A Dragon's Heart

Chapter 5: Family Secrets

A few hours later, Hermione opened her eyes slowly and was slightly surprised to find herself in a room identical to her own in arrangement but quite different in color. This room was done entirely in emerald green and silver. `Draco´s room,´ she thought. Allowing her eyes to explore the room a little more closely, she noticed Draco reading in the far corner.

Seeing her sit up slightly, Draco put his book down and smiled. "Good morning," he said, getting up and moving toward her.

"Morning," she replied, smiling slightly.

"How are you feeling, Hermione?" he asked, a look of concern in his beautiful eyes.

"Like I´ve just been hit by the Hogwarts Express," she grumbled, falling back into the pillows. "Why didn´t you tell me that Angelique had a brother?"

"It slipped my mind...?" he answered, hoping she wouldn´t question him further.

"Don´t lie to me," she whispered, turning to face him with tears in her eyes. "Everyone seems to be lying to me; I don´t need you doing so as well."

Understanding what she meant, he sighed before beginning. "Alright, I´m sorry. You´re right; I was lying. So I take it you´d like to know more about Nicholas? To tell you the truth, I don´t know much about him. I know that he is eighteen years old and attended Beauxbaton. Last I heard he lived in the Saige Manor in London. He probably still does." Getting up and sitting on the bed, he took Hermione´s hand in his own before continuing, "Hermione, I´m so sorry for lying to you. I didn´t tell you because- because Dumbledore asked me not to."

"Why would he ask you that?" she questioned, not taking her eyes off his face.

"I don´t know. He said I´m to tell you everything I know about the Saige family with the exception of Nicholas. He said it wasn´t necessary for you to know about him yet."

"Not necessary? Not bloody necessary?!" she cried, sitting up. "I´m having dreams about people I´ve never met who keep calling me Angelique and it´s not bloody necessary for me to know why?!"

"Dreams?" he asked, alarmed at her words. "You´re having dreams about the Saige´s and they´re calling you `Angelique´?"

"Yes!" she exclaimed, feeling exasperated. "Why do you think I´ve been researching them?"

"You told me it was a project!" he accused.

"You didn´t believe me then!" she cried. "What makes you believe me now?!"

"Oh, bloody- why didn´t you tell me, Hermione?!´ he half-yelled, grabbing her shoulder firmly.

"I don´t know!" she screamed, tears brimming her chocolate eyes. "Maybe because up until a few days ago you´ve been far from decent to me!"

Suddenly, Draco let go of her and stumbled back as though slapped. "Hermione, I don´t know how many times I have to say it. I´m sorry for what happened in the past, but I can´t change it. Now if you insist on throwing that in my face every time we argue, then this is not going to work out." With that, he strode out of the room, leaving Hermione alone in her sorrow.

`Your eyes reflect the sorrow
That is lying deep inside.
A single tear down your cheek
Reveals the emotions you try to hide.´

~*~*~*~

"Good afternoon, Albus. What is it you want with me today?" Snape asked, sitting in the plush chair in the Headmaster´s office.

"Good afternoon, Severus." the Headmaster answered, a twinkle playing in his eyes. "I´ve got some news for you. Now I understand that you may not believe me at first, but I assure you that what I am about to tell you is not a tall tale."

"Well, what is it, Albus?" he asked, growing impatient. "I haven´t exactly got all day."

"Ah, Severus, ever the impatient one." Dumbledore chuckled. "Before I tell you, there is something I must ask of you."

"Whatever it is, you know I shall follow your orders," the younger man answered.

"Yes, well then, I must ask you to stop attending Voldemort´s meetings. You must drop the spy charade," the Headmaster stated.

"But why, Albus?" Snape asked, feeling slightly astonished at the strange request.

"Severus, do you remember the curse Voldemort cast on young Mister Malfoy?" Albus questioned.

"Why, of course I do! Angelique was involved, how could I not remember?" Severus replied. "What´s this got to do with anything? The curse cannot be broken now. Angelique is dead, you know that as well as I, Albus."

"Ah, but do I?" the Headmaster asked.

"What are you going on about?" Severus demanded, slamming his fist down on the mahogany desk. "Angelique is dead! She died in her crib at only three months of age!"

"Severus, she is not dead." the Headmaster said calmly. "In fact, she is here at Hogwarts right now."

"What?!" Snape asked, "Have you gone daft?!"

"No, Severus, I haven´t gone daft." The older man answered, laughing lightly. "Let me tell you a story, Severus. When Angelique was three months old, she was betrothed to Mister Malfoy."

"I know that, Albus!" Severus said, cutting off the older man. "That same night she died in her crib!"

"I´m aware of that, but I am also aware of all that you do not know." Albus continued, "The night of the betrothal, Angelique did not die in her crib as you thought. A muggle family adopted her in order to protect her from Voldemort. Julian and Verity preformed a powerful memory charm on you and Lucius Malfoy in order to prevent Voldemort from finding out. With the charm, even Veritaserum would not work if Voldemort decided to try it. I am so sorry Severus, but it simply could not be done any other way. I thought about telling you when she first came to Hogwarts but I knew it was too soon."

"So she´s here. She´s in this very building right at this very moment?" Severus asked, his voice full of emotion.

"Yes, Severus."

"Does she know?"

"Now yet." the Headmaster paused before continuing, "But she has begun to figure it out."

"How?"

"The dreams." Albus answered, "They began the first day back."

"When will she find out?" Severus asked, allowing his eyes to meet Dumbledore´s.

"Over the Christmas Holidays." he replied. "She will be staying with Serenity and Desiree for Christmas. Desiree will tell her the truth before New Year´s. At the time she will meet her parents and Nicholas. You will be attending those festivities as well, I presume?"

"Yes." Severus answered, his voice just above a whisper. "Who is she, Albus?"

Knowing that the question would arise, Dumbledore sighed before answering. "Your niece is none other than our Head Girl, Miss Hermione Granger."

~*~*~*~

Walking down the empty corridors, he felt the anger slowly decrease. He was angry with her for saying such harsh words, but even angrier with himself for leaving her when she needed him the most. He knew she was hurting and needed comforting but instead of providing her the safety she so badly needed, what did he do? He had lied to her and left her crying. `But she lied as well.´ he reasoned, `She should have just told me about the dreams in the first place!´

He looked around and found himself standing in the Entrance Hall. `May as well get some fresh air.´ he thought, heading out the doors and towards the Quidditch field.

As he came closer, he discovered someone else was brilliant enough to use the field as an escape. Looking closer, he recognized the figure flying high above his head. `Potter.´ he thought.

Just as Draco made his way to the stands, Harry flew towards him and landed softly.

"Hey." Harry said, setting down his Firebolt.

"What do you want, Potter?" Draco growled, "Came to make fun of Hermione and I more? Didn´t Weasley do a good enough job at breakfast?"

"Listen, Malfoy!" Harry said, getting annoyed. "I came to apologize for Ron´s behavior so please spare me your rude comments!"

Looking at Harry, Draco realized he had misjudged the situation. "Sorry."

"No, I´m sorry. Ron was out of line, but I screwed up as well. Please tell Hermione that." Harry said, sitting down beside Draco.

"I´ll tell her." he began, "When she decides to speak to me again."

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked, looking towards the young man sitting beside him and finding a very distraught looking Draco. "What´s wrong?"

"It´s nothing you need to worry about Potter," Draco replied, smirking. "I´ll tell Hermione what you said. Later Potter."

With that, he got up slowly and made his way back to the castle, leaving behind a confused Harry.

~*~*~*~

Once inside, Draco opened the door to the Great Hall just into to see the owls pour into the large room each searching for the special person for whom they carried a parcel.

He walked over to the Slytherin table and barely managed to sit down when a letter from his father landed before him. Opening it quickly, he read the contents:

Draco,

I´m writing to remind you that you are to come home this Christmas. You have not done so in the past couple of years so I thought you might need a reminder. Do not disobey me boy. You must attend! If you choose to ignore this, I will come and get you myself.

Your mother sends her love. She hopes to see you during the holidays.

Signed,
Lucius Malfoy.