Taking Over Me

Chapter 6 - Reunion

Hermione jumped as a house-elf appeared right in front of her. The house-elf was quivering, and looked as if it had a black eye; although Hermione couldn't tell, the house-elf was almost black itself. It was wearing a flowered pattern pillowcase. As it bowed, Hermione gasped as she saw a large scar on the tip of its head.

"The Miss Malfoy will be with you shortly," she said. "Journey offers tea to Miss Malfoy's visitors."

"No!" Hermione snapped before Affinity could agree. Hermione didn't want to make this house-elf work more than she already needs to. "We'll wait."

Journey bowed again and disappeared with a snap.

"Well, I wanted some tea," Affinity huffed.

Hermione rolled her eyes heaven wards. She smiled and looked at Affinity. She was about to say something when there was a large stone against stone noise.

Hermione and Affinity looked around, and then noticed that the fireplace was moving. The two stared open mouthed at it, and watched as a tall, blond, handsome figure emerged from behind.

Affinity looked him up and down, comparing him to the pictures she saw. Draco Malfoy was even more handsome than the pictures!

He smirked at her, noticing her sizing him up. He looked at Hermione, his smirk turning straight into an ugly sneer. "What're you doing here?" he snapped.

Melly pushed passed him. "Who?" she asked just before she saw Hermione's shocked expression.

They stared at each other, neither being able to speak.

Melly! Melly! Talk! Draco! Remember him? He's standing right next to you, giving you dirty looks!

Shut up! This is all Ron's fault! I blame him! What's next? Dumbledore?

"Melly!" Draco snapped, causing Melly to flinch from her thoughts. "You're frozen."

"I got this, Draco," Melly said in barely a whisper. "You go and tell Journey to inform the elves it's almost dinner time."

Draco glanced at the grandfather clock, and then back at Melly. It wasn't even five yet, and she was already thinking of dinner? She must have a reason. He shrugged and walked to the door, Affinity keeping her eyes on him the whole time. He turned and snorted at Hermione, then left, closing the door firmly behind him.

Hermione and Melly stared at each other, neither thinking there was someone else in the room with them.

Melly stepped forwards, and Hermione stood. Affinity did as well, thinking they were going to jump Melly and go into the fireplace.

Hermione and Melly stepped closer until they were almost touching. Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but Melly grabbed her wrist, causing her shut her mouth quickly.

Affinity took out her wand and pointed it at Melly. Melly looked at Affinity, and at the wand. She smirked and shook her head.

Melly raised Hermione's arm and pulled her sleeve back. She smirked once she saw the all to familiar bracelet around her wrist.

"It thought you would've forgotten," she said, sounding as if she were trying to point something out.

Hermione snapped her hand back. "How could I? Ron was depressed for five years. HE wouldn't stop talking about a certain girl back at school, and he never stopped talking about the damned bracelet of yours."

Melly smirked, letting go of Hermione's wrist and stepped back, now motioning to the couch. "Please, sit."

Hermione looked at Affinity, who was rehearsing all of her curses and hexes she knew, her wand still pointing at Melly. Hermione placed a hand on Affinity's arm, and shook her head. Affinity growled and fell back on the couch, glaring at Melly.

Hermione calmly sat down next to her.

Melly smiled at Affinity, and turned around, closing the fireplace, leaving a small space so the two 'Curious' persons would be sure to check out what was behind it. She couldn't close the fireplace all the way, or else the two would have no way of participate in her plan.

"What're you doing here, Hermione?" Melly asked, turning around and facing the two with a serious expression.

"You know," Hermione said, mimicking Melly's serious expression.

Melly nodded at Affinity. "Who's this?" she asked.

"Her name Affinity. She works with Ron."

"I'm practically his fiancee," Affinity said, sneering at whom she knew was to be Melly Avalon.

Melly's face dropped and she flashed an angry look at Hermione. Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head. Melly calmed, and smiled. She turned back to Affinity.

This girl's just trying to try your patience.

Yeah, I know.

"Really? Well, too bad he's in love with someone else," Melly said, smirking. She knew that Affinity was now acting as she witnessed Pansy act towards Draco many times in their early years at Hogwarts.

"And who is this someone else?" Affinity challenged. She was ready. "I don't see her here."

Melly smirked, considering what she should say is, "Did I say the someone else was a she?" but thought better of it.

"You're right, she isn't here. She already came. Too bad she found him." Melly crossed her arms over her chest and winked at Hermione, who was interested in what Melly was trying to do. "She's with him now."

"Really? Where are they?" Affinity yelled as she stood up and got into Melly's face.

Melly laughed. "Why should I tell you?"

"You don't have to," Affinity growled. "I know you're a Death Eater, and I know you're hiding them somewhere."

"Affinity, stop," Hermione said. "There is no one else. She's just playing with you."

Melly gave Hermione a sideways glance, and then back at Affinity. "She's right. I believe you're the only one for him," she said wanting to sound teasingly but it came out venomously.

Affinity smiled. "I know."

A pop startled Affinity and Hermione.

"Miss Melly?" the house-elf said.

"Yes, Journey," Melly said, still looking at Affinity.

"Supper is ready."

"What?" she snapped, looking down at the elf. "What do you mean? Supper shouldn't be ready for another two hours, silly girl!"

Journey whimpered and bowed. "Mister Malfoy said you wanted supper soon, and it is now ready."

Why would Draco say something like that?

Maybe because you told him to tell the elves to get supper ready!

Why would I do a crazy thing like that? Melly looked at the grandfather clock. It's only five fifteen!

Well, you are hungry! Faith quickly, without consolation, took over Melly's body. She shot Journey a glare, but nodded.

"I'll be there shortly," Faith said. She turned to Hermione and Affinity. "I'm sorry this meeting had to end so short."

Hermione stood up. "Melly, please," she whispered, begged. "Melly, where is Ron and Harry?"

Faith looked at Hermione. Like she would tell! She looked at Affinity, and sneered. "If I tell you, I would be setting my life, and yours..." she looked at Hermione, "...in mortal danger. I cannot say."

"Please," Hermione, now tears falling, grabbed Faith's hands. "You know how much Harry means to me. You know how much Ron means to me! Please! I'mm willing to put my life in danger for them!"

"What about me?" Faith smiled and looked at Affinity. She saw Affinity was looking at the fireplace, examining it. "I cannot say."

Faith took Hermione's arm, and led her out of the parlor. "Coming, Affinity?" Faith asked.

Faith showed Hermione the door. "I'm sorry I can't see you out. It was great seeing you again."

"Why won't you just tell me?" Hermione demanded.

Faith picked up Hermione's arm that had the bracelet. She examined it. "You know, this isn't really a very good protection device." Faith looked at her, and smiled. "Good bye, Hermione." She turned around and walked towards the dining hall.

She glanced at the two behind her shoulder, and, once she saw they weren't looking, she hid behind a statue of a a knight, and spied on the two.

---

Affinity looked at Hermione, who was holding her bracelet in her hand. Melly had said that it wasn't a protection device, so why did she say it meant protection when it didn't?

"Hermione," Affinity said, placing a hand on her arm. "I know where they are."

Hermione looked up at her.

"They're behind the fireplace."

Hermione looked back into the parlor and saw the fireplace. There was a small space where you could see beyond the wall. It was dark, and you couldn't see an inch.

Affinity grabbed Hermione's wrist and began pulling her. Hermione snatched her wrist back. "What're you doing?" she hissed. "We have overstayed our welcome, we must go."

"I'm an Auror." Affinity glared at the fireplace. "My job is to find those who are missing and put the culprits in Azkaban." She turned to Hermione. "You can walk out that door and forget about Harry and Ron. Or, you can come with me and save Harry and Ron and have Melly Avalon put in Azkaban, along with Draco Malfoy. What say you?"

Hermione didn't know what to do. She could leave and not risk her life for Harry and Ron, or, she could risk her life and save them, arrest Melly and Malfoy, and probably awarded from it by the Minister and Harry.

"All right," Hermione said, after having a minute to think about it. "But we must be quiet. We don't know if Melly will be going back tonight."

Affinity nodded and walked into the parlor, Hermione following.