From Dreams to Reality

Chapter 20______________________________________________________________

Where was Dumbledore?

Hermione had been outside the Headmaster's locked office doors for almost an hour, waiting for him to arrive. She was anxious to tell him about her dream and was desperately wondering where he was. She hadn't seen him during her rushed breakfast and it was really starting to worry her.

What if something had happened to him? What if Lucius Malfoy had come back to the school and somehow captured him as a way to leave his path to Draco clear so it would be so much easier to kill him? The idea terrified Hermione greatly.

Suddenly, there was a scrapping behind her and she turned quickly to see the top of a wizard hat appearing around the corner of the revolving staircase. Seconds later, the full figure of the headmaster had appeared into sight and Hermione let out a sigh of relief.

Dumbledore smiled at her. "Sorry I am so late in arriving, Miss Granger," he said, unlocking the door of his office with a tap of his wand and stepping inside, Hermione right behind him. "Hagrid has been having trouble taming a new creature he has obtained for his class - your class I dare say."

Hermione quickly shifted her images of what sort of monster Hagrid had gotten his hands on this time and looked up at Dumbledore with a look of upset seriousness. "Professor, I'm here because of a dream I've been having for the past week. I would've come sooner to tell you, but I just..." She trailed off, looking away from the headmaster and studying an odd brass ornament that sat nearby.

Dumbledore smiled and took a seat behind his desk. "I understand completely, Miss Granger," he said with a small nod. "Now, what is this dream about? Only tell me if you wish to," he added.

"It's always the same," Hermione said, looking down at her hands. And she launched into speech about the dream, seeing flashes of it appearing in her mind as she worded everything in detail. Dumbledore sat, taking in her every word and by the time she had finished, his face was contorted into an expression of graveness.

Hermione looked at the headmaster with glassy eyes. "Could this be another vision, Professor? Or is it just my consciousness putting horrid images and ideas in my mind?"

Dumbledore slowly took off his glasses and cleaned them with his sleeve, not meeting Hermione's eyes until they were sitting back on his nose. "It is my belief that yes, this dream is, as you suspect, another vision. It is my knowledge that Lucius Malfoy has, yes, escaped Azkaban prison through the help of some of his fellow Death Eaters. I found out only this morning through one of my contacts at the Ministry of Magic that he has been out for over a week and may be trying to keep as low of a profile as he can. But, I believe that he hasn't stopped all contact with the wizarding world. I have noticed Draco has been extremely bad-tempered and in a way moody - more than usual - for the past week or so. It is my suspicion that perhaps he has received some sort of word from Lucius."

"But - but he would've told me," Hermione claimed. "I'm sure he would've."

Dumbledore looked at her carefully. "Perhaps he didn't want to worry you, Miss Granger."

*

Later that day, Hermione sat in the common room, ignoring everyone around her as she stared into the dancing fire, her mind repeating the last real sentence Dumbledore had said before she left the office.

"Perhaps he didn't want to worry you, Miss Granger." Somehow, she had the feeling that that may not be the case. Draco would've told her, surely. Lucius wanted her dead as well, didn't he? So maybe he never had received some form of a word from Lucius. Maybe something else was causing him to be so bad-tempered and moody lately. Maybe it was her... But no, it couldn't be; he loved her.

Some of Harry's words from that morning resurfaced in her mind. "...I just don't think that Malfoy, of all the people in the world, could change ever so suddenly and fall in love with you. It could be no more than lust for all you know." Could Harry perhaps be right? Is that why Draco hadn't told her anything about having some kind of word from his father?

Hermione moved restlessly and lent her head back against the couch, her thoughts and feelings suddenly becoming confused. She didn't know what to think or do. Draco had, as Dumbledore said, been very distant with the people around him lately, even the ones closest to him, like her. It had been nearly a week since they'd had a true conversation, or shared a real, meaningful kiss. Were these all signs that he has had contact with his father and none had come as good news?

A vision from her dream suddenly flashed through her thoughts and sat up abruptly, trying her hardest to concentrate on the image.

Draco ran his right hand through his hair, pushing it out of his eyes and walked over to a large rock nearby and took a seat. He thrust a hand into his robes and pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment and read what was written on it.

As he looked up again and stared across the calm, yet chilly surface of the lake, his hand shook and he screwed the parchment up and threw it to the side, where it landed in a bush. He stared at the place it had disappeared with fury, before burying his face in his hands.

"Crying about it all won't help, Draco," said a cold and extremely familiar voice from behind him. "Tut, tut, tut. Emotions - never something I taught you to show... Absolutely disgraceful!"...

That piece of parchment. What had been on it to cause Draco such fury and emotion? Was it perhaps a letter his father had sent him? Lucius did seem to have some kind of idea what was written on it...

Hermione stood up abruptly and headed straight over to the portrait hole and climbed out, ignoring the Fat Lady's words of trying not coming back too late. She descended the stairs down to the Entrance Hall as quick as she could without becoming too tired.

Finally reaching the bottom stair, she looked around carefully and headed straight towards the passage to the dungeons, taking the stairs slowly in case someone was looming near the bottom. To her relief though, the passage below was deserted and she headed down it quickly, looking carefully around corners as she went and came to a halt between the green and silver torches on the wall.

"Caligatio," Hermione said quietly and let out a breath of relief when the wall began to move. She had feared that perhaps the password had been changed since she'd last visited.

Stepping into the room, she felt very nervous as she noticed the many Slytherins that filled the room. Thankfully, none were looking her way, but she could make out Draco sitting at a table in a dark corner, his hair shining in the dim light. She made to cross the room, but even after her first step she knew it was no use. There was no way she could get over to Draco without the other Slytherins noticing her presence.

As she had predicted, after only her fourth step, a couple of the Slytherin boys sitting by the fireplace looked up and she stopped dead, staring at them with frightening thoughts swirling around her numb brain.

"Hey, look, the Mudblood Granger's come for a visit!" the taller of the two boys said, standing up, a sneer contorted on his rather scarred face.

As one all the other Slytherins looked around at Hermione, who had gone quite pale in complexion and constantly threw glances Draco's way, but he merely sat there looking at her. She turned back to the one who had spoken, trying to ignore the ones around her who had stood and were now advancing on her.

"Hi," she said in a squeaky voice, giving a very weak and false smile. She cast a glance around her, taking in everyone's menacing expressions before desperately looking at Draco for help.

Hermione could've sworn a full minute had passed before Draco finally and very reluctantly stood up. "Leave her alone," he said with slight harshness, causing everyone to look around at him. "I think I know why she's here, so just leave her alone. I'll take her somewhere else. Come on, Hermione."

He led the way out into the dungeon passageway. He turned to her. "What the hell do you think you're doing, walking into the Slytherin common room when you know it's going to be packed with students?" he demanded. "They would've beaten you to a pulp if I hadn't stopped them!"

Hermione stared at him. "I came to see you," she said in a small voice. "I wanted you to know that your father has escaped Azkaban."

Draco's expression didn't falter. "I am actually aware of that," he said shortly. "Now, if you don't mind I have studying to do."

He made to walk away, but Hermione held out her hand and grabbed his arm to stop him. "Draco, have you had word from him at all?"

Draco narrowed his eyes slightly. "No," he said simply, making to walk away again, but Hermione stopped him again.

"Than what's with this foul attitude you've been having lately?" she asked. "Why are you treating me and everyone else as though we're not there? Why are you being so cold towards me?"

Draco looked at her upset face and relaxed slightly. "I'm sorry I've had this attitude lately, Hermione," he said. "I just..." He trailed off. "I've just been really stressed out lately. I'm behind in school and I've hardly done any studying. I'm beginning to think that if I don't get my act together I'm going to fail my NEWTs. I'm just stressed out."

Hermione nodded, but part of her had the distinct feeling he was lying to her. She vaguely considered telling him about her dream, but something within her stopped him.

"You really should be getting back to your studying then," she said. "Good luck with it all and -" She gave him a kiss on the lips "- I'll see you tomorrow."

With that, she walked away and out of sight. Draco stood, staring at the place she had disappeared with no more than guilt penetrating through his entire body. He placed a hand in the pocket of his robes and pulled out a piece of crumpled up parchment.

Draco,

Your insolence and despicably selfish deed has been done.

Expect no more than murder to be set upon you and that Mudblood slime.

- Your father, Lucius Malfoy.