Rating:
15
House:
Schnoogle
Ships:
Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger
Characters:
Draco Malfoy Harry Potter Hermione Granger
Genres:
Drama Angst
Era:
Harry and Classmates During Book Seven
Spoilers:
Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets Prizoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire Order of the Phoenix Half-Blood Prince
Stats:
Published: 11/28/2006
Updated: 03/15/2007
Words: 148,035
Chapters: 51
Hits: 126,771

Draco: Phoenix Rising

Cheryl Dyson

Story Summary:
Dumbledore is dead, Snape is a traitor and Draco is a Death Eater, but is he really cut out for a position on Voldemort's team?

Chapter 39 - Snape's Message

Posted:
02/08/2007
Hits:
2,160


Chapter Thirty Nine - Snape's Message

Draco and Bill bypassed Fenrir, ignoring the werewolf's angry slurs and grasping claws. On the way out, Draco looked at Bill Weasley.

"Do you think the bars will hold? When he changes?"

"I don't know. Lupin would, maybe."

"I'll put Granger on it. If anyone can come up with a solution to keep Greyback contained, she will."

Bill shot him a sidelong glance.

"I thought you hated her."

To his horrified chagrin, Draco felt himself flush. "Not exactly."

They walked back to the Great Hall. To Draco's relief, others had arrived to dilute the female content of the room, including Potter, Longbottom, and the Weasley twins. Susan Bones had apparently crawled out of her wolverine hole and Remus Lupin was teasing the strange girl whose hair was lime green today. She smacked Lupin playfully on the arm, blushing. Draco was somewhat surprised at that. He had always assumed Lupin favored the gents. Like Bill had said, you never knew.

Fleur had put the dress away, but most of the girls were still gathered around the table, no doubt gushing over foolish mundanities such as flowers, ribbons, and shoe colors. Draco's mother had often wrapped herself up in such feminine details. As a boy, Draco had been dragged to more horrifying weddings, baby showers, and other girlish functions than he cared to remember.

Luna spied Draco and left the giggling gaggle to force a pleased hug on him. He couldn't decide whether or not he appreciated Luna's unreserved acceptance. Of all Harry Potter's underlings, she had been the first to forgive Draco's past. She stepped back and looked at Bill seriously.

"Fleur is considering royal blue for the dress robes."

"Bad idea," Draco said without thinking. "If the ceremony is outside on a warm day, it will be beastly hot. The wedding party will faint away. She'd better stick with pastels..." His voice trailed away.

Luna nodded solemnly and Bill clapped him on the shoulder.

"You'd better come with me. I think you've spent too much time in the company of women, lately."

About to take him up on the offer, Draco was halted when a silver Patronus streaked into the room and enveloped him. When the mist dissipated, he noticed everyone was staring at him in shocked silence.

"Snape! That was Snape's Patronus!" one of the Weasley twins yelled. The room erupted into pandemonium. Susan Bones leaped to her feet.

"I knew it!" she yelled.

She was joined by Ginny Weasley, who glared at Draco with hands on her hips. McGonagall hurried over and her heels clicked rapidly on the hard floor.

"What did he want, Mr. Malfoy?" she asked sharply.

"Yes, what did he want?" Susan demanded. "Are you planning to let more Death Eaters into the school? Who are you plotting to kill this time? Harry Potter?"

Hermione raced past the others and stood next to Draco. She latched onto his arm. He wanted to shake her off and confront the angry hoard alone in his growing rage, but he was secretly relieved at her show of support.

"Stop it!" she cried. "You don't understand!"

"Then let him explain, Hermione," Lupin said reasonably. "Was that not Severus Snape's Patronus?"

"You know it was!" Fred or George yelled.

"We've seen that bloody panther enough times to know," the other twin added.

"Speak up, Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall commanded in her professor voice. "What was his message?"

Draco glared at them all. He didn't dare disclose the contents of the message to this raving group of do-gooders. Hermione sensed his reluctance and her grip tightened.

"Take him downstairs with the other bloody Death Eaters!" Susan yelled angrily. "Better to be safe than let him betray us again!"

Several shouts, both in agreement and otherwise, followed her words. Fred and George raised their wands. Draco reached for his own, fighting Hermione's grip as he did so.

Harry Potter suddenly leaped in front of Draco with arms outstretched, as if to safeguard Malfoy from harm.

"Leave him alone!" Potter yelled in a voice that locked everyone into a frozen tableau. "I trust Malfoy and no one will be dragging him off to join Fenrir Greyback and the Carrows! Now, back off!" Harry's wand was out. While he wasn't actually threatening his friends, the potential was there.

"But Harry--" Lupin began.

"Hermione, take Malfoy outside. I'll be out in a minute," Harry ordered. Hermione pulled at Draco's arm. He resisted for a moment, but then Bill Weasley stepped up to stand beside Harry. The Weasley siblings looked at him in shaken surprise. Draco allowed Hermione to tow him outside, reflecting that it was shaping up to be a very unusual day. Who would have suspected he would actually like a Weasley?

They walked down the steps outside and headed for Hagrid's hut, but stopped near the bush where they had previously argued. Hermione released Draco and pulled a leaf from the bush thoughtfully. She didn't speak.

"Snape wants me to meet him," Draco said. She looked at him.

"Meet him? Where? And why?"

"He didn't say why. He wants to meet this afternoon. Three o' clock. At Stonehenge."

"Stonehenge? Why there?"

Draco shrugged. "That was the whole message."

"At this time of year, it will be packed with Muggle tourists. That's probably the point--it's a public place and the likelihood of running into other wizards is slim," Hermione rationalized.

"Snape knows I've been there. He took the whole of Slytherin House there once, to show us how to brew Pepperup Potion. It required gathering sacred dust during the Winter Solstice."

Hermione looked indignant. "Snape showed you how to brew Pepperup Potion?"

"Sure. He gave us plenty of off-hours instruction. Why do you think all the Slytherins passed Potions? Even Crabbe and Goyle?"

"I thought it was simple favoritism. I didn't know he was actually helping you. That's like... cheating!"

Draco grinned. "Only a Gryffindor would look at it like that."

The front doors opened and Harry Potter stalked out to join them, followed by Ron Weasley. Harry's hand was already gripping his hair.

One, two, three, Draco counted. Potter scowled at Draco as he approached.

"Lovely. Now the Order is highly suspicious, thinking I'm collaborating with Death Eaters. Me!"

Four, five. Draco placidly redelivered Snape's message.

"Well, that couldn't have come at a worse time," Harry said and tugged. Six. "What do you suppose he wants?"

"I don't know, but it must be important for him to risk a Patronus."

"Right. Why didn't he just send an owl?"

"Not enough time?" Hermione suggested. "If he's surrounded by Death Eaters, he might have only had a moment. And owls can be intercepted."

The door opened again to reveal Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood. They paused for a moment and then moved to join their group.

"Whatever you're doing," Neville said, "We're in."

"We're not doing anything," Ron replied evasively.

"Of course we are. We're going to meet Snape," said Hermione.

"Now, wait a minute--" Harry and Draco said together. They glanced at each other in puzzlement.

"Oh, that's just great," Ron spat. "It was bad enough when they only looked like each other."

"The Order is going to be watching us like eagles spying field mice. After our last escapade, they won't let me within fifty meters of the front gates," Harry said. Seven.

"You'll just have to stay behind, Harry," Hermione said. She held up a hand when he would have argued. "You're going to have to deal with Lupin. Tell him whatever you need too--even the truth, if necessary. We can't afford not to meet Snape."

"I'm going alone," Draco said firmly. Hermione smiled at him as though he were a silly child.

"Of course you're not. We have no idea what Snape's motives are. This could be a trap, for all we know. Voldemort may have found out that Snape helped you; he could be under an Imperius Curse; it could be any number of things. We are going with you."

A muscle in Draco's jaw twitched and he looked at Potter through accusatory eyes. Harry nodded.

"Yeah, it's nearly impossible to argue with her. You might as well give in and save yourself some hair."

"Then it's settled. We'll make ourselves conspicuous until noon and then we'll slip out and meet over behind Hagrid's hut. We'll have to skirt the forest to reach the wall. Once over, we can Disapparate from there. Ron, are you coming?"

Weasley nodded, although his expression suggested he was only going along to keep a suspicious eye on Draco.

"I'm coming, too," Neville said.

"Me, too!" Luna cried. Draco looked sidelong at her.

"I thought you refused to Apparate."

Luna tossed her head airily. "This is an emergency. As long as no one tells my father, I'll do it. As long as Hermione takes me through. I trust her not to splinch me."

"You trust her not to splinch you? Now you tell us. Couldn't you have mentioned that in Dover?"

Luna waved away Draco's shout. "We had plenty of time in Dover. Besides, it gave us time to get to know each other better." She moved forward and took Draco's bicep before she leaned close and whispered in his ear. "Remember the Muggle cab? Wasn't it romantic?"

Draco shot Hermione a pained glare when she giggled.

"Does she really have to come?" he pleaded.

"Well, what if we run into a Crumple-Horned Snorkack?" Hermione asked drolly.

"Of course we won't! They're only in Sweden," Luna scoffed. She pressed a kiss against Draco's jaw. "See you at noon, Puffskein."

She wandered back toward the castle. Neville looked at Draco in bewilderment, but said nothing as he turned to follow Luna. Hermione was struggling to contain her laughter. Harry kept his expression carefully neutral. As Luna and Neville approached the doors, they burst open and Ginny Weasley stalked through them. Her glare was icy.

"Uh oh, you're in trouble now, Potter," Draco said. Eight. Nine. Potter's hair was standing out in all directions.

"I guess I'd better go do some damage control," Harry said grimly. "Malfoy, since chaos follows you around like a specter, do you think you can stay out of trouble for awhile? Please?"

"I'll try, darling," Draco said meekly and batted his lashes. Harry glared at him. Ten, eleven, twelve. Harry sighed and stalked off to placate Ginny. Draco tsked after him.

"He could do so much better than the redheaded stick girl," Draco muttered. "Sorry, Weasley." Ron's glare was more venomous than usual. "I know she's your sister, but God, what a horror."

"Can you drop the subject?" Ron snapped. Draco shrugged.

"Suit yourself. He's your friend. If you want him to be henpecked by that budding harpy--"

"Draco!" Hermione said warningly. He gave her a smile guaranteed to melt a block of ice and saw the breath hitch in her throat.

"Actually, Weasley, we need to have a little chat. Now." He looked pointedly at Hermione. She looked from one of them to the other and then shrugged and headed for the school, leaving Ron and Draco to stare at each other in uncomfortable silence.

"Look, Weasley--" Draco began.

"I release you from your vow," Ron blurted. Draco blinked at him for a moment in surprise.

"What did you say?"

"I release you. You don't have to stay away from Hermione; since it's obvious she won't stay away from you, anyway."

Draco watched Ron curiously while he assimilated the astonishing news. Weasley's face resembled that of someone who'd bitten into a lemon.

"Well," Draco said finally, somewhat at a loss for words. He had been steeling himself all morning to confess to Ron and now the point was moot. Draco grinned.

"Of course, if you hurt her in any way, I will figure out how to return the favor," Ron threatened, trying to sound fierce. Strangely, Draco kept thinking of Bill Weasley's words while gauging Ron's expression.

"I consider myself duly warned," Draco said mildly.

"I'm not joking, Malfoy!" Weasley snarled. Draco's grin widened even though he wasn't intentionally trying to provoke Weasley. He was just... happy.

"Understood," he said crisply. He thought about saluting. Ron's hand twitched, likely itching to reach for his wand. Malfoy decided it was time to depart. Hermione waited for him near the doors. Harry and Ginny were yelling a distance away--far enough that their voices could not be heard.

"Doesn't it warm your cockles to see such a happy couple?" Draco asked. Hermione elbowed him in the ribs. Draco rubbed the spot and gave her a wounded look. "I bruise easily, you know!"

"Of course. You and your flawless skin. What did you and Ron talk about?"

"Weasley gave me permission to snog you whenever I like."

"He did what?"

"The competition was too much for him. He's withdrawn from the race. First intelligent thing he's done in a long while, actually."

"Withdrawn from the race," Hermione repeated. Her voice was flat.

"To the victor go the spoils and all that," Draco quipped. "Want to come back to my room with me?" He dropped the teasing timbre from his voice and watched gleefully when her eyes darkened and a flush crept into her cheeks.

"Absolutely not."

"Liar."

Hermione huffed in exasperation and went inside. Draco watched the bickering couple for a moment before he entered the castle and retreated to the Slytherin common room. Best to avoid angry Order members--and that lunatic Susan Bones--for awhile.

Hagrid was tending his garden when Draco and the others converged just beyond the fence. He looked at them suspiciously, staring particularly long and hard at Draco.

"What're you lot up ter?" he asked Hermione gruffly as he brushed the dirt from his hands and walked over to lean on the fence. It creaked dangerously.

"Just going for a walk," Hermione said brightly and Draco nearly clapped a hand to his forehead. Never leave the lying to a Gryffindor.

"Bloody hell, Granger, just tell him the truth," he snapped. "We're going into the forest to gather Panther Caps for a potion Granger wants to brew. It might help us locate the Dark Lord."

Hagrid's thick brows rose.

"What yer want ter do that for?"

Draco's eyes narrowed at the gormless, half-giant imbecile.

"Do you recall that he's trying to kill us?" he asked slowly, as if speaking to a very small, very stupid, child. Hermione gave him a disapproving look.

"'Course I do!"

"It's probably a good idea to find him before he attacks again, don't you think, Hagrid?" Neville asked before Draco could utter a scathing reply.

Hagrid sighed, apparently realizing he couldn't argue with all of them. "I 'spose. Don't wander far in there. Them centaurs is all anti-wizard at the moment. If ye need help, just send a Patronus."

"Thank you, Hagrid," Hermione said. "We'll be careful." Her voice was dripping with guilt, but thankfully Hagrid was too dense to pick up on it. The gamekeeper waved and went back to digging in his dirt.

They didn't venture far into the forest, as none of them had any inclination to encounter any of the forest denizens. They finally reached the wall and Hermione levitated them over without effort.

"I don't meet with Snape until three," Draco said. "What are we going to do for two hours? Sightsee?"

"No, we need to make a stop first. Ron, we're going to Godric's Hollow. You take Neville through and I'll take Luna. I'll come back for Draco."

"Godric's Hollow?" Ron looked taken aback. "Why there?"

"I'll explain when we get there. Let's go."

The four of them popped out of existence and Draco glanced around, hoping Hermione could find her way back. He didn't see any prominent landmarks--just wall, trees, and bushes.

She Apparated in front of him and stepped closer to grip his shoulders. Not one to miss an opportunity, Draco slid his hands around her waist and pulled her close to steal a kiss. She relaxed against him for a moment with a sigh and then pushed him away with a palm to his chest.

"Behave!" she admonished, but a smile played about her lips and her eyes sparkled. "We're on a mission."

"I'm just trying to keep you from getting bored."

"Merely being near you is enough to guarantee that," she said wryly. She flicked her wand and they were yanked away.

They appeared near the tumbled ruins of a house that was surprisingly reminiscent of Regulus Black's final residence. Other than the brief flash of memory, the place meant nothing to Draco. Hermione did not explain. She skirted the ruins and led the way up the road to a shabby, overgrown cemetery. One pair of graves was well-tended and Draco sobered when he read the names on the headstones. He suddenly realized the significance of the house.

Hermione knelt next to Lily Potter's grave as though paying her respects. The others watched silently. After a long moment, she got to her feet and looked at Draco with an ashen expression.

"I think I know where Rowena Ravenclaw's bracelet is."