arm over her shoulder.
"You've got this Granger. I'd bet all the Malfoy galleons on you." Draco promised, not noticing the way Harry's green eyes studied them for a long pause while Ron was looking towards the ceiling trying not to snap.
"Throw in the Nott vaults as well!" Theo chortled.
"I want all the sugar quills mister." Hermione jabbed him in the chest and Draco offered his hand to shake on it.
Notes:
I'm trying to make sure I don't leave anything out, but with having to rework so much canon I feel like I'm overwriting this sometimes.
My last fic was a bit easier in that regard.
Anyways, til next time.
Chapter 5: Basilisks and Brilliance
Summary:
Goes to the end of term.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Three times clockwise, five times counter clockwise, and then add the lacewing flies.
She chanted the steps in her head as she sat in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, Draco sitting quite close to her side as if she could keep the flirtatious ghost from batting her lashes at him.
Pansy didn't mind the spectral spectator, flipping through a Witch Weekly magazine while Myrtle hovered above Pansy's head and looked at the pictures.
The ghost took periodic breaks from the magazine to snap her teeth playfully at Draco, who at this point was all but in Hermione's lap.
"You should feel flattered Draco. She thinks you're pretty." Pansy teased when Myrtle took a dive into a nearby toilet pipe, "She doesn't do that to the Weasel."
"I'm so happy that a dead girl can spot my obvious superiority to Weasley. Truly." Draco deadpanned, finally giving Hermione a little space to continue brewing.
She hissed in excitement when the potion turned the color of liquid copper. Draco peered over her shoulder and Pansy put down her magazine to wander over.
"Three days of simmering at low heat and it will be done." Hermione announced, feeling almost delirious from the stress of brewing for the past month.
"I knew you could do it Granger. Let Potter and Weasel know, and we will tell Theo."
Hermione nodded, then got up and stretched, cracking her back as she pushed her hands up.
"After this I refuse to brew in anything, but a proper lab." She insisted, making Pansy chuckle.
"I'll remember that next time I need someone to brew me something highly illegal." Draco quipped.
Hermione nodded as if that settled things and then stared at the potion for a moment, crestfallen.
"What's wrong?" Pansy asked, pausing in getting her things together to leave.
"I'm a second year student. I brewed a potion that full grown wizards bollocks up. I brewed this at the age of thirteen."
"Yes? You should be very proud?" Draco agreed slowly, not understanding.
"I am. Except I can't tell anyone I did it."
Pansy started laughing and Draco joined her, Hermione glaring at the two while she waited for their fit of giggles to cease, hands on her hips and a hair away from tapping her toe.
"How very Slytherin of you, Hermione." Pansy chortled. Hermione mussed Pansy's hair in retaliation and stomped out the door, hearing the two hyenas as they began cackling again.
Pansy watched the boys staring at each other. Hermione was at her side, trying her best not to laugh.
Ron-Draco was scowling, insisting that he was supposed to have been Theo. That Draco was short and too angular.
Harry-Theo was looking around wildly delighted, and it took Pansy a moment to realize it was because he was excited to be tall for once.
Theo-Millicent was poking himself in the chest, with one finger just like he had when they were kids at the beach. He'd found a washed up jellyfish and poked it the exact same way.
Draco-Crabbe was looking sullen, insisting that he didn't like how Ron moved. It wasn't suave enough to convey a true Draco Malfoy.
Pansy rolled her eyes, "Oi! Dumb, Dumber, Dumbest, and Stupid. You have only one hour until this wears off. So hurry up and let's find out what we can."
She started to walk out then pouted, "Hermione if you have stolen someone hairs you could have had a girl's night with me."
"I'll come visit you over the holidays or you can stay with me. Someone has to keep an eye on our two victims, but they shouldn't budge for three hours at the very least."
Pansy accepted the promise and led the boys to the Slytherin dormitory, smiling back at her four shadows, "Showtime."
Theo thought having boobs was the worst thing ever, especially since apparently they were the last thing to go when transforming back into a boy.
Running down the hall while avoiding teachers and other students so he wouldn't have to explain why he was wearing a skirt made it all the worse when his dangly bits decided to come back faster than his flat chest.
Draco was behind him, irritated, but holding it together. Theo wanted to talk to him to decide what they were going to tell Hermione, but now was just not the time.
They made it into the bathroom before their transformations finished, slamming the door and causing Hermione to burst into giggles at the sight of Theo's scrawny body in a barely held up skirt.
"Shut it." He snapped, making her laugh even harder. His lips were twitching when he looked over to see Draco practically drowning in Crabbe's clothes.
"Where are Potter and Weasley?" Theo asked and Hermione gestures towards the stalls in the back of the bathroom. Taking that silent hint, they hurriedly ducked into nearby stalls to change back into their regular clothes so the Gryffindor boys wouldn't see them in these outfits.
"So did you learn anything?" Pansy asked as she entered the bathroom five minutes later. "Other than how not to fondle a breast of course."
Theo stuck his tongue out at her and made a rude gesture that she responded to with a kiss blown his way.
"No idea on who the heir is. No one in Slytherin seems aware." Draco said carefully.
Hermione's eyes dulled slightly, "But you know who is saying things about muggleborns."
"Yes. It's a few upperclassmen. I'll be sending their names through to my mother that way she can handle things accordingly."
"Is she going to kill them?" Ron yelped, looking stricken. Theo supposed his mummy and daddy filled his empty skull with horror stories about Draco's parents.
Draco scoffed at the same time as Theo, before he shrugged his shoulders, "Of course not. She will just bar them from society, dismantling them socially while father destroys their financial standing to leave them dirt poor and unable to crawl back out. The usual."
Hermione winced, "Perhaps we don't need to tell Narcissa then."
"Yes we do Granger. You don't want these people in power anyway." Draco insisted, "Besides, mother will be especially vicious knowing it was against you."
Pansy smiled, "Mother says watching Narcissa slice away at someone's social standing it like watching a master artist paint."
Theo grinned wickedly, "The Fawley's never did recover after their son shoved us both off our brooms."
"Your mother is too kind to me." Hermione's lip trembled, apparently not hearing anything other than Narcissa's fondness for her.
Harry and Ron were looking at them like they'd all gone mental.
"Maybe death would be better?" Theo heard Ron whisper.
"More humane definitely." Harry muttered back.
Pansy stepped into library and glanced down at her bracelet. No glow.
She sighed with frustration. Hermione was nowhere to be found. The bracelet wasn't glowing near their common room, the great hall, any of the usual hiding spots, and now not even the library.
She was about to go back to the common room when she saw Snape and McGonagall leading Hermione's two friend groups her way.
"Miss Parkinson, I'm glad we found you. Please follow us." McGonagall told her softly, and Pansy felt her heart drop. The woman had never been a soft touch, so why would she start now unless something terrible had happened.
Pansy gripped Theo and Draco's hands in hers as they approached the hospital wing. She realized she was slowly shaking her head, and when they stopped beside the door, she didn't even listen to McGonagall.
She just glanced down to see her bracelet glowing faintly. The little golden sun blurred as tears filled her eyes.
She looked up to see Draco staring at the sunshine charm too, his gaze hollow and his jaw clenched.
McGonagall was going to let them in three at a time, when Harry Potter stopped her and whispered something through his tears.
"That is very kind of you Potter." The Professor told him gently. "Miss Parkinson, Mr. Potter has insisted you be allowed to go in and stay in while we do the rest two by two."
Pansy let out a ragged breath, refusing to let so many people see her crying. She stepped forward, whispering a thank you to Potter and hoping he heard it before she shoved through the doors.
McGonagall led her to a bed at the far end of the room, pulling back the curtain to reveal Hermione, staring blankly up at the ceiling.
She looked as if she had been in motion, perhaps walking and she had her hand held up as if she'd been holding her wand.
Her skin looked like it had been sucked of color, tinged grey and none of the usual warmth and vibrancy. Her large eyes were too dark to be considered alive. They were dull and flat, none of the sparkle as Draco liked to prattle on about.
The stupid boy was going to be devastated. He was all, but waxing poetry about her just the other night and now she lay here still as a statue. As a corpse.
Pansy shuddered out a breath, waving her wand to cast a silencing charm as she put her head into her hands and just sobbed.
Mother
It's…I don't know what..she's been…I need you please. My mail hasn't been coming through if I say certain things. I hope this time it does…
-Draco
Narcissa Malfoy stormed out of the room. She flung open her the door to her husband's study and tossed the note onto his desk. She braced her hands on his desk and leaned in to watch his face intently.
"What have you done, Lucius Malfoy?" She hissed, her voice frigid.
Lucius looked confused, then picked up the missive and managed to lose more color from his pale complexion.
"Merlin, I didn't…" He put his head in his hands. "I meant to pass it off to the Weasley household. I didn't think the girl would take it to school."
Narcissa slowly straightened and without another word, she left the room.
"Plippin." She called as she wrote two quick messages. Her personal house elf appeared instantly. "My traveling cloak."
"Mistress." The little creature bowed, disappearing once more with the cloak and to await further instructions.
"Take this to Hector Dagworth-Granger immediately. Once that's finished, take this letter to Cornelius Fudge." She told the female elf, putting on her cloak and going to the fireplace.
Plippin disappeared with a snap.
"Narcissa, where are you going?" Lucius demanded as he hurried into the drawing room. Narcissa barely glanced his way, "My children need me. You will see to it that things are amended, Lucius. Cornelius will be waiting with the governors."
She grabbed the floo powder and dropped it as she called out, "Hogsmeade Village, Three Broomsticks Inn."
Albus Dumbledore might have been able to hold off against Narcissa Malfoy on technical grounds, she was neither relative nor guardian to any of the injured children. Not that she cared as she continued arguing with the man while Severus pursed his lips behind the decrepit headmaster.
He couldn't however block Hector Dagworth-Granger when he arrived at the gate the the school, demanding he be admitted to see to his niece.
The man had glanced only once at Narcissa upon arriving and added, "Mrs. Malfoy is with me."
She sneered at both Dumbledore and Snape as she followed Hector up the walk and towards the school.
When they made it into the infirmary, they both immediately went to Hermione's bedside. McGonagall had joined the other two professors in following them.
Narcissa pressed her fingers to her mouth, knowing Draco must be devastated. The life had been sucked from Hermione, all signs of the happy girl having faded away.
Hector was practically shaking, "Why was I not notified of this immediately?"
Dumbledore came to stand beside them, "No one has been notified, we are handling it and I assure you Miss Granger is quite safe and alive. I'm must confess, I am interested to know how you discovered it before any notice was sent out."
"Mrs. Malfoy informed me." Hector snapped, his warm eyes cold in a way Narcissa had never seen. "How long has she been petrified?"
Narcissa estimated several days, but couldn't hold in the hiss of outrage when Dumbledore informed them that Hermione's attack had taken place on January 15th.
It was the middle of April. Draco hadn't been able to reach out to her for three months. Her baby has been trapped in a school with some manner of beast for three months while his best friend lay in a hospital bed.
She would slaughter them all for this. Snape was at the top of the list. He was Draco's godfather and had allowed such backwards policies to continue.
"Have any of the other children's parents been informed?" Hector asked through gritted teeth. His hands were shaking where he gripped the metal bedframe.
"The children are all muggleborn. We are working on a cure and felt it might be best not to panic their parents. As you know, muggles wouldn't be able to come see their children even if they knew." Albus replied gently, putting a hand on Hector's shoulder which was immediately slapped off.
Narcissa wondered if Dumbledore realized what a grave error he'd made today. Hector was a respected figure in society. He had always given Dumbledore his ear and his public support. Narcissa firmly believed that such support was now a thing of the past.
"She will be transferred to St. Mungo's immediately." Hector ordered in a voice cold with rage, "Do you at least know how she was petrified or are you grasping at straws and hoping whatever potion you pour down their throats will work."
"Mr. Granger there is no need for this. Madam Pomfrey is fully qualified and-" McGonagall began, but was cut off.
"Madam Pomfrey is not the concern. The headmaster is. As her magical guardian, entrusted to be so by her parents, I am ordering you. You will transfer my niece to St. Mungo's immediately."
"Hector please see reason, we need not be rash."
"The only way I will withdraw my request is if you are gone from this school." Hector snapped, making Madam Pomfrey and the two professors who lingered in the room gasp.
Albus looked sad, but shook his head, "I must stay to protect the students Hector. I shall not resign."
"A bloody bang up job you've done with protecting students Dumbledore." Hector bellowed, "Transfer her immediately, or I will take this to the ministry."
"That's unnecessary Hector." Narcissa spoke up for the first time. "I have already written to Cornelius out of concern for Hermione."
"Concern for Hermione Granger?" McGonagall scoffed.
"I wasn't aware there was anything amusing about this situation, Minerva." Narcissa stared at her without blinking for several heartbeats. The woman kept her head up, but flicked her eyes away. Too easy.
Dumbledore watched all of this with calm blue eyes and Narcisss finally flicked her gaze to him and narrowed it.
"Professor Snape, I demand you bring my son to me. Immediately."
Snape glanced at Dumbledore for a fraction of a second. A fraction too long for Narcissa's taste.
"I am in charge of my child and if I choose to see him in the wake of such a horrendous attack, Albus Dumbledore is the last person who will be permitted to block my demand. Apparently his mail has been halted so he could not inform me of this for the past three months." She told her son's godfather with a tone sharp enough to slice.
Snape glided away, so much like a slippery snake, knowing that he would not win this skirmish if he lingered.
"I understand Mrs. Malfoy that tensions are high. I was unaware of your…attachment to Miss Granger. I do apologize that this has been such a shock." Dumbledore said into the silence, "I hope tempers can calm so that we can move forward."
"There won't be any moving forward I'm afraid Albus." Cornelius Fudge announced. "The governors are meeting now and I am to insist that you gather anything you may need in case the vote comes to removing you from your duties until an investigation can be completed."
McGonagall made a sound of protest, but was silenced by Dumbledore's raised palm.
"I see. You came all the way here yourself to tell me this Cornelius?"
"No. There is another matter we must address while you are still acting headmaster. Come." The minister led him towards the door pausing to speak to a severe looking woman, "Grant Mr. Dagworth-Granger anything he needs for his niece and meet me at the gate in one hour."
"Hector, I understand wanting her at St. Mungo's, but the children wouldn't be able to visit her there and with Dumbledore gone…"
"I will allow her to stay as a patient here as long as Dumbledore remains gone. When she wakes up she may choose if she wishes to continue school here or Beauxbatons." Hector murmured, the secretary having to lean in to hear him. In a louder tone he shifted his attention to McGonagall. "I want to know why I wasn't immediately contacted and why the children's mail is being halted. I also want to know what did this, and what is needed to create the potion to wake her. Now."
The secretary arched a brow at the professor who nodded and gestured for them to step inside Pomfrey's personal office. Narcissa conjured a chair to sit with Hermione while Hector handled things. Before the group managed to make it into the office, the doors flung open.
"Mother!" Draco called, hurrying into the room and stopping when he saw Hermione's uncle.
"Sir, I'm so glad you're here." Draco told him, allowing Hector to squeeze his shoulder firmly before gesturing towards the office once more.
Narcissa rose just in time to hug her boy, smoothing his hair back and tutting over him when he immediately began crying. She was reminded that he was only twelve and rage erupted through her once more.
"She's my best friend. I know I've not known her as long as Pans or Theo, but she's just as important as them. My letters wouldn't make it through so I had to figure out what words were causing problems while still conveying urgency." He cried and she pressed a kiss to his head, just holding him while she looked at Hermione's still form.
Probably more important than even Pansy and Theo. Narcissa thought sadly, after all, those that are descended from Noble House of Black tended to love deeply and…obsessively.
It was Harry and Ron's turn to sit with her, and Hector and Draco's mother were visiting again today, so they wandered outside for a bit.
Draco sat with them and Pansy while they waited for the Gryffindors to finish. It was already June and she still hadn't woken up. They were sitting near the lake, just waiting like they did every day.
"She brewed a polyjuice potion." Pansy whispered.
Draco watched Hector and Narcissa's eyes widen and his mother spoke finally, "I beg your pardon?"
"She brewed a polyjuice potion. She was really upset that no one would know she'd done it at only thirteen. Don't be too mad at her." Pansy smiled sadly as she looked out over the lake.
"Successfully?" Hector asked after a long moment of quiet.
"Yes. Potter and the Weasel boy used it." Pansy didn't mention the Slytherins and Draco was grateful. He didn't think his mother would murder him given the circumstances, but one could never be too sure.
"Well Hector, I don't think you need worry about her induction into the Society." Narcissa let out a shaky laugh and Hector grinned.
"No I think it's guaranteed." Hector chuckled. " I hope your potions master here at school recognizes her potential."
Pansy shrugged as a way of not answering and then squinted at two shapes running towards them at full speed.
"What are those two idiots doing?" She asked. Draco started to stand when he finally made out what Potter and Weasley were screaming.
"SIR! SIR!" Harry crowed waving something in his hand, "SHE FIGURED IT OUT. BRILLIANT EVEN WHEN SHE'S SLEEPING!"
"IT'S A BLOODY BASILISK!"
They fell beside Hector, showing him the crumpled paper and explaining how they'd found it in Hermione's hand. Draco tried not to dwell on why Harry Potter was holding her hand.
"She even answered how it's moving around sir. The school pipes!" Harry pointed to where a word was written in Hermione's print.
She'd ripped out a book and wrote in it, she must have been desperate.
"That explains the mirror. She was using it to look around corners. Better dead than petrified." Pansy climbed to her feet to look at the parchment.
Narcissa and Draco helped Hector to standing from the hard ground, "I can have the antidote whipped up in no time! Basilisk petrification of all things."
"I suppose none of the house elves raise chickens for fresh eggs then?" Draco's mother huffed, "One crow from a rooster and it would have solved the problem ages ago."
Draco gaped at his mother, "All the roosters were killed months ago. They assumed it was by a wild animal."
Narcissa Malfoy closed her eyes and seemed to be counting in an attempt at patience. When she opened them again, she took a deep breath.
"Come Hector, it's been a few years, but I'm still a dab hand at brewing."
By the time they made it to the castle to start the potions though, the school was on lockdown. A child had been taken into the chamber by the monster.
Draco felt a flicker of sympathy for Ron Weasley when he saw the boy's face crumple when McGonagall told him about Ginny Weasley.
The sympathy was obliterated by a wave of rage when they found out the next morning that it had been the Weasel girl that had petrified Hermione.
Pansy was particularly vicious when she saw the chit at breakfast and was practically foaming at the mouth when Albus Dumbledore appeared to announce he'd been reinstated.
Narcissa worked calmly at her cauldron, directed by Hector and as they waited for the dawn in order to expose the potion to the first morning sun, they chatted.
"I'm indebted to your son for finding a way to contact us." Hector told her sincerely. She was stuck by how fragile the man seemed in that moment.
"There is no debt between the Malfoys and the Grangers. Draco did it for himself as much as he did it for Hermione." Narcissa replied smoothly, waiting for his reaction.
"She isn't pureblood."
"No."
"She doesn't understand The pureblood ways when it comes to betrothals and promises."
"Indeed."
"You don't mind any of that now?"
"She makes Draco happy." Narcissa said firmly, "That is the only thing that matters to me."
Hector smiled slowly, "It doesn't hurt that my Hermione is brilliant, I suppose."
"Polyjuice. At thirteen, Hector."
The man laughed and Narcissa smiled lightly, just as the rising sun touched upon the open cauldron.
Hermione walked into the Great Hall and immediately wanted to walk back out when several eyes turned to her.
Then she saw Harry getting up to run towards her from the Gryffindor table and decided the audience didn't matter. She looked towards the Slytherin table just in time to wrap her arms around an incoming Pansy Parkinson, followed shortly by Draco Malfoy who let out an 'oof' when Harry leapt forward too.
Draco quickly removed himself and insisted he was not a hugger, but grabbed her hand in a tight squeeze while sneering as Harry and Pansy continued to hang onto her.
"Hermione! Its about time you opened those pretty brown eyes, we were beginning to worry you'd sleep through the feast." Blaise winked at her and she rolled her eyes, still grinning.
"Technically they were open. For months." Theo chimed in, "I bet you have a wicked case of dry eye."
She just laughed and squeezed Draco's hand back and held Pansy a little tighter. The girl was surely about to come to her senses and start snarking about public displays of affection any moment now.
"You figured it out Hermione! We couldn't have done it without you!" Harry told her, "You were brilliant!"
"Of course I am." Hermione nodded sagely, "Now. Which of you tattled to Uncle Hector about the polyjuice potion?"
Pansy stiffened and stepped away, ranting about touchy-feely nonsense being for Gryffindors only in an attempt to change the subject. It just made Hermione start laughing all over again.