Do we stay and play the game? Do we fight? Do we run? Do we hide? I don't know the answer here, my love."
"The Longbottoms fought. Karkaroff ran. The Potters hid. Look where they all are now."
"Then we play."
Draco watched his witch as she meandered along, her fingertips brushing the spines of the books as she perused the Malfoy library.
She was humming something and it took him a moment to place it, before he smiled, remembering Jean Granger humming it often while she cooked.
Draco just leaned against the bookshelf and listened to her, watching her as she tried to decide what to read.
Hermione was wearing muggle pajamas in an truly atrocious print. She'd once told Draco that she picked the ugliest pajamas when she stayed over just to tease his mother. Tonight's had various kittens sitting on clouds in garish multicolored bows.
He let his thoughts drift at the thought of his mother.
His parents had spoke to him of their choices. Ultimately, they decided to walk the tightrope as long as they could, hoping they managed to make it to the other side of this war intact.
Draco would do what was expected of him, protecting his family as the Malfoys had always done. He had made it clear in no uncertain terms however, that Hermione Jean Granger was part of that family.
Anything that directly harmed her would be immediately disregarded and prevented. His parents had fully agreed, Narcissa particularly firm in her support.
They had told him to protect Hermione truly, he would have to start training. The Dark Lord and his inner circle were all skilled legimens and would peer into his mind to search out ways to harm Harry, and by default Hermione.
So Draco had begun training in occulmency with his mother several hours a day, then she would try to tear into his mind. It was the most painful magic he'd ever had to learn.
"How long are you going to stand there watching me?" A soft inquiry.
"I like watching you." Draco replied, studying her profile as she turned her head to glance at him, her face backlit by the fireplace.
"Are you going to tell me what's troubling you?" She asked, "Or should I guess?"
"I can't tell you. The same way you can't tell me where you go most of the week."
He pushed off the shelf and came to stand beside her, brushing his fingers over her cheek as she looked up at him.
"We are going to be on different sides in this, aren't we?" Hermione whispered, her lips trembling.
"No." Draco assured her, "What did I tell you third year? Do you remember?"
She was quiet for a time, then she spoke quietly, "You're always on my side. Even if doesn't seem like it."
"Your side doesn't mean Potter's. It doesn't mean Dumbledore's. It means you." He pressed his forehead to hers, "I'll always choose you. Your life. Your safety. Even if you hate me for it."
"I could never hate you." She shook her head, "I just don't want you to do terrible things for me. That's a silly reason."
"You are never a silly reason, Granger." He promised her, kissing her then because he needed to. She kissed him back because she needed it as well.
"Have you told him? About this place?"
"No. Just like you haven't told Pansy." Hermione smiled sadly at her best friend. Harry was picking at a loose thread in the rug at Grimmauld Place.
"I don't think she'd betray us, but I don't know if it's fair to put her in a position where she has to decide whether she should." Harry finally said.
"She knows that. It's why she hasn't asked, Harry." Hermione replied, her breath hitching slightly, "It's why Draco hasn't asked me."
"Are you two alright?" Harry murmured, scooting to hug her tightly.
"Yes." She whispered, "That's the thing I've learned about Slytherins, Harry. When they love someone, no one else really matters. Even if it's wrong and selfish. Things will always be alright with Draco because he won't betray me."
Harry looked at her for a long time, hearing the unsaid words she didn't want to speak. So he spoke them into life for her.
"But he'd betray everyone else. Including me."
She nodded and fought back the tears, forcing her voice out, "Does that make me a bad person? For being with someone like that?"
Harry shook his head before she'd even finished the question, "No. I think…I think I'm glad you're with someone that cares for you like that. Someone that puts you first. You're too busy putting everyone else ahead of you."
He kept his arm around her as he picked at a new spot, "You need someone like Draco just like I need someone like Pansy."
Hermione turned to look at him with the question on her face.
"Right now, Pansy puts herself first. Maybe after all this is over that will change. Maybe when we've grown up a bit. For now though, I think it's better that she puts me second."
Unlike Harry, Hermione wouldn't say what lingered after that sentence.
For now, I think it's better that she put me second, because I might not be around long enough to become first.
Hector was tired a lot these days.
Hermione pretended not to notice the fragility, the weakness in his movements. She overlooked the fading appetite and the increased naps, not wanting to see such things.
Hector knew she saw, but neither of them spoke on it, spending their days talking about books, potions, school, and friends.
Hermione knew there would be a time soon when her wonderful Uncle Hector was no longer there to talk about such things and she knew a piece of her heart would follow when he went.
He'd been her very best friend since she'd been a baby. Her doting uncle from which she got her eyes and her knack for potions. How could she not break a little when he left beyond her reach?
Near the end of the summer, he sat her down with a stack of parchment and forced her to acknowledge the whisper that time running out. Adulthood was approaching as was a war.
When she turned seventeen next September, she would have his home, his fortune, and his work. He intended to hold on until then.
He showed her his plans for her to become a secret keeper, insisting she place her trust wisely. He'd made the place unplottable, doing everything he could to make it as much a refuge as possible.
"This is not to be a safe house for Harry or the Weasley boy, my girl. This is a place for you, and you will promise me now to keep it that way." Hector put his hand against her face.
"I promise, Uncle Hector. No one will know of this house." She swore, then smiled when he amended his conditions.
"No one except the one who will be your family."
She nodded, watching as he whisked the papers away and pulled out a different set. Muggle paperwork, not magical.
"There is another thing we need to discuss if things go badly." Hector said slowly, "I know you want your parents to be safe as much as I do. They're muggles in all ways that matter and that will get them killed, my darling."
She listened to his plan and while it broke her heart to imagine it, she knew that it was the best course of action. Hector even had it all ready for when the time came. Passports, money, plane tickets.
"I'll make sure they're safe Uncle Hector. Whether they go willingly or not."
"No. I show you this only so you know what happens. I will be the one to do the spell if it comes to it." Hector told her firmly, not budging on this decision. He wouldn't let her orphan herself.
On the train, the group still sat together, even though there was a thread of awareness. Awareness that this would be one of their last years like this. As friends.
They all dutifully ignored it in favor of enjoying what little time they had together.
When the four prefects returned from rounds, Draco pulled Hermione onto his lap to make room for everyone.
Luna perched on Blaise's lap as well, wearing large pink spectacles with swirling spirals over the eyes.
Pansy was clearly amused with the glasses and told Harry she thought he should take a page from the Quibbler if he wanted a new look, "They'd go perfectly with your new socks."
Draco and Hermione had been with her while she picked out Harry's birthday present. Along with several other items, she'd insisted on getting the poor boy multiple sets of the gaudiest socks Draco had ever seen.
The worst offenders were the bright acid green pair with tiny stitched broomsticks on them.
When Ron asked Luna if her and Blaise were together now, the blonde cocked her head, "All of us are together right now, Ron? What an odd question."
Blaise had just laughed and kissed her cheek, leaning his chin on her shoulder while she read her father's magazine.
Hermione snuggled into Draco and he propped his head on hers, listening to everyone chatting about their summers.
"Hermione, what do you think about the new DADA book?" Theo asked slyly, Neville was resting his head against the tall boy's shoulder.
Another pair that would be inevitably choosing sides soon, Draco thought sullenly.
"It's rubbish and you know it." Hermione harrumphed. "It's written as if it's for a child learning the very basics, not fifth year students. Fred and George showed me their seventh year book and it's the same exact one!"
Draco just smiled when Theo winked at him, letting Hermione go on her tangent.
"Hem hem."
Harry looked up to see the new Defense professor attempting tower over Pansy. It wasn't very successful considering the pink woman was almost eye level with Pansy even though his girlfriend was sitting down.
Pansy just kept eating, teasingly trying to steal Harry's scone. He scowled and snagged it from her mouth just as she took a bite, making her pout playfully.
"Hem hem."
Pansy's blue eyes were doing the laughing thing once more as she opened her mouth like a baby bird, "Give me another bite."
"Miss Parkinson!"
"Oh! Sorry Professor, I didn't hear you call my name before." Pansy said with fake innocence as she finally looked at the Professor.
"I see. I believe you are at the wrong table, my dear." Umbridge said with a sugary smile.
"I'm fine here."
"You are a Slytherin. Not a Gryffindor last I checked, my dear child."
"Students are allowed to sit at any table of our choosing for informal meals Professor. It's in the Student Code of Conduct. We had to read it for our prefect duties." Pansy replied, just as much sugar in her tone.
"I would think you would prefer to sit with your housemates?" Umbridge rejoined, her toady eyes narrowing.
"Several of my housemates are already here." Pansy told her serenely. "If you'll excuse me Professor, Harry was about to escort me to Divination."
Harry allowed Pansy to snag his hand and walk with him out of the Great Hall, she made it slow and clung to his arm more than she normally would have.
He glanced back to see the woman practically smoking she was so angry. He grinned.
Harry was so please with the Slytherin witch that he yanked her behind a statue to snog her thoroughly, a thank you for irritating the woman who'd demanded his arrest this past summer.
"Harry? What's this on your hand?" Pansy asked while they sat together in a hidden alcove.
He tried to pull his sleeve down, intending to get back to snogging her, but she was like a dog with a bone.
"What the bloody hell is this?" She snapped, looking at the pink skin that was only just starting to heal. It had looked much worse before Hermione's pickled essence of whatever.
"I got that detention, remember?" He muttered, "It's nothing Pans."
"It's barbaric! It's torture Harry!" She hissed, yanking his hand back to look at it.
"There's nothing we can do about it Pansy. She's backed by the ministry and it's not like I have parents to report it to." He sighed, hugging her to him and teasing the corner of her mouth with his.
Pansy let him, softening to kiss him back, but he could tell her brain was going a mile a minute. It was reminiscent of Hermione, except Harry knew Pansy was thinking less of problem solving and more along the lines of revenge.
He shouldn't have been shocked when Pansy snarked at Umbridge during the next lesson, needling her repeatedly until the woman gave her a detention.
Harry was alarmed, trying to shake his head at her and when she ignored him, he stood up to argue with the woman.
Now at least Pansy wouldn't be alone with the evil toad. He knew if he looked at Hermione, she was probably ready to throttle both of them.
It took only four weeks.
Four weeks for the pink nightmare known as Dolores Umbridge to set her sight on Hermione.
Draco had known it was coming. Hermione was too good, too righteous, too bloody Gryffindor to not draw the wretched woman's attention.
"Detention, I think Miss Granger."
Hermione had nodded stiffly and Draco thought surely the woman would look into Hermione's file. She'd see Narcissa Malfoy listed as her proxy and then just make Hermione scrub bed pans or something menial.
When the woman smiled a slow, evil grin, he knew that wouldn't happen though. She'd just seen Granger and not made any connections to a wizarding family.
Draco had to intervene. He couldn't let her dainty hands be split open. Not Hermione's.
He didn't care when Potter got such punishment. The boy could handle himself and if he couldn't, he had a vicious viper of his own defending him.
Draco thought the Umbridge woman was either stupid or brave to be crossing proverbial swords with a girl from a family who was known in certain circles to prefer poison over conflict resolution.
Draco could play mental chess with the best of Slytherins, but when it came to Hermione? He would end the game before it even began.
He waited until Umbridge was near where he sat with Hermione to loudly ask if his mother had written back yet about their engagement party.
The silence was explosive as all whispers died off in the room while Hermione gaped at him. Even the sound of quills had stopped.
His witch continued to stare at him as if he'd gone mad, which was understandable since Draco had yet to actually arrange an official betrothal.
Pansy and Theo were smothering their laughter surprisingly well, while Potter and the Weasel's eyes were practically popping out of their skulls.
"Engagement party?" Umbridge inquired in that false sugary voice, forgetting that she'd ordered no talking while they worked.
"Yes Professor. Hermione and I are betrothed. Our families have arranged it. Surely you know her great uncle?"
"I'm afraid I'm not familiar." Umbridge pursed her lips and Draco knew she was trying to place the name Granger.
"The founder of the Most Extraordinary Society for Potioneers, Professor." Draco informed her. "The Grangers and Malfoys are very close."
Pansy was trembling all over with the effort to keep silent. Theo had put his head down on the table. Hermione had yet to recover when Umbridge spoke once more.
"I see." Umbridge said, and Draco hoped she did see. "Back to quiet study Mr. Malfoy. Congratulations to your family on your engagement."
Hermione managed the remaining ten minutes of class, but once they were out the door she dragged him behind a statue.
"What the hell was that?" She demanded hotly.
"You Gryffindors insist on getting in trouble with her? Fine. Go ahead." Draco hissed, matching her temper, "Challenge the cow to your heart's content. Meanwhile, I will ensure she can't slice into you the way she does Potter."
Hermione stared at him angrily for a few moments, then she looked away, "So that's the only reason you said it?"
"No. You'll have to wait until the holidays though." He retorted, still irritated with her, but he wouldn't let her think he meant it only for protection purposes, though that was the reason for moving it up despite his birthday being months away.
"Fine."
"Fine."
A kiss and a smack to the arm, then she was storming away towards her ancient runes lesson, forgetting he was going to the same class.
When she realized he was walking behind her halfway, she scowled and held out her hand for him to link their fingers together.
"I'm a little hurt Hermione didn't tell me." Harry told Pansy as they walked towards the library. The girl was surprisingly studious when it came to exams and her OWLs.
"Didn't tell you what?" Pansy asked, grinning down at her bracelet when it glowed as they passed a certain infamous tapestry with a window seat behind it. A window seat big enough for two.
The little sneaks were supposed to be heading to prefect rounds. She'd have to tease them later when she swapped out with them.
Harry waited until the glow stopped before he replied, "About the engagement. Ron and Ginny didn't know either. We thought she'd include us in the secret."
"You three are daft." Pansy laughed, "Draco hasn't proposed yet."
"He basically announced to the bloody class that he had!" Harry snapped, not seeing how this was funny.
"No. He announced a betrothal that hasn't happened to make sure that bitch wouldn't carve Hermione up like she's been trying to do to you." Pansy snarked right back.
Harry stopped and stared at his girlfriend, "That's the reason you keep getting detention with me. It's not because you like fighting with the woman. You're both protecting us."
"Don't think too highly of yourself Potter. Perhaps I just like polishing the trophy room." Pansy waved him off and kept walking. "Also I do really enjoy pissing her off."
Harry didn't know whether to feel elated or terrified that the dark-haired witch cared so much about him.
Draco enjoyed the little defense club they'd set up.
It gave him a chance to use some more obscure spells and the ability to test how well he could think on his feet. He liked dueling the twins the most. They were both quite wily.
He took amusement in being able to smirk at all the boys in their year who were sighing over Hermione. Rubbing it in that he had a beautiful, brilliant witch was becoming his favorite past time, specifically with the Ravenclaws who coveted her brain.
He got a thrill when going against Hermione on the rare occasions she paired up with him instead of Pansy.
Hermione's defensive spellwork outstripped all of their class, even older students like those on the Gryffindor quidditch team. She'd been a quick study under Narcissa Malfoy after all, and he rarely got a hit past her shields.
Especially if she had time to build them beforehand. Potter had made it a point to let Hermione build her intricate barriers of woven spells and have the students try to take it down.
It gave them practice at breaking through defenses and also let Hermione find her weak points to improve. It had taken five of them over fifteen minutes to get through yesterday.
Potter announced they'd be working on the patronus charm after the holidays and dismissed the group. Draco waited for everyone to file out, the last of the crowd being Pansy and Harry.
Draco then tugged Hermione away from the exit and pressed her into the wall, sealing his lips over hers. He loved when she gave that breathy little gasp when she was surprised.
"Come to the Manor after Yule." He whispered against her mouth, licking in when she opened it to answer him.
She wasn't able to answer for several minutes, until he moved to kiss down her jaw and neck.
"Yes." She whispered as his fingers stroked her thigh, moving slowly upward and under her skirt.
"Yes to the manor or yes to this?" He teased, tracing his fingers along the seam of her knickers as they clung to the curve of her bottom.
"Both. Everything. Whatever." She growled. "Just yes."
"Harry, no one blames you." Hermione insisted when she sat down beside him. The hippogriff lifted its head in greeting and allowed her to smooth a hand over his beak.
The mood at Grimmauld Place was dismal in the aftermath of Arthur Weasley's death.
A tragic situation that Harry blamed on himself.
For not reporting the dreams. For not listening to Hermione. Hermione didn't say she'd been right. She just held Harry tightly and let him cry.
The entire house had been crying for days.
Molly hadn't left her room and Sirius had taken over caring for the children's basic needs. Hermione and the man were switching off taking Molly trays of food and trying to offer words of comfort.
The siblings had all come together to mourn in a way that made Hermione feel especially aware of her status as an only child. She found them one morning all piled about in the sitting room. It had reminded her of a group of ginger puppies.
Ginger puppies that were missing their oddball adoptee, as Harry had locked himself in Sirius' room with Buckbeak. Hermione was the only one he was speaking to at the moment other than his godfather.
"It is my fault Hermione. I didn't tell anyone about the dreams." Harry snapped when she tried to coax him into seeing Ron.
Hermione didn't flinch. Harry fluctuated between rage and anguish so often lately it was nothing new.
"You told someone the moment the dream happened. There was nothing more anyone could have done, Harry. You know that deep down." She corrected him.
When he started crying once more, she just held him until he settled down. She figured if Harry wouldn't join the redheaded dogpile to get comfort, she'd just have to bring a solo cuddle session to him.
One person probably wasn't as effective as a sibling group snuggle, but until someone got through that thick, self-flagellating skull of Harry's, Hermione would have to suffice.
Hermione figured she would set Pansy on him when they returned to school to bring the boy out of this depressive guilt.
The girl was able to drag the melancholy out of Harry when no one else could, whether it be teasing him until he gave in to laughter or picking a fight so he could get out some of his pent up emotions.
Pansy could take as good as she gave and Hermione was grateful Harry had taken the time to realize what a gem her best friend was.
"Hermione…are you still going tomorrow?" Harry whispered after a while.
"I am."
"Be careful. We can't lose you too."
Narcissa did not like the engagement band Draco had selected.
In fact she outright hated it. She'd told him so on multiple occasions, all the way up until the hour before Hermione was due to arrive.
Her boy had insisted on moving the official betrothal up, now that Hermione was sixteen even though he had several months until his own birthday.
Narcissa hadn't argued too hard against it. An official betrothal would provide Hermione with more protection, which in turn would protect Draco's heart. An easy decision in Narcissa's mind.
Plippin popped into the sitting room just as Narcissa was lamenting the plainness of the ring once more.
"Miss Granger has arrived, Mistress." Plippin bowed.
"See her to the conservatory please." Narcissa told the elf, waiting until she disappeared.
"Mother, I'll let you know how it goes." Draco kissed her cheek and started to leave.
"As if we don't know the answer already." Narcissa teased as she picked up her wine glass. "Although with that ring…"
Draco just gave her a grin and disappeared around the door.
Narcissa Malfoy's conservatory was the envy of many herbologists and conservation groups. Potioneers coveted some of the rare ingredients that could be found within, but a very short list of those potioneers were granted access.
Severus Snape was still trying to regain entry after the basilisk debacle, so currently only Hector Dagworth-Granger had free choice of ingredients.
It was filled with plants of both magical and non-magical varieties, blossoming even through the winter months.
Pink angel's trumpet burst from garden beds placed at the base of a multitude of rare trees, all of which were coveted for wand making.
Patches of belladonna were intermixed with boomberry bushes, the fruit looking far too similar to anyone who didn't know better.
One of the more scenic areas was at the center of the space, a massive fountain, several tiers tall. It was charmed so that when the water rained from the top, it looked like liquid unicorns bursting forth to leap to the water below.
That's where Draco found Hermione, sitting on the marble lip of the fountain's base.
She turned with a soft smile, a dimple peeking out at him and he didn't waste any time dropping to one knee.
"I adore you. I have since I was a silly eleven year old boy who didn't even know what it really meant. If I had to pinpoint it, I think it started the moment you were sorted into the lion's and still decided I was worth your time, chasing me down the corridor to walk to potions together."
He opened the small box, carved from a large crystal hundreds of years ago for the Malfoy men to do this very thing each generation.
Hermione's smile was massive and tears were leaking down her face.
"I know a betrothal at this age is not considered normal in muggle society, but you're a part of the wizarding world where it is not only normal, but expected. I love you Hermione. More than you can know and I hope you'll do me the great honor of accepting me as your intended."
She was nodding forcefully, letting him slip the ring onto her slender finger.
The small golden circle was set with a dark emerald, the metal twisted intricately in a vine-like pattern with impossibly tiny diamonds woven throughout.
"It's warm and there's a pulse?" Hermione puzzled, "Almost like a heartbeat."
"You gave me the idea. Between your protean charmed coins and your bracelet with Pansy." He told her, lifting his own hand. His usual serpentine ring was still there, but on his index finger was a new silver band.
"So we always know the other is alive." She whispered and then hugged him tightly. "I love it, Draco. I love you."
He leaned back to kiss her, pulling her up with him to standing and pressing her against him.
After several minutes, she pulled away to look at the ring again, "I'm so happy with it. I have to admit I was worried you'd give me something…ostentatious."
Draco chuckled at her sheepish expression, "I know you better than you think, Granger. Though my mother has spent every waking moment insisting it was too plain."
Hermione grinned, "Well let's go tell her the good news, shall we?"
"In a bit." He told her and pulled her back into him and captured her mouth with his once more.
She arrived back to Grimmauld Place a few days after her engagement and was met with silence.
She went through the rooms, not finding anyone. She didn't dare call out, not wanting to disturb Walberga's portrait.
"Hermione?" Came a voice behind her, making her jump and clutch her chest.
"Sirius, you startled me. Where is everyone?" She asked, trying to calm her heart rate.
"Harry is upstairs with Buckbeak, but the Weasleys left." He told her, anger evident when his lips pulled into a frown.
"Left? Without Harry?" She frowned and the man's jaw clenched.
"I don't think the children were part of the decision making, pet." He motioned for her to follow him into the kitchen and placed a copy of yesterday's Daily Prophet onto the table, opened to the second page, so whatever it was wasn't headline news at least.
It was a picture of Draco and Hermione from last year's Yule Ball, probably pulled from one of the Prophet's unpublished collection from that night. The article was announcing their official engagement.
"They left because of this?" Hermione asked and then looked up at Sirius' sympathetic face, "Ron and Ginny knew he was proposing, as did Fred and George. I didn't hide it."
"Like I said, the kids weren't really given a choice." He grimaced and she knew he meant it was Molly Weasley's doing.
"Tell them to come back. I'll go." Hermione whispered, swallowing the lump in her throat.
Sirius shook his head and pulled her into a hug, smoothing down her curls away from his face. She managed a watery chuckle when they just sprung back up.
"I tried not to cause too much of a fuss even though I wanted to tell her to bugger off. Harry made the decision." Sirius informed her, continuing to playfully fight with her hair.
"Harry told them to leave?" Hermione questioned, even more confused.
Sirius telling Molly off would have made sense, as he didn't really like the woman to begin with. Hermione also knew that of all Harry's friends, Sirius had a soft spot for her.
Harry telling them to leave, especially after Arthur's very recent passing, just didn't sound right.
"Yes. She went on a tirade about the engagement and things escalated when she said some choice words."
"Oh…Harry didn't have to pick me over them. I can take some insults."
"No." Harry said from behind her.
"Harry!" She rushed over to hug her best friend tightly, "They're you're family. Apologize and have them come back. I can go and I'll see you at school."
"I can see Ron and Ginny at school too." Harry replied angrily, "No one insults you or Pansy in front of me. Not even Molly Weasley. Besides, you're my family too."
"What exactly was she saying?" Hermione demanded, hands going to her hips as her temper finally spiked over the idea of Molly Weasley disparaging Pansy.
"Why can't you get mad when it's about you? You were all for forgiveness until Pansy was involved." Harry sighed. "And I'm not telling you what was said."
Hermione argued for a bit then pretended to let it go. She would just have Pansy find out and spill the beans.
"I need that prophecy Lucius. You've already disappointed me once, ignoring the call. Don't disappoint me again…or perhaps I will start paying more interest in your son and his little mudblood."
"Yes, my lord."
Notes:
I'm genuinely so excited for the next chapter because of the patronus I've assigned to one of the Slytherins.
Chapter 13: Where You Lead, I Can't Follow
Summary:
Continuation of Fifth Year
Notes:
TW: Non-consensual grinding
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Draco lowered the newspaper to the table and caught Theo staring at it grimly.
It wasn't as concerning as the note from his mother, addressed to both him and Hermione.
My darlings,
It is best to continue visits at Hermione's home (or Hector's) going forward.
Propriety is important now that you're officially engaged and our houseguests would take offense to an unwed couple in the same residence.
All my love for you both,
Narcissa
Hermione had cried half the night in the room of requirement over that letter. Draco had held her and assured her that his mother would still see her, that she wasn't being abandoned, that it was for her safety.
She understood, but hearing her weeping broke Draco's heart even as there was nothing he could do to fix it.
Mother,
We understand and will submit to your wishes.
We love you. Be safe.
Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger
Hermione was delighted as her little otter swirled around the elegant swaying of Pansy's orca.
The boys were having more trouble with the patronus charm, Luna attempting to help Blaise while Theo and Draco had their heads together in a brainstorming session.
"A happy memory is the official idea behind the charm, but it doesn't have to be a true memory. It can be a wishful dream, it just has to be powerful." Harry was telling the group.
"Blaise, my sweet pufferfish, you can't get frustrated or it won't work." Luna insisted, talking a calming breath before casting the charm, a silvery-blue hare hopping about Blaise's legs. "See?"
"I could almost use those nicknames she gives him as my happy memory." Ron snorted from nearby.
Hermione had to agree that the pet names Luna chose were hilarious at best and absolutely ridiculous at worst. The fact that Blaise not only accepted, but seemed to love the endearments was even more wild.
So far today Hermione had heard Luna call the Slytherin boy not only jubilant honeybee, but also beloved dewdrop and darling toadstool.
She turned her attention to Draco, who was managing wisps of silvery smoke, but no corporeal patronus.
"What memory are you using?" She asked quietly, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Proposing, but apparently it's not happy enough." He frowned and turned to hold her, "Which makes no sense because I was walking on clouds, I swear."
"Harry said the memory needed to be powerful. Not just happy. Maybe you're thinking too sweetly." Hermione suggested, "I enjoy sweet so a memory like that would work for me, but you're more passion-oriented. Just a thought."
She walked over to help Theo who was just managing a figure of some type of large cat. About ten minutes later a silver jackal pressed itself against her thigh affectionately.
She grinned at Draco as he walked over to her, leaning to kiss her cheek and stopping when she heard Blaise cry out, "What the bloody fuck is this ugly thing?"
Both Hermione and Draco looked over to see Blaise staring in horror at a rather bizarre creature.
It had absurdly round, prodtruding eyes and fur that stuck up in disarray similar to the worst of Harry's bad hair days. Spindly, taloned fingers and a long tail made it look like someone who had never seen a monkey had attempted to draw one.
"Oh! Its an Aye-Aye!" Luna cooed, "They're endangered in Madagascar! Daddy says they can peer into your soul."
"I can see why he thinks that. It's hideous!" Blaise curled his lip as the thing disappeared. Luna chided him for being mean and hurting the thing's feelings.
"It's an extension of me, Luna love. I can't hurt my own feelings." Blaise told her, his voice amused.
"I suppose it does kind of look like you. I'll call it Blaise whenever I see it then." Luna agreed happily,
The Slytherin boy sputtered angrily, "It does not look like me! I'm beautiful damn it!"
"I didn't say you weren't. You're very pretty, pudding cup." The girl assured him.
Ron snorted.
Draco was running back towards where Umbridge was currently busting into the room of requirement.
Hermione had been with him, then she'd realized Potter was lagging behind to see everyone else out first. So of course the bint had slipped away from Draco's grasp to run back and try to grab the blasted boy.
So Draco was now running full tilt at the petite little witch. He called her name, making her turn around and Draco didn't slow down as he bent to shove his shoulder into her stomach.
He straightened instantly, Hermione over his shoulder and started running back towards safety. He was so irritated with her that he almost didn't feel bad when he heard her grunt of pain as the air was knocked out of her.
He held her in place with his arm around her thighs and with a wave of his wand it was like carrying nothing.
He ran and ran until he realized he was near a dead end that only held McGonagall's private office. He heard the sound of footsteps approaching and flung open the door and slammed it shut behind him.
"Draco Malfoy you put me down this instant before I hex your bollocks off!"
"You can't do that. We have to make genius Malfoy babies."
A pounding of fists on his bum and a screech of frustration was her only response until they heard someone clear their throat.
Hermione froze mid-punch on his left arse cheek. Draco slowly looked to where Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout were sitting with teacups in hand, staring at them with exasperation on their faces.
"Mr. Malfoy, you may put Miss Granger on the floor now." McGonagall told him.
Draco pulled Hermione off his shoulder to put her on her feet. She was bright red and her hair was a disaster from hanging upside down.
"Professor, I swear I can explain-"Hermione began.
She didn't get to finish what was sure to be a brilliant tale of woe when both she and Draco were shoved forward by Neville Longbottom and Theodore Nott as they ran into the office.
The two boys shut the door quickly, leaning against it and trying to catch their breath. They too stiffened when they realized they weren't alone.
Hermione pursed her lips and turned to the two teachers with pleading eyes, "Umbridge caught us meeting up with a group of students to practice defensive spells. We don't know who all she's caught."
The stern Professor's expression of disapproval didn't change and Draco knew they were likely done for.
His final words were going to be a joke about needing his testicles to impregnate McGonagall's favorite student. Narcissa Malfoy would incinerate whatever was left of him.
McGonagall lifted her wand and waved it, Draco flinching as he expected a nasty hex.
Instead, four more teacups appeared, along with four chairs. Professor Sprout was pouring the tea and the four were jolted into action when there was a pounding on the door.
They hurriedly took the seats and picked up the teacups just as the door opened to reveal Marcus Flint and Filch.
"May I help you Mr. Filch?" McGonagall asked the man coldly.
"We saw students escaping punishment come this way." The caretaker told her, glaring at the four seated culprits.
"I assure you that these four have been in career counseling with me for the past three quarters of an hour. I invited Pomona for Mr. Longbottom to discuss his knack for herbology." McGonagall snapped, "Please remove yourself from my office so I can finish, Mr. Filch."
The caretaker grumbled, but he and Flint left, shutting the door behind them.
A collective sigh of relief went round the room and when Draco looked back up, McGonagall looked furious.
"Explain to me what is going on, Miss Granger. How many students were part of this and where are the other two members of your troublesome trio?"
Hermione gulped, but slowly explained everything to the Deputy Headmistress who looked more and more shocked as the discussion continued.
"I see. The four of you will take this note to Madam Pomfrey, you will stay with her until a trusted teacher comes to get you. Do you understand?"
They nodded and she dismissed them, hurrying ahead of them with Professor Sprout to find the rest of her students.
Pansy Parkinson was a simple girl who lived her life according to one simple rule.
Do unto others worse than they do to you.
So when she slipped into the Ravenclaw girls bathroom under the cover of a disillusionment charm, she felt no remorse for what she was about to do.
Hermione, the perfect little minx, had already disfigured the girl's face with horrendous acne spelling out the word sneak, but Pansy wanted to make sure the lesson of not betraying her people got through loud and clear.
So she waited in the corner until she noted strawberry blonde curls coming into the bathroom. Alone.
Pansy smiled slowly. It was almost too easy.
The girl put her toiletries onto a sink and then went towards a stall to presumably use the loo. Pansy rushed over to her bag and pulled a small bottle from her pocket.
She opened the girl's shampoo and dumped the Weasley twins' potion into it. Closing the bottle, she shook it vigorously before placing it down the exact same way and slipping back to the shadowed corner.
The girl came out of the stall and grabbed her things, disappearing into a shower stall.
Pansy slipped back out of the bathroom to saunter towards the Great Hall, excited to see the fruits of her labor that the twins had assured her would be glorious and probably permanent.
Harry frowned across the room at his girlfriend who was almost vibrating with energy from her seat at the Slytherin table as she watched the Ravenclaw table intently.
Umbridge had stopped the interhouse mingling during meals, so Harry couldn't ask her what she was up to. He probably didn't want to know. The only thing that made Pansy that happy was other people's pain.
He was even more concerned when Fred and George were staring at the same area.
Harry couldn't imagine a more chaotic and volatile combination than Pansy Parkinson and the Weasley twins.
His curiosity was fulfilled when Marietta Edgecomb leapt up from her seat screaming as clumps of her curly hair turned a putrid green and began falling out.
Cho Chang was trying to calm the hysterical girl, while Professor Flitwick and McGonagall rushed down from their seats to assist.
Harry looked at the twins who were grinning like madmen, then slowly looked to Pansy who wore a matching expression.
Hermione seemed to pick up on what happened as well and was muttering about vengeful snakes, as if she herself hadn't jinxed the girl with giant pus filled pimples.
The Weasley and Parkinson collaboration lasted until the twins flew away on their broomsticks, Pansy waving merrily.
Harry was able to relax a little, feeling he could stop worrying that his girlfriend would land herself in a situation she couldn't get out of.
Umbridge was here, but they could handle the pink toad. She couldn't do much worse than she already was.
Draco saw red when Marcus Flint grabbed Pansy, one hand around her neck while the other pressed Pansy's hips back against him. Flint's lecherous leer said everything about what was probably pressing into Pansy from behind.
His rage went molten when Adrian Pucey did the same to Hermione, grinning at Draco as he ran his bulbous nose along Hermione's jaw.
He managed to get an elbow loose and sling it back into Montague's nose, hearing a satisfying crack. He lunged forward to tear Adrian away from the his witch when Draco was hit with an immobilization spell from behind.
He fell to the floor and was only able to see Pansy and Hermione. None of what was happening behind him.
"No more of that I think." Umbridge's simpering voice cooed. "Accio wands!"
Draco could see Hermione's shoot up from the floor where she'd dropped it, and could hear the clattering of others flying into Umbridge's fat hand.
Draco noticed a fluttering beneath Pansy's robes, but no wand came out.
Hermione's eyes went wide when Adrian's fingers slipped beneath her shirt collar ever so slightly and she started struggling even harder while the boy laughed.
Draco would kill the fucker. As soon as his wand was back in hand with no witnesses, Adrian Pucey was dead. Same with Flint.
He barely registered Snape entering the room and speaking in some kind of riddle to Potter. Draco's attention was purely on the two girls he loved most in the world being restrained by two perverts.
Pansy didn't look scared, she looked absolutely enraged as Draco tuned in to what Umbridge was saying as she walked over to turn a picture of Cornelius Fudge face down.
She was going to use crucio on Potter apparently. Hermione screamed, babbling about a secret weapon when Pansy moved.
She slung her head back, hitting either Flint's mouth or nose hard enough to cause a gush of blood.
Her hand was in her robes and she'd stunned Umbridge and Adrian Pucey by the time Flint reached for her again.
Pansy was focused on the side of the room behind Draco, not knowing the Quidditch captain had recovered enough to attack.
Hermione lunged forward and before Pansy could react, Hermione's foot slammed into Flint's crotch.
The boy doubled over with a cry of pain that was silenced by Hermione's foot rearing back again to smash into his already battered face.
Someone cast a finite on Draco and when he lurched to his feet, he saw all the opposing Slytherins down and concern on his friend's faces as they stared towards where Hermione stood.
Pansy was still running on adrenaline, her heart racing even as the threat had been neutralized.
She saw everyone looking her way with concern, but realized they were actually looking behind her.
She looked to where her best friend stood with her wand aimed at Adrian Pucey's face, the boy's eyes flickering rapidly in fear he couldn't express due to the stunner.
Hermione had a wild expression on her face and Pansy approached her slowly, waving off Draco as he approached. The boy clenched his fists, but held back.
She realized why Hermione was so wound up when she saw Pucey's pants were undone.
She looked at Hermione again and realized the girl wasn't wearing her outer robe. Only a skirt. A skirt that could easily be scrunched up to let a disgusting boy grind against an unwilling girl.
Pansy felt fresh fury sweep through her as she gripped Hermione's hand tightly. She also knew nothing could be done here and now. Draco would be the main problem.
"Did it touch you?" Pansy hissed quietly. A slow shake of Hermione's head, her curls bouncing slightly.
"But he tried. Your skirt was up?" Still said under her breath so no one could hear except Hermione.
A nod.
"Can you transfigure him into something?" She whispered to the brunette witch, knowing she was a dab hand at transfiguration. Hermione was a dab hand at everything.
Hermione nodded stiffly, "What would you like?"
"Something easy to transport."
The girl waved her wand hissing a spell, leaving a mouse in place of Adrian Pucey.
Another wave of her wand and one of Umbridge's teacups was a jar. Pansy stopped to put the mouse inside, sealing it and gripped Hermione's hand again.
"Hermione." Draco's voice was hard, and Pansy waved him over. Harry apparently thought that meant him too because he was pulling Pansy into his arms as Draco did the same to His witch.
The moment Draco had his arms around her, Hermione crumbled into tears. Draco suspected something, Pansy could tell.
Pansy caught Theo's eye and the boy's jaw tightened. He walked over quietly to slip the jar inside the pocket of his robes. Another person in a jar to be delivered to Narcissa Malfoy. Her second mother would handle it without witnesses unlike an enraged Draco.
That taken care of, Pansy let herself hug Harry back for only a few moments before she shoved him away.
"We can't go with you, but you need to go. Now." She told him, hoping he understood.
His green eyes stared at her for a heartbeat, then he nodded. He leaned forward and kissed her, and Pansy blinked back tears.
Hermione slowly pulled away from Draco, swallowing hard and brushing a kiss across Draco's cheek before whispering, "I'll remember."
She walked over to join Harry as he left the destroyed office, stepping around the stunned bodies of the Inquisitorial Squad.
Ron, Neville, Ginny, and Luna followed after them while the Slytherins were forced to watch in silence.
They'd all known it was coming. Even on the train they'd pretended, but they knew it was going to happen. Pansy had tried to tell herself she wouldn't care when it ended, but here in the moment she found she cared a lot more than was wise.
Feelings like this would only cause pain and this was the end. The end of the mingling between Slytherin and the other houses. The end of the romances and friendships.
The beginning of a war.