Shell of Darkness Broken

Shell of Darkness Broken

Chapter Three

"I'm telling you, Ron, you really need to convince her," Harry said, pacing back and forth in Ron's office the next morning.

Ron had his fists in his hair. "She won't listen. Neville and I had a hard enough time trying to tell her about Malfoy yesterday. She wouldn't hear of it."

"Maybe you shouldn't have told her," Lavender Brown said from the couch. Harry turned to look at her. At twenty-two years old, she was happily married to Ron, and was a Divination Master.

"Told her about Malfoy?" Ron asked.

Lavender nodded. "Now it's just another source of stress for her. As if she doesn't have enough already, what with the dozens of books she's trying to write all at once."

"By the way, Lavender," Harry cut in. "You are sure of Voldemort starting a revolt?"

"Of course I'm sure, Harry," she said irritably. "I've been seeing the same image for three nights in a row. Repetition is the only proof we have for prophecies, you know that."

Harry sighed. "Okay."

Ron cleared his throat. "Okay, maybe me and Harry should just call on Hermione tonight or something. We really need to get her to Hogwarts."

Lavender nodded in agreement. "Okay." Swiftly she Disapparated.

Ron turned to Harry. "Are you up for tonight?"

Harry shrugged. "Sure. I've got nothing else to do."

"Didn't you have a date with Cho?"

"No, that's tomorrow night."

"Right. Let's go to lunch."

***

Hermione woke up from her disturbed sleep and looked around, expecting someone to be there with her.

Draco, her mind whirled. He was here. He touched me, whispered in my ear! Hermione was frightened of how long she might have been out cold when he was in her home. She was frightened of him, of the emotional power he still held over her, that she could faint so easily when he approached her.

I'm not in love with him, she told herself over and over, firmly. I can't possibly still yearn for him.

Looking at the clock, she cursed silently. It was only 4:46 a.m. Getting up off of the couch, she crept to the kitchen, where her sandwich still lay on the plate. She was standing right in front of it when he hissed into her ear and touched her waist. Hermione shuddered.

Ignoring the food on the plate, she went to her bathroom and took a shower, then changed into a standard black fitting work robe. She dumped her night suit in the laundry, which was charmed to wash and dry all day.

In her library, she sat at her mahogany desk, pulling out her book notes. Till 12:30 she was occupied, getting one or two of the chapters out of the way. Getting up, she stretched and went to get lunch.

***

That evening, Ron and Harry dressed in their evening robes and Apparated to Hermione's front door. Ron rang the doorbell.

Hermione answered a few moments later, appearing distracted, but nonetheless happy to see them. "You two haven't come to my house in the longest time."

"Got that right," Harry said, stepping past her into the foyer. "You've really decorated, 'Mione. It looks good."

"Thanks. I've felt really bored lately, mainly from writer's block. I think it's wearing off, though. I've managed to get some of my book done today. Aren't you glad?" Hermione asked, leading them into the living room and sitting them down.

"Definitely," Ron agreed. "You've been in the same spot for at least the past three months!"

They laughed. Hermione tried to laugh, but hers came out hollow and fake. Oh, what is Draco doing to me? she asked herself angrily. I can't even carry on a decent conversation with my two best friends without resenting them for disturbing my peace.

"I'll get some drinks." She stood up and went to the kitchen. Harry and Ron didn't notice; they were bantering on about the latest Quidditch match between England and Turkey.

When she came back with three butterbeers, Ron spoke. "Hermione, me and Harry have got to tell you something."

Hermione snapped her eyes to theirs, suspicion evident in her chocolate brown pupils. "Yes?" she inquired curiously.

Harry sighed, and said, "Hermione, you really must come to Hogwarts."

Hermione also sighed and said, "I've already told Ron, I'm not coming..."

"He didn't come again last night, did he?" Ron asked worriedly.

Hermione hesitated for a split second before saying, "No." Why did I lie?

Ron exhaled a sigh of relief. "Good."

"But that doesn't mean she's still safe, Ron," Harry protested. "You're in real danger, Hermione, and I could never forgive myself if you were killed here."

"I can take care of myself, Harry," Hermione said, with an edge in her voice. Ron recognized it and knew better than to argue. However, Harry wasn't convinced.

"Dammit, why are you stubborn sometimes, 'Mione?" Harry asked, gripping his butterbeer tightly.

"I am not stubborn!" Hermione snapped. "I just don't appreciate the fact that you two think I can't watch over myself! Harry, stop it! You only came here to lecture me? Is that it?"

"It's for your own good, 'Mione..." Ron began, but Hermione stopped him.

"I know you think it is, and you know what? It probably is. But right now, I feel perfectly safe, and I'm not going anywhere," Hermione grabbed her butterbeer and took a swig out of it.

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to act overprotective of you. I'm just...worried. You're one of Voldemort's main targets, and...it would be great fun for him to use you to get to me," Harry said quietly.

"I'll be going, Hermione," Ron said suddenly, getting up, before Hermione could answer Harry. She got up, too, nodding. He kissed her on the cheek and said, "Take care of yourself. I'll see you soon."

"Okay. Tell Lavender I said hi," Hermione said. Ron nodded okay, then Disapparated.

"I'd better get going, too," Harry said, and kissed her on the cheek also. "Be careful, now."

"I will. By the way, who is it now, Harry?" Hermione asked smiling devilishly.

He gave her an innocent but mocking stare. "Who is who, my dear friend?"

"Don't play dumb!" Hermione laughed. "I mean, who are you with as of now?"

"I have a date with Cho Chang tomorrow, if that's what you're talking about," he said, returning a sheepish grin.

"I had a feeling you were seeing someone, Harry Potter," she said. "There was nothing in the tabloids for about two months. I knew there must have something you were hiding."

Harry laughed and waved at her, then Disapparated.

Smiling, Hermione picked up the tray of empty glasses and returned them to the kitchen. Twenty minutes later, she was dressed in her black night suit, and on the couch with a Muggle mystery novel. Her wand lay next to her on her pillow. No tricks from Draco tonight, she thought.

She contemplated the reasons she didn't tell Ron that Draco had been here last night. Perhaps it was because she didn't want to be shipped off to Hogwarts against her will. Do I really want to see Draco that badly? she asked herself incredulously. She shook her head. Don't think about it.

Suddenly, there was a small pop noise from the foyer. Hermione stiffened. He really did come back. Shivering, she gripped her wand tightly in her right hand and got up from the couch.