Goodnight Sweet Girl

Twelve: Hermione's Suspicions

It was an oddly quiet breakfast for the Gryffindors that Saturday. There were no jokes or loud boistering bouts of laughter, and Weasley especially looked worse for the wear. Oddly enough though, when Harry Potter and 'Diana Marlowe' entered Great Hall all chatter at the Gryffindor table ceased, and every single Gryffindor turned to look at the couple whose hands were interlocked. The two looked happy and proud and defiant of their fellow house members. Then Harry leaned down and whispered something into the girl's ear, and her laughter, so rich and melodic filled the air.

Then the two started walking. The went to their usual seats by Hermione and Ron, but Ron got up and moved away. Odd, thought the other tables, and then something else happened, there was an odd shifting as all of the Gryffindors with the exception of Hermione and Neville Longbottom. The Gryffindors were actually moving away from their precious golden boy. And Pansy Parkinson found this most interesting.

Pansy watched as the Gryffindors pointedly ignored Potter and Marlowe and found herself wondering what could make such loyal Gryffindors turn on two of their own, and then she recalled that Blaise hadn't returned from wherever he'd stormed off to last night. Just what had happened?

Then a commotion began at the Gryffindor table, raised voices and the like, tearing Pansy away from her throughts. She watched as Potter stood up and then was followed by the pretty little blonde, to which Pansy thought, if that little blonde bitch were a boy, Draco might have loved her.

Harry'd had more than enough, and knowing that two of Hogwart's worst gossips were indeed in his house, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, the news about Draco would get around Hogwarts sooner rather than later. He stood up, and so did Draco, who tentatively took his hand, with a few snorts from the male population of the Gryffindor table, the two approached the teacher's table. Draco noted that for once Snape was present at breakfast, a most shocking feat.

There was a twinkle in Albus Dumbledore's eye as the two stood before him, McGonagall simply watched, and Snape looked at the couple with a raised eyebrow of disdain, that hid the pride for his godson despite his "feminine attributes".

"Yes, Mr. Potter, Ms. Marlowe, what may I do for you?" Dumbledore said with a soft lilting to his voice.

Draco was the one to speak. "You can start by saying Mr. Malfoy, or at the very least Ms. Malfoy. Whichever you prefer."

Snape coughed up some of the coffee he'd just been tentatively sipping. Those present at the staff table that weren't aware of Draco Malfoy's current situation were now abruptly attentive. Snape then leaned across the table and looked at Draco.

"Boy, have you any idea what you've just revealed? Are you mad?" Snape hissed.

It was Harry that answered this as he gave Draco's hand a squeeze. "Our entire house already knows. There was a bit of a fight last night, and Draco has been revealed, and it is only a matter of time before the whole of the school knows. So I...we... Would much rather be the ones to tell the truth than have it all start with rumors."

"And you're all right with this?" Snape asked incredulously as he looked at the blonde.

Then something happened that made Snape's mouth fall agape. Draco looked up at Potter for reassurance, and those silvery gray eyes glowed with warmth and emotion. Then Potter took his hand from Draco's and put his arm about the blonde's shoulders, pulling the blonde closer to him.

"Severus, honestly, close your mouth. It is Draco's decision, whether he wants to tell or not. As it is, they have done a fine job of keeping their secret for so long. It would have happened eventually. Perhaps sooner is better than later," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling away.

Draco leaned into Harry and spoke, "So should you tell them? Or should I?"

"I can start," Harry offered, and Draco gave a little nod.

They turned back to the teacher's table and told the headmaster of their decision. Then the two turned to face the four house tables, Harry's arm protectively around Draco's shoulders. All eyes were on the couple, only the Gryffindor table knowing the truth, many Gryfifndors shaking their heads. Then the headmaster stood up, clinking his fork to gather everyone's attention, not that it was necessary.

"It seems that two of your fellow classmates have something they wish to say to all of you," Dumbledore said loudly and his voice reverberated through the hall. Several Slytherins began to snicker when Pansy mockingly said, "Oh! Is Potter going to propose?"

The blonde turned to her dead on, that silvery gaze locking with Pansy's blue eyes and sending a cold shiver up the girl's spine. She immediately shut up and reached shakily for her goblet of pumpkin juice. She hadn't felt a glare that intense since the last time she'd confronted Draco.

Then Harry cleared his throat. "There have been many odd things happening since the arrival of Hogwart's newest student. One of which has been me falling in love with him, but that has been going on far longer than even I was aware..."

"Him?" someone from the Hufflepuff table said, but was quickly shushed.

Then Draco rolled his eyes and put his index finger to Harry's lips, "Shush, you're beginning to babble. This is my time to shine in the brave light of the Gryffindor house, and don't say a word, because you know I wasn't always a Gryffindor."

That last comment caught everyone's attention anew. Draco then took a deep breath and addressed Great Hall. "You have all been lied to, and it was for my own safety. You were told that I was an exchange student. What you don't know is that I have attended this school for the past seven years, and this is indeed my final year here. I know there has been some speculation on who I could be. I've even heard the rumor of my being the lovechild of some muggle and Lucius Malfoy. I can assure you that I am quite legitimate, and that Lucius Malfoy is indeed my father. You see, I am not Diana Marlowe. My name is Draco Lucius Malfoy, and it is time that I reclaim my name, seeing as to how those who've grown closest to me these past months have been calling me by my real name for just as long.

"I don't expect any of you to understand, nor be forgiving for the things I may have done to you. I am more than certain that I am not deserving of forgiveness for being the arrogant little shit that I once was. With all of that being said, I have two more things to say. I have obviously undergone a change. Due to a very strange Christmas present, something called a wishing stone, I have become a girl, and I will remain as such for the rest of my life. And second..." Draco paused and then turned to Harry. "Thank you, Harry."

Draco then place a chaste kiss on Harry's cheek, shrugged Harry's arm off and brusquely left Great Hall, as it errupted in a flurry of questions and speculations, and Harry went after him.

Dumbledore watched as Draco and then Harry left Great Hall and then turned to Severus as he said, "And that is why our young Mr. Malfoy was resorted into Gryffindor, Severus."

---------

Hermione could hardly believe her ears. Had Draco Malfoy really gone up in front of the entire school and told them who he really was? She smiled, glad that Harry was sticking by him, not that Harry would abandon him over something so trivial. Then Hermione's mind once again turned to the question of the wishing stone's origin. It had been bothering her since she'd first seen Draco holding it up, and then when Draco had thrown it across the room and she'd seen Draco's reflection as plain as the nose on her face.

Hermione looked down toward the end of the table where a very forlorn Ron sat by himself. Something was not right with him. She sighed, momentarily putting aside her suspicions and disgust at Ron's earlier display, and went to sit beside him.

He didn't even look up. He took a vicious bite from his toast and then put it down as he chewed deliberately almost as though he were making himself eat. This was strange because usually Ron would have cleared off his plate two times over by then. She put a hand on his shoulder and felt the boy shudder.

"Ron, what's the matter?" she asked.

He looked up and she gasped at the sight of unshed tears in his eyes, he shook his head and tried to return back to his meal, but Hermione grabbed his arm and began to haul him up to his feet. "Ron, either you can help me of I will stun you and then drag you back to the tower if I have to. Now get up, I know you aren't eating, and come with me before I embarrass you in front of the whole school."

"Bloody hell, just leave me alone," he snapped.

"No, and if this is about Harry and Draco..."

"It's not about them. Sod Harry and his precious little Malfoy for all I care! This is nothing to do with them!" He roared and then stood up and left Great Hall of his own accord, raising more than a few eyebrows.

Hermione sighed, grabbed a piece of toast, and headed off after him, feeling that this was partly her fault for getting him so riled up. She'd just finished up the toast when she saw Ron sitting by the portrait of the fat lady, his knees were drawn up to his chest and his head was been down. She knelt down before him, and gently put her hand on his shoulder.

"Tell me, if this isn't about Harry then what is it?" she asked, her words softly spoken.

He looked up, tears in his blue eyes. "Ginny, you know why she's been kept out of school this year. When I found out my reaction was worse than mum and dad's reactions combined. She's my little sister. I was supposed to look after her, be big brother. I turned around and she was gone, just like that, and then she turned up the next day. She was so quiet and withdrawn. She wouldn't tell us where she'd been. And then we found that she was going to have a baby. She wouldn't tell us who the father was, but now I know. Oh, gods do I know, and I wish I didn't. Bloody hell, Hermione, how did this happen to her? She could have so much in life and now she is stuck caring for a baby and being frowned upon by the entire wizarding world. There are no single mothers in our world unless they are widowed."

Hermione awkwardly put her arms around him and then he put his knees down and clung to her, wanting to hide away from all the world and his pain. She shushed him and whispered soothing things against his ear as she rubbed his back in slow circles.

"Who is it Ron? If this has you so torn up, it must be someone you know. It couldn't be Neville or Seamus or Dean. What about Colin Creevey?" she asked, thinking Ginny had made a secret rendezvous with an unknown boyfriend.

He just looked up at her and shook his head, then he took a deep breath and managed to speak. "No, Mione, she was attacked. The father of her child is Lucius Malfoy."

All of the color drained out of Hermione's face, and she felt tears sting her own eyes and fall in streams down her cheeks. "Oh, Ron, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Not as sorry as he's going to be..." Ron said with malice and then his face contorted in fear. "How do I tell her I know? Do you think I should get her to tell mum and dad? They think she was attacked, but she won't say a damn thing. At least now I know why. How could someone be so evil? She's just a girl, an innocent girl, and my sister! Why?"

"Sometimes bad things happen, but there might still be good in it. She's going to have a baby, and even with the circumstances concerning its conception, she is still capable of loving it, because she didn't give it up as she could have. This is going to be painful, and difficult, but if she can take this on, and want to keep the baby, then you can be there for her. You have to be strong for her," Hermione spoke softly, and then pushed him away so that she could look him in the eyes. "And maybe when you hold that baby you will know that it wasn't the baby's fault or Ginny's. Evil slips in and leaves pieces behind, but it's up to us how we put things back together. Don't blame the baby. And don't blame Ginny. I'm sure she has been through more than enough. And don't blame Draco. The only one at fault is Lucius Malfoy, and he will be dealt with soon enough. And if you do decide to go to your parents talk with her first. It's not your story to tell. It's hers."

"Thank you," he whispered softly and then wiped his eyes. "You know, you have this annoying habit of always being right. Where do you get it from?"

Hermione shrugged. "Sometimes I wish I knew."

---------

Draco was in the room he shared with Hermione. He was laying face down on the bed, his face turned to the wall, hands hugging the pillow Harry had slept on fiercely. And that was how Harry found him.

Harry slowly walked into the room, unsure of what to expect. And he was given no reassurances by the blonde who laid unmoving on his bed. Harry tentatively sat down on the edge of the bed and placed his hand on Draco's right shoulder blade, lightly rubbing it. The blonde gave a little moan and then leaned up on his elbows. He then turned to face the dark haired boy, his eyes both alight and shadowed with emotion swimming in those silvery gray depths.

"How is it that you can be so good and so loyal? How is that you can face them all and still comfort me as though we were the only ones there? How can you look at me the way you do?" Draco asked, his voice slightly shaky.

Harry sighed. "What do I have to do to make you realize that I care about you? That I love you? They don't matter, because they don't speak for me or how I feel. Silly git! I wouldn't have made love to you if I didn't care! I wouldn't be here now if I didn't care. Don't make me repeat the blast-ended skrewt comment I said to Snape."

"Blast-ended skrewt?" Draco asked in curiousity.

"Dammit," Harry said and then shook his head, a grin curving his lips. "I told Snape that I would have loved you even if you'd been changed into a blast-ended skrewt, and then I went on to say something about how ill tempered a blast-ended skrewt you would make."

"You compared me to one of those things?!" Draco said indignantly. "Why I never! How dare you!"

"I wasn't too far off with the ill temper bit, obviously," Harry cut in.

Draco's mouth fell open as he was caught off guard with nothing to say to that. Harry let out a chuckle and then continued, "Blast-ended skrewts aside, the point is that I'm not going to turn away from you. I can't. You feel like my other half and when I'm not around you I'm missing pieces of myself."

"I know what you mean," Draco spoke softly in reflection and then he looked up at Harry shyly. "This is all new to me, Potter...Harry. It has hit me hard, and I always just thought it was attraction, in that respect I was wrong. Just know that I reciprocate your sentiment, and find our attachment to be one of flourishing potential."

Harry shook his head. "You and your elegant speeches."

"And you and your Gryffindor sentimentality," Draco shot back playfully.

---------

"Ron?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah?"

"You can let go of me now. I mean seeing how you are better now, I have something that I need to do," she said.

"Oh, and what's more important than your formerly distraught best friend?" he asked.

"Well," she began. "It's about Draco, I just..."

"Not him again!" Ron cut her off.

"No, this is serious! I mean, who would have sent him that stone? Were their intentions good or bad, and did they know the possibilities of what could have happened? What if they knew and targeted this specifically against Draco or even Harry?"

"You make it sound like a conspiracy, and why all of this sudden interest?"

She rolled her eyes. "This isn't just sudden interest! I've been looking into wishing stones. They are very rare and usually not made from moonstone, because of moonstone's dreaming qualities. They are almost always blue lace agate and were enchanted by ancient magics. These stones are said to be enchanted by the ancient faye of Avalon. And there was one occurrence of a moonstone being enchanted as one such wishing stone. This stone was enchanted by Morgana Le Faye herself! According to what I read, she wore the moonstone and one other wishing stone that was a perfect flat circle with a hole in its center made of blue lace agate, a milpreve. The milpreve was believed to be her stone of power, but the moonstone she herself transformed into a wishing stone. What if the stone Draco wears is that stone?"

"Are you trying to tell me that Malfoy has stumbled across some old hoodoo from Morgana Le Faye's day? Bloody hell Mione! Are you trying to make me laugh! This is Malfoy we're talking about! How could he get something like that?"

"I don't know, and that is what troubles me," she answered.

"There's something else isn't there?" Ron asked.

Hermione nodded. "Yes. I've seen Draco's reflection, and it was in his old form, his male form. Draco, he was angry and he broke the chain and threw the stone across the room and then his reflection manifested itself and called itself his guardian. It's almost as if the stone were meant to go to him."

"Yeah right! Morgana Le Faye made that little bauble bout Malfoy's neck specifically for him. Have you heard yourself?" Ron asked and pulled a face.

"She was a catalyst in altering fate, and Draco Malfoy's fate has certainly been altered. Of course even if Morgana Le Faye has nothing to do with Malfoy's current condition with the exception of creating the magic of the stone he wears, someone did send it to him!" Hermione snapped.

"Fine, so what are your theories?"

"I've given that a great deal of thought, and..." Hermione trailed not knowing how to tell Ron. "I... I doubt it was a student that gave him that stone. The only person I can come up with who would have access to that stone and know Draco Malfoy is Professor Dumbledore."

"Don't be thick! Why would Dumbledore give something like that to anyone, let alone Malfoy?"

"Maybe he had his reasons. It's not so hard to believe you know. He does tend to nudge people into unfamiliar directions, and I would say this is an unfamiliar direction in the case of Malfoy."

"But the headmaster? You've turned this into some sort of conspiracy."

"Not necessarily Ron, you're just being dramatic."

And with that the argument died between them. Hermione gave the password to the portrait of the fat lady and then went into the Gryffindor common room. A few minutes later Ron followed. Still Hermione couldn't shake the feeling of unease about the stone, and the possibility that it might have been a gift from Dumbledore. Why couldn't the old codger have sent Malfoy a pair of socks like he sent everyone else?