Author's note: We the fanfiction authors thank you for your support. It has come to my attention that the transition between Draco and Hermione is sometimes difficult to follow. I apologize for this, but there is reason for it. Reason one is that this particular story is being written in a role play writing style. Meaning one of the authors writes for Draco, while the other author writes for Hermione. As such, the perspective of the scene switches back and forth between the two in a 'turn base' pattern as they each use their given character to progress the scene along. The writing style for this tale cannot be changed. However, I will start putting a symbol between each 'turn' to signal when one fanfiction author concluded their writing segment and the other begins. I hope that will help any future confusion.
The doors opened up, revealing the long dark hallway leading towards the Department of Mysteries. Hermione took Draco's chivalrous offer, grabbing his hand with her left and pointed down the hallway with her wand hand wielding right. Suddenly they were thrust in the direction she had aimed. They stopped just as quickly as they started, landing in front of the door that was their target. "Sorry for the rush, I'd like to get this done with as soon as possible."
She quickly tried the door knob. As luck would be, it wasn't locked as they stepped in. There wasn't a trace of anyone around; the room seemed to be deserted. That was the case until the archway across from them changed from a flat wall underneath to a door. It opened slowly and an Unmentionable emerged. A man in his late 40's walked past them, "Afternoon, Monstanley. Croaker." His eyes lingered upon Hermione a moment longer, giving her a wink. "Good afternoon." Hermione smiled, nodding politely. She had no idea who the person was, but did her best not to give that fact away. He left, and the two were alone in silence again.
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Draco silently released a sigh of relief when it was just them in the Department of Mysteries. The door the unknown man had come through disappeared and in a moment another in its place arrived. Draco withdrew his wand at the ready and opened the door. His arm dropped as he realized there was no threat to be concerned about inside. "It's a room full of Time Turners. We had a few in the Malfoy vault at Gringotts until the Ministry clamed them to be too dangerous after the war ended. They were supposed to be destroyed. Lying bullocks. I never got the opportunity to use one. You think they will notice one missing?" He asked, though he knew he was partially joking he could not pass up the opportunity to see Granger's reaction.
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Hermione peeked around Draco, aghast at exactly how many Time Turners there were. She quickly glowered at Draco. The audacity of even joking about such a thing. She said nothing and simply dragged him out of the doorway. The roulette door began to spin again, she was hopeful that the next door would reveal their destination. To prevent Draco from getting them into possible trouble, Hermione took the liberty of opening the door. On the other side was the Brain room. A few desks surrounded a large tank full of a strange smelling liquid and several brains were floating around. On the wall adjacent from them was another door, leading to the room that contained the veil, if memory served Hermione correctly. "There." She pointed to the old wooden door. "It should be through that door." She whispered her voice barely audible only because she was directly standing next to Draco. She nervously glanced at the Brain tank. "Those…whatever they are, attack at sound. We have to be quiet. Muffliato." With a wave of her wand, she stepped forward into the room, keeping an eye on the tank.
. . . . . . .
Draco gave an odd look toward the tank with the brains. 'This must be the room where they study Thoughts. I wonder whose brains those are?' He thought to himself. He followed suit whispering a silencing spell so his footsteps or voice could not be heard. He kept watch as they carefully made their way across the room. Odd tentacle like strands sprouted from one of the brains. It grabbed the side of the tank and began to climb out. As if sensing something was amiss. "Granger…RUN." He said in a rush, forgetting that he had placed a silencing spell. He gave her shoulder a quick touch as he quickened his pace toward the other door. 'Blimey, I am never getting old.' Draco thought, as he pushed Mr. Croaker's bodily shape into a activity it wasn't used to.
The brains tentacles were catching up quick as they headed toward the opposing door. Releasing the silencing charm he said out loud, "Aberto." And the door swung open. "Protego." He voiced and got a visible shield up to keep the tentacles at bay for a moment while they shut the door behind them. Once shut he managed to relax once more. Only to be met with eerie silence. In this room was nothing but a platform; in the middle an archway with a tattered black veil. Draco could have sworn he heard fleeting whispers coming from behind it. "We made it." He said relieved as he looked over to Granger.
. . . . . . .
They were safe…for now.
Hermione looked around with sorrow and remembrance in her eyes. This was the place where her friends, the Order, and the Deatheaters had fought. This was the place where Sirius died. A chill ran up her spine just as noise came from behind the veil. It was quiet and distant; yet possessed an essence to seek it out. A sense of dread came over Hermione, as though a Dementor were near. However alone they seemed to be, they didn't feel alone. "Draco…" Hermione held out her hand, her voice slightly trembling, "…could you please hold my hand?"
. . . . . . .
The eerie presence in the room was almost engulfing. At least there were no means of security within here like a boggart or a dementor. When Granger spoke his name, he had never heard her sound so…vulnerable. It was different than the voice she had during the events at the Manor. During that ordeal she had been scared, brave, and resilient beyond his expectations. Her voice now was haunted. Her eyes appeared to have a glaze in them as they relieved what had to be memories of her past here. She amazed him once more when she asked him to hold her hand. She was showing that she wasn't afraid to show that she was vulnerable in that moment. She even sought him for comfort. He couldn't think of anyone who had put that kind of trust in him.
Draco took a hold of her outreached hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, "Hermione…" He wasn't sure what words he was trying to say, nothing left his tongue except her name. He hoped that was enough to convey what he was feeling; doing his best to reassure her. They slowly made their way step by step, hand in hand closer to the veil. Draco could only imagine the battle that happened here that landed his father in Azkaban prison the first time. They stopped a few feet away from the archway. Draco could hear more now. Whispers, voices, and an occasional echo of a scream. All of it behind the tattered veil. An odd alluring effect to reach through and move the fabric lingered with each sway of the thin material.
Draco knew this was a pretense. Only the dead could pass through this veil or touch it. If any living thing tried, they would find themselves no longer among the living. He reluctantly let go of her hand and used his want to draw an alchemy entrapment circle around the perimeter of the veil and themselves. This would keep released spirits within, with only one way to go; through the veil. When he was done he approached her once more. In a momentary decision he took her hand again and pulled her into a hug, "When you are ready, Hermione."
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The warmth of Draco's hand reassured her, and Hermione felt much better about the situation with him nearby. The past was trying to rear its ugly head for Hermione, but she wasn't going to let it get in the way of her mission. She swallowed the dread, calling upon her 'Gryffindor courage' as Draco would have put it, she was sure. She squeezed Draco's hand in acknowledgement. It took all her concentration on not losing herself. Everything around her was combining into a blur, passing as though she had no control over her own body or mind. When Draco embraced her, she came back into stability and regained her composure. "Yes, I'm ready." She set her bag down onto the floor and reached in for the Djinn in the Flask. It came out, flapping its lips. When it saw the veil, its mouth hung open and its eyes widened. It shook in protest, a moment later the silencing charm dissipated. "You can't do this. I have so much to offer! I'll do anything! Just don't kill me after bringing me back so soon! I'll be good, honest!" She was sure if it was capable of keeping its word, she might have considered its pleas. But too many times has this thing spoken falsehoods and tricked people into doing horrific acts.
"I'm sorry. You pose too great a risk. You might have been a good idea, but as long as greed and selfishness live within the hearts of man, wizards and muggles alike, you have a way to tempt us." Hermione's voice sounded almost apologetic, but a hint of justice rang through. This angered the Djinn. "You'll be sorry. If I come back, you and your kin will be punished." Without response Hermione set the Gordian knot sphere down on the ground and pointed her wand at the Djinn, "Wingardium Leviosa." A swish and a flick later, the Djinn was airborne. She guided the protesting creature away, through the veil. It's cursing and insults suddenly died away as it passed through the metaphysical barrier between life and death. A bright light began emitting from the Djinn's mouth as it lay agape. Then a stream of light similar to that of a Patronus charm began pouring out from the maw. It exited passed the veil and flowed around Hermione and Draco, bouncing off the barrier Draco put in place and back through the veil, disappearing for good. The light became so bright that Hermione shielded her eyes to avoid blindness.
As quickly as it began, the light stopped, punctuated by the sound of the Gordian Knot falling to the platform surface and rolling out to the living side of the veil archway. It was red and steaming at the seams. Hermione cast Aguamenti over the ball, cooling it with water until it could be handled once more and placed back into her bag. A quick look at her watch told her that it was time to evacuate; half an hour had already passed. If they wished to escape any trouble they needed to hurry. "Let's go Draco." She walked towards the wall where she figured the exit should be and spoke loud and clear, "We'd like to leave new, please."
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It was a shame to lose such a valuable artifact. But Granger was right (like always) the Djinn posed too great a threat and was too close to gaining a body to be trusted now or in the future. Souls came pouring out after the Djinn was thrown through the veil. It got dangerously bright that Draco shielded his eyes with his arm. In but a moment it stopped. The souls of Tanis returned through the veil, finally reaching whatever came after mortality.
As quickly as it happened, time was running out for them. Granger could be caught and probably be okay. Him? Not likely. As she requested the room configured a door that took them out of the Department of Mysteries. It was hard not to watch the time as seconds ticked by and they hurried to exit. "Croaker? Monkstanley? I thought you two had today off?" A fellow asked looking confused as they hurried by. "We are on our way out to enjoy it. Good day!" Draco commented, channeling his best imitation of Mr. Croakers voice that he could muster in a hurry.
He felt his body beginning to change just as they reached the hall of floo network fireplaces. They would have to do. The phone book elevator was too far away. "Follow me." He said and took lead as they used their last precious few seconds to reach an available fireplace. He sent them to the first place that popped into his mind – Malfoy Manner.