Chapter 18

A shiver ran up Hermione's spine when Draco whispered in her ear. His voice, she was sure was unintentionally, somewhat sensual, despite the seriousness behind it. Perhaps she had been reading too many of her romance novels.

As Draco left, she came back to her senses. Of course she would never disclose anything she saw if she were to practice on him to anyone. She'd never the fact that it happened in the first place. Doing that would be as thought she were admitting that the darker more obscure arts could be used for good.

Wait…isn't that exactly what she was thinking? It would be for a good reason, but to use such a dastardly magic …she had to do it, for her and her parents. Nothing in this world would keep her from accomplishing her goal, even learning this obscure and probably considered darker magic.

This new determination brought also a feeling of peace. That night would probably be the best night's sleep she'd had in a while, she thought as she headed towards the Gryffindor dorms. "And what are you looking so happy for, Granger?" A nasty sounding voice came from behind her as she reached the moving stairs. She turned and just as she thought, Pansy Parkinson stood with Blaise Zabini behind her, grinning. "You seem to be getting quite cozy with my Draco. I don't know what you're planning, but it better stop before someone gets hurt!"

Pansy's threatening tone was not unfamiliar with Hermione, but knew it was simply empty threatening. Hermione scoffed, "If I were in fact 'planning' anything, I assure you, it's none of your business. So I would suggest letting it go before you hurt yourself." She turned back around and headed back up the stairs, making sure to create an invisible barrier just before the trick step in case either of them came after her.

Without skipping a beat, Pansy did indeed March up the stairs in pursuit. "Don't you tell me what to do, mu—ah!" She shrieked as she tripped into the barrier and stepped into the trick fifth step on the staircase, getting her foot lodged inside. "You filthy—Blaise, help me out of here!" she commanded. But Blaise was too busy laughing.

Hermione left them to squabble as she ascended the rest of the stairs and entered the common room. Even after that confrontation with Pansy, she still felt rather happy. She decided to turn in early, after having tea with Ginny. She didn't say anything about what happened in the library, only that she was studying. "Merlin's pants, Hermione! If you weren't in Gryffindor, I'd swear you'd be in Ravenclaw with how much you study." Ginny giggled.

Draco was not fortunate enough to miss out on Zabini's interrogation when he was the last Slytherin student to enter the dorm. "I just got done watching Parkinson fall into one of Granger's tricks. It was hilarious. Little Miss Fame didn't like it when we asked her why the two of you looked kind of cozy in the library." Zabini stated.

Draco continued to hold still in his bed, hoping Blaise would think he was asleep already. "Come on Malfoy, I know you are listening. Why the sudden interest in the mudblood? And I thought your family could stoop no lower." Blaise taunted and what little of relatively pleasant mood Draco had been in was gone. He stood up and stared up at the taller, certainly more muscular, black man. Probably the closest one of his once 'gang' that he had considered to be a friend. He had a tight grip on his wand at his side. "I have NO interest in her or in anything else about this whole pathetic excuse for a school. I am here to bloody hell graduate properly and get on with my life." Draco snapped, he could feel the desire to defend his family on the tip of his tongue. But truth always prevailed in holding him back from doing so. His family was cowardly and had acted selfish in such a public display; there was no denying just how far the Malfoy family had fallen.

"Good luck with that mate." Zabini replied and backed off. It was always a show to get Draco riled up. The boys had yet to figure out a way to make him fight back. They didn't know that if he caused any form of trouble, he would be thrown out of Hogwarts for good. Draco climbed back into his bed and kept a hold of his wand under his pillow, just in case.

…..

The following Monday had its usual barrage of classes. Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, lunch break, and lastly Transfiguration. He hadn't heard from Hermione, but the fake sickles in his pants pocket reminded him that part of him appeared okay with helping her.

They were working on a bird conjuring charm in Transfiguration. It was adequate to say feathers and birds of all types were everywhere among the organized chaos. After he successfully conjured Aquila, he gave the Eurasian Eagle owl a note and ordered the bird to take it to Granger.

The note read,

You aren't the only one who can perform a Protean Charm.

D.M.

The charmed silver sickle within.

Avis was one of Hermione's more favorite spells she had learned at Hogwarts. She had used it on Ron once during a squabble caused by Lavender Brown. During transfiguration, she easily commanded a dozen budgies to fly in a circle, then a figure-eight overhead. Professor Goshawk came by to evaluate. "Very good Miss Granger, excellent form."

Just as the professor turned away to the next student, is when Aquila swooped by and dropped the note on Hermione's book and swooped out the window. Professor Goshawk saw the owl and turned to the class, "Please everyone, only small birds for now. Nothing large until you can control smaller birds properly. Mister Longbottom, you've just about got it, keep it up."

Hermione picked up the note and opened it, making sure no one saw it. She smirked when she read and looked over the silver coin. 'The git stole my idea. Of course I don't blame him, it's brilliant.' She thought, tucking the coin into her skirt pocket.

It just so happened that there was to be another DA meeting that evening. After a bit more discussion with the elder members of the DA during lunch that day, it was decided that the meetings would take place semi-weekly and be more geared towards helping students with troublesome spells and homework, as well as impromptu defense seminars. Just before leaving for the meeting that evening, Hermione felt a hot sensation in her pocket. "Oh no, he doesn't want to meet now, does he?" She grumbled to herself in her dorm room. She was by herself, since most of the girls she was rooming with were DA members, and she was busy with homework until late. She reluctantly took the silver coin from her pocket once it cooled and examined the edge.

Aquila departed out a nearby window to return to the owlery. Draco displayed to Professor Goshawk that he could perform the spell adequately and stopped practicing as soon as she moved onto help other students. There really was no point to the spell unless the bird was large enough or there was enough small birds to actually do relative damage.

When classes ended for the day, during his break before dinner he felt his own "Granger Fan Club" coin warm up and show that there was a meeting tonight. He had no intention of going. His curiosity had been satisfied and he had no need to report it. All evening he debated on when would be best for a Legilimens lesson. Part of him wanted to make her choose between him and going to the Fan Club meeting, but they would need the Room of Requirement. This was surely occupied by overly eager fan club members like Longbottom.

He decided Friday evening after dinner would be the best time for an introduction lesson on Legilimency. It was not an easy subject and he suspected they would need regular lessons until she could navigate through a subconscious mind before she attempted anything on her parents.

He charmed the silver sickle to display the date and time then resumed writing his poison antidotes potions essay. "Hey, Malfoy, are you coming to Hogsmeade with us on Saturday?" Goyle asked him.

'Oh right. The next three weekends Hogsmeade trips will be available to all students at sectioned times of Saturday. Mostly for girls to browse the shops for dresses.' Draco figured. It wasn't like guys had to worry about appearance that much. Dress robes for males were standard for the most part. He was still waiting for his mum to send his custom tailored suit.

"Sure. I could use a drink." Draco decided, anxious already about Granger having reign in his head, he figured a drink or two after the following day would definitely be in order.

"Friday, good. I can manage that." Hermione said, rushing out the door guarded by the Fat Lady. Despite the chaos in the Room of Requirement, the meeting went rather well as a study group instead of strictly Defense Against the Dark Arts training. The older students were available to help their classmates and younger students with spells they had troubles with. Every one of them left feeling satisfied.

The week passed fairly easily, at least for Hermione. The professors loaded up students with a unanimously undesirable amount of homework. Though despite the efforts of the professors, most students were able to finish enough work in order to attend the Hogsmeade trip set for that weekend.

Aside from homework, Hermione had the meeting with Draco about her learning Legilimency. The more she thought about it, the more she started to dread the lesson. What would she see? She imagined horrible scenes that he might have witnessed, his father, Voldemort, his aunt Bellatrix…It scared her, but she was still determined to learn the skill in order to get her parents back.

Friday evening, a bit before the time Draco specified on the Sickle, she ascended the stairs to the seventh floor corridor where the Room of Requirement lay hidden. 'I need a place to learn' she thought, pacing around the corridor. As expected, the door appeared and she stepped inside the empty, quiet room.