The Approaching Storm

Chapter 3: Mayhem in Potions

Ginny still could not believe what she had just seen. She wondered if that really had been the ghost of Lily Potter. Why was she there and what did she mean 'the dreams were not enough. Ginny was in total confusion about the whole event.

"What dreams?" she said aloud.

Ginny had a very hard decision to make. Should she tell Harry what she had just witnessed? What would happen if it was some Slytherin prank? Ginny knew Harry would take it seriously. He would do whatever possible to find his mother's ghost. What should she do? She didn't want to worry Harry. He had enough to deal with as it was. The Slytherins would be cruel enough to play this sort of sick twisted joke on poor Harry.

Ginny came to the decision that she would wait a little longer before she told Harry She wanted to make sure that it was not a joke.

She walked to her Defense Against the Dark Arts class thinking of the consequences if what she saw wasn't a joke.

******

Potion's was miserable, as usual. They had all been forced to sit with their Snape selected partners. This happened to be, for some sadistic reason, Gryffindor/Slytherin pairs. Snape usually tortured the Gryffindors, but this arrangement was bad on the Slytherins as well.

"Today," Snape said, walking into the classroom and up to the front of the room, "we will be making a revealing potion for the seven deadly sins," he continued, turning to face the students. He waved his wand towards the board and a list of ingredients appeared.

"These are the ingredients for the potion called Blashemo Truth Serum. You must be precise with the ingredients. Mixing wrong ingredients," Snape said, giving a long disdainful look at Neville, "could have a destructive outcome," he continued, looking towards the other students in class. "Do not spill the serum, especially on another student. The serum will reveal physical characteristics of the sin that student has committed," he finished, walking to his desk and sitting down.

"You may begin," he said.

The students went to the cabinets, grabbing their needed ingredients.

Harry's partner was Blaise. She was sitting in her chair talking to Pansy.

Harry drummed his fingers on the table. Then he looked towards her. "Are you going to come help get the ingredients?" he asked, in an impatient tone.

Blaise rolled her eyes and turned to face him. "I'm in the middle of a important discussion, can't you possibly get them on your own?" she said, returning to her conversation with Pansy.

"So, as I was saying, Bryce Moon is the hottest wizard to ever grace the magic world," Blaise said to Pansy.

"That is not true. Draco is the hottest," Pansy said, as she sighed looking towards Draco.

"Draco is cute, but Bryce is more of a man," Blaise said.

"Draco is all the man I would ever want," Pansy said, sighing again at Draco.

Harry got annoyed with the 'important' discussion. He went to get the ingredients himself.

Ron was already up at the cabinet. He was also alone.

"This is enjoyable, isn't it?" Ron said, very sarcastically.

"Oh, I see you're alone also. What happened to Goyle?" Harry asked, grabbing some Gilly Root.

"Well, I waited for him to come up here with me. I asked him if he was coming and he looked at me and growled," Ron said, remembering the event. "So I decided to come up here alone, from fear of catching rabies. I will probably be doing this blasted potion alone," Ron said, roughly grabbing the last of his ingredients.

"I think we are in the same boat. Blaise is in her own little world with Pansy," Harry said.

"I hate Potions," Ron grumbled, walking back to his seat. Goyle glared at him as he sat down.

Snape waited fifteen minutes before he walked around and inspected the progress on each potion.

"Longbottom! Gilly Root not Dragon's Bane! This is a serious potion! One wrong mistake could be catastrophic. Pay attention and stop distracting Parkinson! Twenty points from Gryffindor, for your serious lack in intelligence!" Snape roared at Neville.

"Sorry Professor, it won't happen again," Neville replied sadly, hanging his head. Pansy snickered at him and mumbled 'idiot' under her breath.

Hermione sighed in despair for poor Neville. She would be helping him right now if Snape hadn't assigned partners. Unfortunately, she was partnered with the spawn of Satan himself, Malfoy.

"Upset, Granger? Is that tub of lard messing up, again? He's a blundering excuse for a wizard, almost as bad as you," Malfoy said in a nasty tone, as he added Gilly Root to their potion.

"Shut up! The only blundering excuse for a wizard is you! All you can do is pick on other people's qualities. Why don't you, look at your pitiful self, before judging others!" Hermione said, viciously back.

"What's there to know about me except I'm a Malfoy. I come from a superior bloodline. I have outstanding looks. I am also extremely intelligent, cunning, witty, and powerful. What more needs to be said?" Malfoy said, as he leaned back in his chair, placing his feet on the table.

"Have you been brainwashed like this all of your life? You aren't that much better than people just because of your name. Actions speak louder than words, and your actions just plain suck. Is it that hard for you to say something nice? Are you that afraid that it might tarnish the 'Malfoy' image?" Hermione said back, giving him a dubious look.

"Granger, Granger, Granger. I could be 'nice', if I wanted too, but why should I? That would take effort. Frankly, I would rather have people bow at my feet in fear, than me kissing their arses for nothing," Malfoy replied, lounging lazily in his chair.

"You know not everyone is out to get you. Have you ever had a real friend? Not someone who is at your beck and call, but someone you actually have a bond with. Someone you can have long and wonderful conversations with," she said, envisioning Harry and Ron, "someone whom you trust?" she finished.

Malfoy didn't say anything. He put his feet back on the floor and just looked at the far wall. His expression was unreadable.

"No," he stated, stirring the potion, "and I don't trust anyone," Malfoy finished, almost with no emotion.

"I pity you then," she replied, almost sadly.

Draco stopped stirring the potion. He turned and faced Hermione. He gave her a disgusted look.

"I need no one's pity, Granger, especially yours," he said hatefully, "Now hurry up and finish this bloody potion. I can only take being around you in short intervals, otherwise I might vomit," he finished, adding his final ingredient to the potion.

Hermione snorted. "Here I thought we might be having a conversation," she mumbled, as she added her last ingredient.

She thought to herself for a second, and then replied, "I don't hate you, Malfoy. I don't like you, but I don't hate you," she told him, not looking at him. She had no idea why she said that, but she felt like she needed too.

Draco turned his gaze from their potion to her. He starred at her for a moment. His expression was hard to read. For an instance Hermione could have sworn she saw a look of hope, maybe it was shock? Just as quickly as she saw it, then it was gone. Malfoy turned his gaze back to the potion.

Draco's only reply to her was, "You should".

As soon as he said this, he got Professor Snape's attention.

"Our potion is complete, Professor," Draco said.

Snape walked over to the pair and inspected the potion.

"Well done," he said to Draco. He just glared at Hermione, as he staggered off.

Draco got up and started putting items away.

Hermione just stared at him lost in thought. She really did not like the slimy git. But no matter how much of a jerk he was, she could not bring herself to truly hate him. Now she felt a little sorry for him. Even as wrong as it should have felt, she actually felt a pang of sympathy for Draco Malfoy.

Maybe his life isn't exactly what I thought it was. After all, I only really know him as Malfoy the jerk, Hermione thought to herself.

Then she had one last lingering thought. A thought she never thought she would have about Malfoy.

Maybe he's not as evil as I thought he was. Maybe he was right, to an extent, about me not having a clue on what's good and evil. Maybe I am the one who judges to harshly, she thought to herself, somewhat sadly.

Hermione's thought was interrupted.

"Ahh!" Pansy screamed, covering her face with her hands.

Professor Snape rushed up to her, inspecting what had happened.

"Longbottom!" he yelled at Neville. "I specifically told you not to spill the potion, especially on another student!" he continued giving Neville a deadly glare.

"Thirty points from Gryffindor for endangering another student!" he yelled, as he helped Pansy stand up.

Pansy stood up to leave. She moved her hands away from her face and picked up her bag.

"Oh look, her sin is Gluttony," Parvati said with interest, pointing towards Pansy.

The Gryffindor's turned and looked at Pansy, most of them laughed. Pansy had developed a true pig snout. Snape and the Slytherins glared at them all.

"Ten points from Gryffindor for rude behavior," Snape said, as he helped Pansy walk out of the room.

The Gryffindors sighed and whined in frustration.

Hermione met up with Harry and Ron, as they exited the class. She was still in deep thought. She didn't really pay attention to their conversation until Harry started talking about his scar hurting and his strange dream from the previous night. Hermione listened intently to the rest of the conversation.

"It seemed so real. Most of my dreams I have, Voldemort is in them and they are actually occurring at that moment. This dream wasn't like that. It was like this event had already happened. It was like I was there, almost like a memory. I have no recollection of this event besides this dream. I don't know what to make of it. My scar started hurting when I woke up," Harry explained.

"Having nightmares of the Boogie Man, Potter? Or should I say the Dark Lord. Scary, watch out, he could be hiding under your bed," Malfoy said, as he walked up behind the trio. Crabbe and Goyle were behind him, snickering at his joke.

"Bugger off, Malfoy! You are not wanted here, go crawl back under the rock you came from!" Harry shouted back.

"Poor Potter, having bad dreams and no mommy or daddy to comfort him. Nobody to cry his wittle eyes out to. Boo-Hoo, Boo-Hoo. Too bad mommy and daddy where such stupid wizards. If you could even call them wizards," Malfoy snarled at Harry.

"That's it, Malfoy! You have gone to far! I'm going to cream you!" Ron yelled, sticking up for Harry.

"Oh little Ronniekins is sticking up for his boyfriend now? Which way do you swing, Weasley? Torn between Potter and Granger? So risqué don't you think? Although I can see Granger into the kinky way of life," Malfoy taunted, looking Hermione up and down.

"Why you, I'm going to rip your head off!" Ron yelled, charging towards Malfoy.

"Ron, Stop! He's just trying to egg you on," Hermione said, trying to calm him down.

"Yes, sit boy, listen to your woman. Show us how much of pathetic excuses of wizards you and Potter are. One with no family, all alone," he looked at Harry and then turned his glare to Ron. "The other with a family he should not even recognize as his own. Pathetic, the lot of you. You're just a waste of space," Malfoy finished viciously.

At this point there was no stopping the enviable. Curses started flying. Hermione did as best as she could to stop it. As a last effort, she jumped in between the dueling artist t try and stop the mayhem.

Unfortunately Ron had just shouted out a rather nasty curse, which had ricocheted off the wall and was heading directly towards Hermione. At the last second she was pushed out of the way, and fell towards the floor. She looked up from her lying position to see that it was, Malfoy! He had pushed her away from the curse? She was in complete shock by this unlikely deed he just preformed.

"Stupid Girl! Do you not have one brain in that thick head of yours?!" Malfoy yelled at her, ducking and yelling curses to and from Harry and Ron. "Idiot!" he yelled at her again, ducking another curse.

The next thing that happened was a loud,

"Expelliarmus!"

Followed by a,

"Finte Incantem!"

The students looked up to see a very upset Professor McGonagall, standing with three wands in her hand; beside her was Professor Snape.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger, and Mr. Malfoy! I have never, in my many years at Hogwarts, seen such disturbing behavior! Do not even try to explain yourself!" she said, looking towards a red faced Ron who tried to butt in with his excuse.

"You four will be serving detention for your awful behavior. You will also lose ten points each. Do you know how dangerous it is to be dueling in a hall? Do you!" she said angrily back to them.

"Professor McGonagall, since they were dueling near the Potions Laboratory, I would only see fit that they serve their detention with me, in the dungeons," Snape said in an oily voice.

"A very good idea, Professor Snape. I want an outlined document on what they do, so I can present it to the Headmaster. I expect all of them to be doing the same chores for detention," she said, eyeing Draco.

Snape looked very displeased by this. "Of course they will serve the same detention," he said, through gritted teeth.

"Very well then. You four shall report to the Potions Room at Nine o'clock tonight. No ifs, ands, or buts. I want you to think over the severity of your actions. The Headmaster will be informed of your reckless actions. I am very disappointed," she added, turning away and leaving.

"All right, back to your rooms. Do not stand around here to cause more trouble, now leave," Snape said to them. He gave Draco a disapproving look. Draco and Snape walked back to the Slytherin Common Room.

"Great, just what we need, detention with Snape," Ron said, rubbing his forehead. "Could my day get any worse?" he questioned.

"Come on guys, let's go. I want to at least have a little free time before we go back to the dungeons of hell," Harry replied, as he turned to walk back to Gryffindor Tower.

Ron and Harry started walking back up to the Gryffindor Tower. Hermione stayed behind looking at where Draco and Snape just left. She still couldn't believe he pushed her out of the way. Then she remembered she also had detention.

Great, I try to stop the fight and I get punished just the same, she thought, making an annoyed face.

All of the sudden, a cold shiver went up Hermione's spine. She turned and looked behind her. She was getting goose bumps all over her arms. Her breath was cold. It seemed like the hallway dropped several degrees.

She felt like someone was watching her and she started to get a little frightened.

"Is someone there?" she said aloud, looking around the hallway. She saw a curtain move and it looked like a shape, a person, behind the curtain.

"I know you're there, come out and stop playing games!" she said, trying to keep any fear out of her voice.

"Malfoy, is that you? This isn't funny anymore!" she said, desperately hoping it was Malfoy playing another joke on her. Still no one answered.

Hermione sucked up what courage she had. She walked towards the curtain.

"All right, if you won't come out, then I'll just see who you are!" she said trying to sound aggressive.

She yanked back the curtain expecting to find the intruder.

No one was there.

She had a sickening feeling. Something was there. She just couldn't see it.

A cold breeze brushed by her face. Then it was gone. The temperature returned to normal. Hermione was quite frazzled by this event. As she was getting ready to let go of the curtain, something caught her eye. She bent down to pick it up.

"A locket," she said, inspecting the item. She turned the locket over and saw initials engraved on it.

"LEP," she said.

Hermione put the locket in her bag and walked back to the Gryffindor Tower. She was unaware of the eyes watching her.

"Soon you will know, soon you will see," the ghostly voice said. The apparition of Lily Evans Potter returned back to the shadows.

That evening, Hermione sat on her bed and examined the locket. It was beautiful. The circular front was solid gold and decorated with a diamond star and a silver moon. The color of the gold was unique and seemed to turn a red tone in certain lights. The over all apperance was quite stunning. She tried to see if it would open, with no success. Hermione did a few counter curses on the locket to make sure it was safe to wear. She locked it around her neck and got ready for her detention.

Hermione was lost in thought about how miserable tonight was going to be with Snape, that she did not see the locket start to glow slightly, or the star begin to twinkle.

******

Ginny sat in the common room with Ron and Harry, listening to them complain about their detention with Snape

"Of all the rotten luck! Why couldn't we have had detention with McGonagall instead of with Snape? He'll probably have us working with a Blood-Sucking Bugbear," Ron said, as he sat beside Harry. "I will say that it would be better than working with Goyle," Ron continued, with an agitated expression.

"No, he'll probably have us working in a cage full of Blast-Ended Skrewts," Harry said sarcastically.

Ron stood up. "Potter and Weasley, one hundred and fifty points from Gryffindor for confusing Mr. Malfoy with the Blast-Ended Skrewt! Now back in your cage," Ron said, staggering around and mocking Snape.

Harry laughed as he watched Ron's antics.

"Longbottom, two hundred and fifty points from Gryffindor for you serious lack in evilness!" Ron said to Neville, still continuing his Snape impression.

Most of the people common room, were laughing at Ron.

He turned and gave them a Snape glare. "Are you laughing? Three hundred points from Gryffindor for being happy," Ron continued his Snape antics as people kept laughing.

Harry had tears in his eyes from laughing so hard.

Ginny was also laughing at Ron. She decided not mention anything to Harry about what she had seen, yet. She would wait until after their detention and mention something to Hermione.

The trio made there way to the dungeons after Ron had tired from acting like Snape. Dread could be seen on each one of their faces instead of the laughing one's that they had a few moments ago. They reached the entrance to the Potion's Room. Malfoy and Snape were waiting for them. The expressions on Malfoy's face showed displeasure just like their own faces. Snape wore his usual scowl. The trio snickered remembering Ron's impressions of Snape.

"I was beginning to wonder if you three were going to show up. You were almost late. I would advise you to never make such a foolish mistake for one of my detentions," Snape said coldly, glaring at them.

"Well, the headmaster has a project for you four to do in the lower chambers. The corridors are rarely used. They are in dire need of cleaning. So you will spend your detention making everything spotless. I have to warn you though, strange noises have been heard down there recently. Keep an eye out," Snape said, grinning at the last part.

"Follow me," he said, as he made a motion with his hand.

They walked down a flight of steps to a hallway, and down another flight of steps. This process repeated itself over and over.

"I really didn't think we would literally have the detention from hell," Ron whispered to Harry, as they walked down yet another flight of steps.

Finally they arrived at a long dark corridor. It was damp and very musty smelling, besides having the sort of air of oppressive gloom usually reserved for castles in Muggle horror movies, not Hogwarts. All sorts of molds were growing on the walls. The corridor looked like it had no doors. It was just long, dark, and seemed to go on forever. The floors were black with mud. Snape was not kidding when he said this corridor was rarely used.

"Well here you are," he said, looking over the corridor, "This whole corridor is to be cleaned, with no magic. Also as it seems you boys like to have so many conflicts. You will be split up into pairs. Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger will work at one end of the corridor, while Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley clean the other. Do not fight down here. These walls are enchanted with anti-magic devices. Any curses thrown will be backfired, understand?" Snape said, eyeing each of them.

They all nodded their heads.

"All right, have a wonderful night," he said, and then strolled back up the stairs.

The four students looked from one to another, Malfoy glared at them all.

"Lets get this over with," Hermione said, picking up a bucket and brush.

"Are you that anxious to be alone with me, Granger?" Malfoy said, as he walked up beside her.

"You do anything at all to her, Malfoy, and I swear you'll never see daylight again," Ron said, as he stomped over to Malfoy.

"Your such a load of bollocks, Weasley. Calm down or your head might explode," Malfoy said back, grabbing a bucket and brush.

"That's enough, let's go." Hermione said, as she proceeded down the corridor.

"Ta-Ta boys, have fun," Malfoy said, as he walked in the same direction Hermione had.

"I don't trust him with her, Harry. That slimy git. This is all his fault to begin with," Ron seethed, looking at the retreating pair.

"I know Ron, but lets get this over with. Hermione will be fine. I think she can handle Malfoy better than any of us," Harry replied.

"Like that makes me feel any better," Ron said, making an annoyed face.

They walked to the opposite end of the corridor, picked up their brushes and began to scrub. Miserable could only describe how they felt. They drifted into a pleasant discussion about Quidditch. This helped make the detention a little more bearable, though it impeded their progress quite a bit. Discussion of the Wronski feint does not lend itself to speedy cleaning.

"Granger, your very good at hard labor. Did I ever tell you I had a dream that you were a house elf without a voice? Now I see you would make a good house elf. You should think about it. I mean, it is a step up from being a Mudblood," he drawled on, with a smug attitude.

Hermione couldn't take it any longer. Malfoy was driving her crazy. He had spilled her bucket twice, tripped her three times, made snide remarks non-stop, and now he was just relaxing doing nothing. He was grinning ear to ear, watching her work.

The hours they had been scrubbing seemed like days now. Hermione could see that she and Malfoy were getting closer to the middle of the corridor.

"Bloody hell Granger, can't you stand to be without your precious knights for a moment?" Malfoy said irritably. "Are you waiting for your reunion to show them how much you have missed them?" he grew a grin, "What kind of 'favors' do you give them in return for their friendship?" Draco said, in a crude suggestive tone, as he lounged around on a piece of clean floor.

"That's it! You arrogant jerk! I have had it with you! Get off your lazy bum and work, or I swear I will shove this mop so far up your arse, you will be a permanent soprano! You..You..Malfoy!" Hermione spat his name like it was the worst thing in the world to say.

Draco laughed at this. "Language, Ms. Granger. I have never heard you use such a foul word. 'Arse.' My, my, you are quite today. You should feel honored, not many girls get to spend a night alone with me, in a dark, semi isolated hallway," Draco directed his last part of his sentence down the corridor towards Harry and Ron.

"Admit it. You like being alone with me. I bet you've even had fantasy's about this type of situation, haven't you, Granger?" he smirked even more.

"All right you asked for it!" Hermione said, as she charged Malfoy. He was in total surprise and for a moment he simply gaped at her approaching form. He finally jumped up to move out of the way, but Hermione hit him. All she was thinking about was shutting Malfoy up. As she hit him, she anticipated his stumble before he hit the wall. This would have been sufficient, if the wall hadn't of vanished. Instead of Draco being slammed into the wall with the force of Hermione's charge, they both fell to the ground beyond the wall.

"Uff," Draco sounded, as he hit the ground

Hermione made a similar noise as she landed on top of him. She stayed like that for a moment, regaining her senses. She was suddenly aware of the hard chest she had fallen on and the soft breathing of Malfoy below her. His smell was mysterious, exotic, and overall appealing. Hermione quickly reprimanded herself for thinking anything was appealing about Malfoy.

Draco had been ready to be slammed into the wall. He was expecting his back to hit. He was not expecting for:

He lay there trying to regain his bearings. He quickly noticed Granger had not moved off of him.

He noticed her body. He could feel her breasts squashed up against his chest. Her soft breathing caused her breasts to move up and down.

So Granger does have some 'goods' under those baggy robes after all, he thought, enjoying her body against his.

He had a lingering thought about touching her 'goods', but decided against it since she would probably try to beat him to a pulp if he did.

He noticed her smell. She smelt of lilacs mixed with a touch of something else, almost like the smell of rain. Her smell was quite enticing, yet peaceful and calming.

How come I've never noticed this before? Draco thought.

I should never notice such things about someone like her to begin with! Draco reminded himself.

Reality finally smashed back into them at exactly the same time. They were both sprawled out on the floor, lying on top of one another. Panic gripped both of them as they immediately shot apart from one another.

Malfoy was the first to speak, "I knew you wanted to be alone with me, Granger. Really you didn't have to go to all this trouble for a hidden rendezvous," he said, trying to tease her again.

Arse, she thought.

"Stuff it, Malfoy," she said, giving him an annoyed face. "Where are we anyway?" she said, as she started to look around the room.

"How should I know? I didn't make that wall vanish," he said, as he pulled out his wand.

"Illustro!" he said, as the whole room was brightened.

Both of them gasped at the same time. It was amazing. The room that was revealed by the light was exquisite. There were all kinds of items placed around, almost like a museum. Remarkable items from Samurai Armors, to extraordinary swords, exquisite shields, all kinds of weapons, and things neither one of them have ever seen. The tables were made out of gold and mahogany wood. The molding around the walls was pure gold. A huge phoenix was on the ceiling, made out of brilliant colored gemstones. All the houses where represented in the room. Each coat of arms was made out of gold and all kinds of gemstones. Finally there were books. Hermione was in paradise.

A secret library, Hermione thought with excitement.

"This room is worth a fortune," Draco said, as he gaped at the gemstones.

"I once read of a secret room the founders of Hogwarts had created, but the book never went into detail about what the room looked like. Besides the founders having their personal offices they also created a meeting room of sorts. Each founder was ordained into the Order of Phoenix in this meeting room," Draco added, as he rubbed his hand over the Slytherin crest.

"The Order of Phoenix? I've never heard of that, what is it?" Hermione asked, as she approached Draco.

"You wouldn't have heard about it. The Order of Phoenix is a secret Order. It is a rare honor to be ordained into. Only the greatest wizards to ever live have been in the Order. It is higher than the Order of Merlin and much older. The members were few in number, but they were powerful. It was said that a person was born into the Order. They could call upon a mighty Patronus shaped as a Fire Phoenix. Every member ever to be in the Order was ordained right in this room," Draco said in awe, as he looked up to the Phoenix on the ceiling.

"Incredible," Hermione said, as she imagined the story.

"You said the founders had personal office's. Do you think they are still around here also?" Hermione questioned, looking at the Gryffindor crest.

"Are you daft as a box o'lights, Granger? You're the best friend of Harry Potter and the supposed cleverest witch to grace Hogwarts in a hundred years," Draco said, giving her a quizzical look.

Hermione blushed slightly at his comment. She was glad she wasn't facing him.

"Think of our houses founders, Granger. It's pretty obvious where Godric Gryffindor office is. How many places in Hogwarts have a Griffin in front of them," Draco said.

"Dumbledore's office," Hermione said lightly, as she focused on an imaginary spot on the wall.

"Salazar Slytherin's office is much more difficult to find. But alas your precious Potter had no trouble there," Draco said, as he grew an annoyed face thinking about Harry.

Hermione thought for a moment. Then a light clicked on in her head. She looked at Draco.

"The Chamber of Secrets? That was Slytherin's office wasn't it?" she asked Draco.

"Very good, enough history lessons for today," he said, turning away from Hermione and surveying the rest of the room.

"How did you know about all that?" Hermione asked in bewilderment.

"My family is a very old bloodline, Granger. Knowledge and information has been passed down through the generations. Besides that, we have a massive library full of rare and unique books," he replied.

"I bet you have a wonderful library," Hermione said, looking at the items in the glass casings.

"Yes, on any subject you could think of. You could almost get lost in our library. It was a good place to escape reality, when I was a boy," he said.

"You should see it one day," he added.

Hermione looked at him. She had a shocked expression on her face.

He acts like me seeing the Malfoy library is the most natural thing in the world. Did he hit his head when we fell into this room? Hermione thought, still giving him a questioning look.

"That is of course when you're a house elf. You're going to have to be at least of that status to enter my house," he added, turning to her with a smirk.

Nope, he's the same prick as before. He must not of hit his head. Too bad, I thought maybe he turned into a nice guy, she thought sarcastically.

"Well seeing as I have no intention to be a house elf, especially not your house elf, I guess I will never be able to grace Malfoy Manor. Such is the tragedy of our time," she replied in a sarcastic tone.

"Yes, quite a tragedy. You're missing out," he said. Draco was getting ready to add another snide remark when an object caught his eye.

"Hey, what is that?" he said, as he pointed to where they had landed earlier.

"Hmm? Oh, my locket. It must have unclasped and fallen off when we fell." Hermione replied, going over to the locket.

Draco reached down and picked it up, looking at the open locket. He turned it over and looked at the picture inside. Draco looked at it and immediately recognized the person in the picture. He gasped out loud.

"What?" Hermione said. "Oh look it's finally open. I was trying to figure out how to open it," she added

Draco was pale. He looked up from the locket to Hermione.

"Where did you get this?" he asked in an almost frightened tone.

"What's wrong with you? I found it earlier. Don't worry there are no curses on it. I already checked," Hermione said, taking the locket from him.

"That's not it. This picture, I know this picture," he said still in the frightened tone.

"What?" Hermione said as she looked at the picture. "It's a little girl and boy," she added. "Do you know them?" she said, looking at Draco.

"I had a dream about her last night. A dream about her and her father. A dream about a bad man coming for her and her father sending her away. A dream that seemed so real, it was almost like a memory," he said, looking at the picture.

Hermione gasped and looked like she had seen a ghost. "Malfoy, Harry had that same dream. What does it mean?" Hermione asked, now starting to get frightened.

"How should I know?" Draco replied, holding the locket with Hermione.

The locket started to glow and both Hermione and Draco shrieked. They tried to drop the locket, but neither one of them could let go of it. Light shone all around them, so bright it was almost blinding. There was the sound of a rushing wind so fast it made screaming noises. Then before they knew it, they vanished. The locket lay on the ground, glowing brightly, the moon was moving in a counter clockwise direction. Then it all just stopped.

The figure looked at the locket on the floor.

"Now you shall see," it said.

It went through the wall and out into the corridor. It traveled toward its unsuspecting victims.

"Now all of you shall see," it said.

Ron heard something coming toward them like a gust of wind. He looked up and gasped.

"Harry! What the bloody hell is that?" he asked, pointing down the hallway.

Harry turned around quickly; he only had enough time to say, "A flying locket?!"

A blinding light and a gusting screaming wind surrounded both boys. Harry's last thought was that he swore he saw a woman holding the locket that looked exactly like his mother.

"Mother!" he screamed, confusion tingeing his voice.

This was the last word Harry said out loud before they vanished without a trace. Nothing remained but the locket that glowed, with a moon traveling counter clockwise. Just like before it stopped