{ 47 }

We appeared in a hallway. A door stood in front of us. Posted on the door were three names.

Harry Potter

Ronald Weasley

Neville Longbottom

We stood still for a moment, waiting to see if we had been heard. No one stirred, though. After a few heartbeats, Hermione stepped closer to the door. She knocked three times and lifted the handle. It swung inward silently on its hinges.

She waited a full fifteen seconds before stepping into the room.

A blue curse sizzled through the air. My left arm snaked around her waist, pulled her back against me whilst I raised my wand and cast a wordless shield charm.

The expelliarmus charm hit the shield with enough force that I knew exactly which wizard had cast it.

"Draco. You can let go now." Hermione wrapped her hand around mine and squeezed.

Adrenaline is pumping through my system. Hermione is calm, though. Her wand is held right beside mine. She had cast a shield, too, only a split second after mine.

"Hermione?" Potter's voice came from the darkened room. Two lanterns flared to life, chasing away the shadows.

"Yes, Harry. It's me. And Draco."

Potter stepped into the light with Weasley right behind him. Both of them had their wands at the ready. Hermione kept her wand raised, and so did I.

"Where did we spend last Christmas?" Harry asked.

"Godric's Hollow." She answered without hesitation.

He lowered his wand and released a deep sigh. Weasley followed suit.

Hermione relaxed against me and lowered her arm as well.

"Bloody Hell, 'Mione. You scared us half to death." Ron sat on the edge of the closest bed and ran his hand through his hair.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, dispensing with pleasantries altogether.

"Draco." She turned towards me, a slight smile on her lips. "Seriously, you can let go now."

"Right." I lowered my shield charm and relaxed my arm around her waist. I did not let her go, however. If she noticed, she did not say anything about it.

We stepped fully into the room and closed the door behind us.

"Someone is snooping around on the third floor." She turned her attention back to Potter. "I need to see the Marauder's Map."

Harry raised his brow. He hesitated for a moment. His eyes flickered up to meet mine for a brief moment. Then he turned and lifted the lid of his trunk. He retrieved a battered bit of parchment and handed it to her.

"What is that?" I watched as she unfolded the parchment and laid it across the top of the trunk.

Ron huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.

"What is he doing here?" He rolled his eyes. The words didn't have the same bite they used to have, though.

Hermione smirked at him but didn't deign to answer.

"This is an amazing piece of magic that has saved my arse more than once." Potter also ignored Weasley and answered my question instead. He tapped his wand against the parchment and muttered, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Ink began to form on the parchment. Letters. Words. Shapes. I looked over Hermione's shoulder as a detailed map of Hogwarts appeared.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me." I groaned to myself as I watched five sets of footprints appear in a singular room. Each set was labeled with the name of each occupant of the dorm room. My name appeared right behind Hermione's. Harry was to my right. Ron to my left. Neville off to the side, still asleep in his bed.

"Brilliant, isn't it?" Hermione smirked.

"Your work?" I fully expected her to confirm that suspicion.

"Hardly." She laughed airily. "I do intend to study it after we graduate, of course."

She lifted a flap on the left hand side, folded it out, and lifted another section.

"Here we go." She moved her finger along the corridor. Two sets of footprints were shown in front of the arched doorway that led into the lecture room.

Gregory Goyle and Donavan Bragg.

That cannot be anything good.

"This may be a good time to tell you that Greg threatened me yesterday." I held my breath and waited for the inevitable backlash. "Well, threatened us, actually."

She huffed a short laugh and flipped her hair over her shoulder as she gave me a half hearted glare. Then her eyes softened and she tilted her head to the side.

"Ernie threatened you today." She chewed on her lip for a moment and her eyes glossed over. "He said you were going to Azkaban."

A shiver ran down her spine. I pulled her close, wrapped my arms around her and held her for a moment. She sank into me and gripped the fabric of my sweater.

"I am not going anywhere." I reassured her.

"That is exactly what I told him." She gave a short laugh and relaxed against me. "Then I knee-d him in the nads."

I cringed, but couldn't help the short bark of laughter that erupted from my throat. Harry and Ron also laughed, reminding me that we are not alone.

She released a sigh and turned back to the map. The two sets of footprints are wandering from one end of the corridor to the other and back again.

"What are they doing?" Ron asked.

I smirked to myself, but I am happy to let Hermione answer that one.

"There are wards here, at the entrance to the corridor." She pointed to the spot on the map where the stairs meet the platform on the third floor. "Anyone can pass through and enter the corridor, however, only those that have been authorized to be there can pass back through the wards to the platform."

"Are you saying that they are trapped there?" Harry asked with a grin. "Brilliant."

"Exactly."

I had to smile at the haughtiness in her voice. It reminded me of the Hermione from years past. Confident. Self-assured.

Sexy as fuck.

"So they are trapped there." Weasley rubbed sleep from his eyes and focused harder on the map. "What do we do now?"

It is an excellent question. Even if it does come from Ron Weasley.

Whom I still cannot stand, by the way.

Although, he isn't quite as repulsive as I once thought, I suppose.

"I say we leave them there." I lifted my shoulder and let it drop. "McGonagall will find them eventually."

"We cleared everything out of the lecture hall when we left." Hermione nodded her head once. "We already gave Bones the plans for everyone to leave tomorrow. There isn't any reason for us to go back to the third floor tonight or in the morning."

"Aren't you curious? What are they doing there?" Harry looked back and forth between us incredulously. I am positive that his plan would be to go there to that corridor and confront the two Slytherins.

"Not at all." I huffed a short laugh. "They are obviously there to either attempt to attack me, or to try to get me into trouble and have my probation revoked."

"Or they could be there trying to attack Hermione." Ron glared at me.

Of course. There is that possibility as well.

My fingers tightened around her waist and a pang of guilt shot through my heart. I should have thought of that first.

"Also a possibility," I conceded. "Which is why we should stay away."

Thick silence hung in the air for a long moment. I held my breath, waiting for one of the foolhardy Gryffindors to suggest something dangerous and, well, foolhardy.

"We could always go to the lecture room." Harry suggested. "They won't be able to see us through the wards, right?"

My brow crinkled in confusion. Hermione and I can do that easily enough. We have the pendants from Ravenclaw that allow us to apperate within the walls of the school.

Surely Hermione has not told either of them about that?

"There is only one way in, and one way out, Potter." I answered tersely. If she hasn't told them…I am nearly positive she has not…then I am certainly not going to be the one that gives it away.

"That isn't entirely true…" Weasley responded sheepishly. His eyes darted back and forth between Harry and Hermione. "There is the trap door, in Fluffy's room."

I felt myself breathe a sigh of relief at his answer. Hermione, on the other hand, shivered involuntarily.

"No." Her voice was nothing more than a whisper. She cleared her throat and tried again. "No, we can't get in that way. A heavy carpet has been laid on the floor."

"It could be worth a try." Harry suggested. He is already pulling on a jumper.

Ron followed suit, picked clothes off the floor and disappeared into the bathroom.

Fucking Gryffindors.

"Harry, you have to go clear down to the dungeons to even find the entrance to those rooms. It's in the sub-basement, for Merlin's sake!"

Hermione's voice took on an almost shrill tone. Her hand clamped around mine and squeezed it like a vice.

Harry raised his brow for a moment, then moved to put on his shoes.

"You do remember where the entrance is, right?" He asked without looking back at her.

It took longer than it should have before I noticed her oncoming anxiety attack. In a sudden moment of clarity, I realized that Potter and Weasley are planning to trope through the entire castle now, in the middle of the night. And worse, they think Hermione is going with them.

I don't fucking think so.

"Don't you know where the entrance is?" I asked pointedly. I let a bit of my disdain in that moment bleed through into my voice.

"No. I woke up the next day in the hospital wing."

"Same." Weasley grinned as he returned to the room fully clothed.

I narrowed my eyes and glared at the two bumbling idiots. They cannot possibly be this stupid.

"Find a different plan, if you must, but she is not going." I stepped in front of her, physically putting myself between her and them. I narrowed my eyes and glared at both of them.

I heard her release a sigh behind me. Whether it was out of relief or frustration, I couldn't tell. Not that it matters.

Her hand settled on my waist and she pressed her forehead against the center of my back. My hand found hers and squeezed in a gentle pulse.

"You said the entrance is in the dungeon? Show me where, on the map."

She laughed. It was a nervous type of giggle, actually.

"You really want to go?" She asked incredulously. "With them?"

Her arms squeezed around my waist. The giggle turned into a laugh.

I released a deep sigh. It isn't like I am thrilled with the prospect.

"Do you have any idea at all how much trouble these two get themselves into?" Her laughter rang through the room. Not amusement, I finally decided. More like hysteria.

"Yes, well," Potter grinned. "We are the ones that should be worried, aren't we? Who is to say that Malfoy will be even half as brilliant as you? Then who will save our arses?"

"That is a fair point." Weasley nodded solemnly. "Tell me, Malfoy, how do you escape from Devil's Snare?"

My brow crinkled in confusion. What the bloody hell kind of question is that?

Hermione's laughter trailed off and the room fell into an awkward silence.

"It's a valid question, you know." She cleared her throat. I looked from Potter to Weasley and back again. They are both looking at me expectantly.

They are all waiting for me to answer that ridiculous question. What the hell was it, anyway?

"Devil's Snare?" I rolled my eyes. Good Merlin. I am not some ignorant first year, you know. "Should I expect to be attacked by an overgrown weed in the bowels of Hogwarts?"

The way Harry and Ron's eyes darted towards each other told me everything I needed to know.

"I am sure they have removed it all by now." Hermione patted my shoulder.

Somehow, that does not make me feel better.

They are fucking with me. That has to be it. Still, they are waiting for me to answer the question anyway.

"You have to relax completely. If you fight it, it will attack you."

Collectively, the Golden Trio breathed a sigh of relief.

Hermione unfolded a different section of the map. I watched as she ran her finger along the parchment, following the corridor past the Potions lab, past the cauldron storeroom, and past the potion professor's office.

She faltered for a moment, then pointed to a small corridor that I never noticed before.

"This is where I came out." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked.

"Positive. The door looks like it might be a broom closet, but inside is a passageway that leads to the chess board."

"Alright then." Ron moved swiftly to the door. "Let's go."

Hermione tapped the parchment and muttered "mischief managed". The ink disappeared. She folded it up and put it in her pocket. Then she slid her hand into mine. We followed Weasley out of the dorm and down the stairs to the Gryffindor common room.

She stayed by my side until we got to the portrait hole.

"Be careful." She squeezed my hand a little tighter. Looking in her eyes, I can see the anxiety lurking behind her hazel orbs.

"Don't worry." I leaned my forehead against hers. "I will be fine."

She raised her brow.

"Never assume that." Her hands on my back gripped my shirt.

I am starting to second guess myself. It might be just as bad to leave her alone as it would be for her to come with us.

"Are you going to be alright?" I searched her eyes, looking for any indication that I need to stay with her.

She took a deep breath and nodded her head once.

I leaned in and kissed her slowly. With one final look, I followed Potter and Weasley out into the castle, leaving her behind.

As soon as the portrait of the Fat Lady closed behind me, I regretted my decision. Reluctantly, I followed the bumbling duo down the stairs

"Draco! Wait." I had barely made it a few steps from the portrait before Hermione's voice stopped me. I turned quickly.

"What is it?" I asked as the portrait closed behind her.

"I'm coming with you." She rushed to my side and grabbed my hand.

"No, you most certainly are not." I scowled down at her. What in Salazar's name is she thinking?

"Hell yeah," Weasley grinned.

Her eyes were hard when she nodded.

"I am." She inhaled deeply and let it out slowly. "I can do this."

Stubborn fucking witch.

"Hermione…" The exasperation in my voice is evident.

"It will be fine." She squeezed my hand and held tight. Her eyes are filled with determination. "Strength in numbers and all that, right? Besides, I will be worried sick the entire time you are gone."

"What she is actually saying, Malfoy," Potter chuckled. "Is that she doesn't trust us to do this without her."

"Yes, well," she smirked. "As Pansy said, someone has to keep you morons from doing something monumentally stupid."

Somewhere deep in the castle the clock chimed one time as the four of us started down the stairs.

Silently we made our way through darkened stairwells and shadow laden corridors.

On the fifth floor, Hermione squeezed my hand so hard it hurt. She held her breath the entire length of the corridor. It wasn't until we reached the stairway and stepped off the landing before she released the breath she had been holding and relaxed her hold on my hand.

In the dungeon, we followed Hermione's directions to the broom closet beyond Slughorn's office.

Hermione went in first, then myself. Harry and Ron followed me into the cramped space.

"What the Hell is this?" Ron whispered harshly. The closet was barely large enough for the four of us to stand inside.

"Shh!" Harry pulled the door shut behind him. As soon as it clicked into place, all of us whispered "lumos".

She was positive this is the entrance. My eyes darted around the confined space. On the back wall, almost at the corner directly in front of me, there was a small latch. I lifted it and pushed. The back wall swung open, revealing a passageway.

Dread formed in the pit of my stomach. How in the bloody fucking hell did I get myself into this? Hermione's hand pulsed around mine.

"Here we go," she whispered. Then she stepped through the hidden door into the darkness beyond. I followed close behind, refusing to let go of her hand for even a second.

Harry and Ron were right behind me. I heard the door close and latch.

We followed Hermione turn for turn, up flights of stairs, down corridors. Eventually, we stepped out of the passageway into a large, empty space. Black and white squares had been painted on the floor, resembling a chess board.

A memory floated through my mind. Dumbledore, at the farewell banquet, during first year.

"To Mr. Ronald Weasley, for the best played game of chess that I have seen in many years, fifty points…"

"It seemed bigger back then." Weasley spoke quietly as he walked across the board and stood in a particular square.

Harry also moved across the floor and stopped on a different square.

"I replay that game over and over in my mind sometimes." He ran his hand through his hair and released a deep sigh. "You were brilliant, you know? You protected Hermione, you sacrificed yourself, and you got me through to the next task."

I glanced back at the passageway we had just stepped out of. Weasley and Potter didn't know that passageway was there. Hermione had to find her way out of here on her own, when she was only eleven years old.

I moved around the edge of the board with Hermione. In the background I could hear Harry and Ron talking back and forth, describing the game. I ignored them and waited for her to say something.

"It was terrifying." She shivered.

Our two companions finally finished their trip down memory lane. I followed them into a circular room with a staircase of stone winding up the walls of the turret.

"I don't remember it being that far down." Harry looked up into the darkness above before stepping onto the stairs.

"The Devil's Snare must have slowed us down enough that the fall itself didn't kill us." Ron followed next.

My eyes darted around the small space. I brightened the light at the end of my wand and inspected every step for the notorious weed.

"Let me see if I have this right. You lot evaded a three headed dog, jumped into a patch of Devil's Snare, then played a game of life sized Wizard's Chess. When you were eleven years old?"

The footsteps above me slowed, then stopped altogether.

"Among other things, yes." Potter agreed.

He had come to the top of the stairwell. Above his head, there was a door in the middle of a wooden ceiling. He pushed up on the door, to no avail. Ron stepped up beside him and they both pushed. The door lifted a few millimeters, maybe, then stopped. The carpeting must be holding it down.

"Hold it there." I pointed my wand at the door and cast a slicing charm to cut through the carpet. I went across the front edge first, then down each side. As I finished, the threads gave way and the door lifted up.

The room is dark. Only the faintest amount of light filtered in through the high window. My eyes darted to the portrait above the door. If Potter or Weasley saw it, they didn't comment on it.

As soon as the trap door was closed, Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. We had made it to our destination without any trouble.

She looked up at me and grinned before stepping into my arms and hugging me tightly.

"We made it," she whispered.

She made it.

That's what she meant. She had made it through the castle, through the maze of secret tunnels, through the site of her childhood adventures. Or trauma…whatever the case may be.

We slipped silently into the lecture hall.

The wards that are set over the doorway are powerful and multi-layered. The two Slytherins in the corridor cannot see us. They cannot even see that a doorway exists there. To them, it would look like another section of stone wall.

We can see them clearly, though. And we can hear every word they say.

By my estimation, they have been trapped in that corridor for around forty five minutes.

"It has to lead somewhere, Goyle!" Bragg shouted at his companion. "They don't come up here and sit in a circle in the hallway, now do they?"

"I don't care where it leads!" Goyle pushed the younger boy against the wall. "How are we going to get out of here? If McGonagall finds me here, I'll go straight to Azkaban for my troubles!"

Not necessarily true. Bragg is breaking curfew, but Goyle is of age. He does not know about that particular loophole, of course.

"Get off me, you stupid oaf." Bragg pushed back.

He was no match for Greg, though. The larger wizard held him against the stone wall with one hand and growled low in his throat.

"You think you are better than everyone else. I have news for you, you are no Draco Malfoy."

My lip tilted up in a smirk as Bragg's nose curled up in disgust.

"Like I would want to be?" He scoffed. "He is a blood traitor, remember?"

"Why do you care if he is? Why does anyone care?" Greg released him and stalked down the hall towards the stairwell. Bragg drew his wand and fired a purple curse towards his back.

I held my breath.

Greg reacted quicker than I would have expected. He turned and deflected the curse, then parried with an expelliarmus.

Bragg's wand flew through the air towards Greg, whilst his body flew backwards. He hit the wall hard and crumbled in a heap to the ground.

"Arse." Greg muttered.

Part of me is proud of Greg for besting the younger wizard. Another part of me is disappointed. We didn't learn much of anything from their conversation, and with Bragg unconscious we won't likely learn any more.

In a moment of stupidity, I will blame it on spending too much time with foolhardy Gryffindors, I decided to go talk to him.

Our last encounter had been less than cordial. Still, he had shown a modicum of loyalty to me. Perhaps he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

"Stay here," I muttered quietly, then I stepped forward, through the warded archway, before I really thought through what the hell I was doing.

At least I had the forethought to draw my wand before I cleared my throat.

"That was impressive, Goyle." My voice carried down the corridor.

He turned and fired off another expelliarmus. I was ready for him, though. I blocked it easily, but did not return with a curse of my own. I did not reveal myself just to fight him.

"Malfoy. I should have known you would be here somewhere."

I lifted my shoulder in a shrug and leaned against the wall in a nonchalant manner.

"A rodent got caught in my trap. I had to come see what I had caught."

He stared at me for a long moment.

"I bet Granger is around here somewhere, too. Isn't she?" His nose curled up on the end.

Better not answer that one.

"What are you doing here, Goyle?"

His jaw locked into place. He glared at me, then shifted his glare to Bragg.

"He wanted to know what your big project is."

"And you?" I raised my brow and took a step closer. "What did you want to know?"

I know he doesn't care about the project.

"You were right about Tracey. All she wants is to be a pureblood wife." He relaxed his shoulders and released a short laugh. "Good to know, actually. It takes the pressure off, you know?"

Sadly, I know exactly what he is saying.

"You are going to marry her, then?" I am not surprised by that. Not really. It is what we have all been raised to believe. Marry a pureblood. Any pureblood, so long as they are not sympathetic to muggleborns.

"I have already contacted my solicitor to draw up the paperwork."

I suppose congratulations are in order.

"How does that answer the question? Why are you here?"

"You were still looking out for me. Even after everything I said about Granger. About you." His eyes darted over to the figure lying still on the ground. "Figured I should return the favor."

I masked my surprise well, merely raising a brow in response to his revelation.

"Alright then." I nodded my head and gestured with my hand. "Tell me what you know."

He hesitated. I am acutely aware that Hermione, Harry and Ron are standing behind me, listening to every word.

"Let me out of here," he said after a moment. "And I will tell you everything I know."

Fuck.

Smart move. Especially coming from Goyle.

I considered my actions for a long moment.

"Fair enough." I cleared my throat and motioned down the corridor to the stairs. "After you."

The coin in my pocket warmed against my leg. Discreetly, I pulled it from my pocket and glanced at it.

"What in the fuck are you doing?"

I tapped the face of the coin and replied quickly.

"Trust me."

As we neared the platform, I slid the coin back in my pocket and I clasped my hand over Greg's shoulder so he could get past the wards.

As soon as we were out of the corridor, he released a sigh of relief.

"Thanks." He muttered it quietly enough that I barely heard him.

"Your turn." I released his arm and crossed mine over my chest. "Tell me what you know."

He ran his hand through his hair and inhaled deeply.

"Your Father has offered a nice chunk of gold galleons for information on your girlfriend."

My heart stopped for a moment, then started beating in double time. I shouldn't be surprised, I suppose.

"My Father is in Ministry custody. Soon he will be in Azkaban where he belongs." It is a weak argument. He likely offered the bounty before he was taken back into custody.

"Your Mother is not." His eyes met mine for a moment before he turned away.

"There is more," he continued. "I don't know the details, but there is a group here at Hogwarts that wants to take you down. They want to see you in Azkaban next to your Father."

I figured as much. That comment had been made a few times now.

"That isn't going to happen. I haven't done anything wrong." Completely by the book. That's me these days.

Mostly.

"You will." He huffed a short laugh. "If they take away the most important thing you have. You would do anything to get her back…or to avenge her."

His words hung in the air between us.

A cold sense of dread filled me. Ice settled in my heart and spread out through my veins.

His eyes met mine once again for a brief moment. Long enough that he knew I understood. Then he turned and retrieved his broom. Without looking at me again, he was in the air descending through the castle.

He is right. If they took her, whomever they may be, I would move Heaven and Earth to get her back, and to Hell with the consequences.

[ - - - ]

As soon as I turned around, I saw them. They had followed us out to the landing. All three of them. Hermione had heard every word. She knows that she is in danger, yet again, because of me.

I can feel Harry staring at me. I know, without a doubt, that whatever truce we have will be gone if anything happens to her. They will blame me, rightfully so.

My mind is spinning with possible scenarios. When will they make their move? Will we be ready? Is there anything I can do to protect her, short of locking her in our rooms and not letting her out?

"Harry. Ron. I need you to promise me." Hermione turned her back to me and focused on her housemates. "You promise me, right now, if they do get to me…"

"That isn't going to happen." Ron interrupted her.

"If it does…" She tried again.

I stepped forward and put my hands on her waist, pulling her back against me. I know what she is going to say.

"If it does," I cut her off. "I will do whatever it takes to get you back, and there is not a damn thing either of these two, or anyone else for that matter, could do to stop me."

She dropped her head back and released a frustrated sigh.

"Draco…"

"He's right, Hermione." Harry nodded in agreement. "And besides, we'll be right there with him."

[ - - - ]

Harry and Ron returned to Gryffindor Tower soon after, leaving Hermione and I alone on the third floor landing. We moved quietly through the corridor, past the still unconscious Bragg, and into the lecture hall.

I kept hold of her the whole time. I may never let go of her again.

"I need some air." She muttered. Her hand rubbed against her chest. "Hold on."

I barely had time to prepare myself before she apparated both of us away from the third floor. My stomach rolled as I landed hard and stumbled backwards.

"Dammit!" We both fell to the stone floor.

"Fuck. I'm sorry." She scrambled to get off of me, but I held my arm around her waist and refused to let go. "Are you alright?"

"Bloody brilliant." I can't fucking breathe and her elbow is lodged in my ribcage. "Just hold still for a minute, yeah?"

Gently I moved her elbow and forced air into my lungs.

"Are you splinched?" I can hear the anxiety in her voice.

"No." I don't think so, anyway. I forced another breath. The air was bitter cold and burned my lungs.

I opened my eyes.

The fucking Astronomy tower. Perfect.

"A little more warning next time would be appreciated." Sarcasm laced my words.

"I am sorry." She rolled to the side. This time I let her go just long enough for both of us to sit up and lean against the wall. "I just…I couldn't breathe. I needed a minute. You know?"

Finally I looked over at her. She is holding her hand against her chest, staring out into the night.

Fucking hell. She is on the verge of an anxiety attack.

I slid my arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

"Yes. I know the feeling." I pressed my lips against her temple.

"I don't understand." She curled into me. "Why can't they just leave us alone?"

That is an excellent question. One that I do not have the answer to.

"It is me they are after." I rubbed my hand up and down her arm. "They feel I wronged them during the war. And I did, I'm sure."

"I don't think that is entirely true." Her arm tightened around my waist. "There are also those that still think I am a lesser witch for being muggleborn. And those that think you have betrayed your family and purebloods everywhere."

I smirked to myself.

"Well, they aren't wrong on that one, are they?" I am actively leading a revolution against the whole lot, after all.

She chuckled.

"Whatever their reasoning, we are both still targets." I turned towards her and cupped my hand around her chin so I could look deep in her eyes. "We need to stay vigilant."

I held her gaze until she nodded in understanding, then I leaned in and kissed her.

We stayed there, huddled together on the stone floor, for a long while. We didn't talk much. Each of us were coming to terms with this new threat.

I was making plans in my mind of how I can keep her safe from these people when she cleared her throat and shifted away from me.

"Do you think…" She pushed her hair back behind her ears. "It's almost like…the Darkness knows. It knows who we are. It knows we are coming after it…and it is fighting back."

A cold chill ran down my spine.

"That is impossible." It has to be. Right? "The Darkness is not real. It is not a sentient being."

She turned to face me. She blinked once or twice and tilted her head to the side.

"The greatest trick the Devil ever played was convincing the world that he does not exist."

I swallowed hard against the sudden lump in my throat.

Could she actually be correct? I want to say there is no way in Salazar's name.

Then again…it almost makes sense.

"It is a force of pure evil, Draco." She licked her lips and inhaled a deep breath. "The Serpent and the Phoenix brought Light to the Darkness, and peace throughout the Forest."

Bloody fucking hell.

[ - - - ]

My dreams were dark. Painful. More than once I woke gasping for air, my hand reaching out to ensure she was still there beside me.

This time when my eyes snapped open the room had lightened to a dull gray color as the sun slowly started to rise. Pre-dawn.

Hermione is still sleeping beside me. Quietly, I rolled to the edge of the bed and left the bedroom. I closed the door silently on my way out.

The hot shower soothed my tense muscles, although the headache that is starting behind my eyes remains. I dressed casually in a black sweater and gray pants. Today is going to be a long day.

Hermione is still sleeping and the sun has barely crested the horizon. She has plenty of time before she needs to be up. I let her sleep and went upstairs to the study.

Laying on the work table is the book in which Ravenclaw recorded her dreams. Beside it is the book that Hermione uses to do the same.

I have flipped through each of them, but I can't say that I have looked at every picture, every scene. Between the two books there are hundreds of them. I suppose I am leery of what I might see.

I opened Ravenclaw's book and fanned through the pages. I don't know what I was looking for. A certain image caught my eye, though, and I stopped, flipping back to that page quickly.

I swallowed hard around the sudden lump in my throat as I scanned over the image.

Hermione was standing on the edge of the Astronomy Tower. One foot hung over the abyss below. In front of her was a snake, my patronus, hanging in the air.

Behind her was a dark figure, not quite a human. Sinister eyes stared over her shoulder, and talon like fingers gripped her arms. Blackness dripped from its fingers into her skin.

Into her soul.

The Darkness.

AN: Well….what do you guys think?

I can't wait to hear your thoughts.

For my US readers, I hope you enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday.

My football team disappointed me big time today, so I am drowning my sorrow in fanfiction. : ) Your reviews will help me feel better.

So go ahead, hit that button and make my day.

Until next time.

-mezy