Power Within

Chapter 6

Narcissa and Hogsmeade

The first Hogsmeade visit came about as Halloween drew nearer. This would be the chance for students to find costumes also. Hermione had awoken early, as always, to get ready and meet the boys in the crimson common room before heading to the Great Hall for breakfast. Hermione scanned the Great Hall upon entering. A natural curiosity she possessed. Her eyes fell to a certain Slytherin watching her. There was nothing but arguing between them at rehearsals and neither could agree on songs. It was becoming very tiring for Hermione. She could be found in the library, more than usual, in order to escape everyone. She rolled her eyes at the Slytherin and sat down with her two best friends.

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Draco sat at the Slytherin table eating his breakfast and listening to Pansy droning on and on, about what he did not know--he learned through the years to tune her out.

"...and then Harry..."

That got Draco's attention.

"Harry? Since when do you call Dumbledore's favorite boy 'Harry?" Pansy rolled her eyes at him, but never got a chance to answer. Something else pulled Draco's attention away. He felt it suddenly--a power overwhelming the room. It was in the very air he was breathing and it pulled his eyes to the door. Standing in the Great Hall, scanning all the tables, with that spark in her eyes, her face alight, and Boy Wonder and Sidekick on each side of her was Hermione Granger.

Draco could not understand it--something pulled his attention to the girl and the sight of her seemed to freeze everything around him--Why? He watched her as she turned and looked right into his eyes. This scared Draco. Not many people dared to do such a thing. He feared she could see everything he was thinking; see all his little secrets. But he could not help himself. All the time she spent in the library lately was under his gaze, but she did not know. She could feel the stares, but could not find where they were coming from.

Will she know by my look?

Then, she rolled her eyes and headed to her best friends. Before his thoughts could go any farther, an owl landed in front of Draco with a response from his mother.

Draco,

I will meet you in Hogsmeade this afternoon.
girl. I will see you at the Three Broomsticks at noon.

Love,
Mother

Draco let a slight smile escape at the thought of seeing his mother. She was the one that always displayed her love for him. If it was not for her, he would have been attending a school far away and have found himself up to his eyeballs in dark arts, but his mother was always his savior at whatever price it cost her.

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Hermione stood in Gladrags Wizardwear looking through all the costumes that were in stock. The guys were no help. Ginny had walked up to say hi<> to her when Hermione let out an exasperated squeal. The red head stepped back at the same time Harry and Ron walked up with their costumes in hand.

"This is no use. I am never going to find anything."

Ginny was looking at something on the rack though. Ron noticed his little sister's eyes move from a costume to Hermione and back again before she grabbed it.

"This would look marvelous on you!" Hermione saw Ron and Harry's eyes widen before she turned to look.

"Have you lost it?" Ginny just smiled holding up a crimson and gold costume. "A belly dancer? Honestly! The point is to cover my body, not expose it."

"Hermione, really. You act as if you are hideous. It would not kill you to show a little for Halloween. It is not like I am suggesting you wear it to classes tomorrow." Hermione turned to her two best friends for help, but they were not any. They both stood there with their mouths partly open. Hermione glared at them and then turned back to Ginny. Harry was the first to regain his ability to speak.

"Hermione, Ginny is right. It would look great on you." At that, Hermione turned around so that Harry was now facing Hermione's death glare. "WHAT! I may be your best friend, but I am still a guy." She turned back to eye the outfit. "Look, all we are saying is to have fun, it is Halloween. The idea is to be someone you are not. And yes, would it kill you to show others that you are female, Hermione?"

"You know, I have to agree with Harry and the little Weasley for once." Pansy was standing behind the group listening to the argument and winked when they all turned around.

"Excuse me," was all Hermione could get out. Pansy just smiled instead of offering up her usual insults to the Gryffindor.

"Only, I believe this might be a bit classier for Hermione." She held up a costume in the same colors of crimson and gold--an Egyptian Princess. "Yes, it will still show your marvelous figure, show a little cleavage, and yes, your mid drift will show--it is just classier."

"Hermione?" Hermione had only registered her first name was just used by Pansy. Not Granger. Not Mudblood.

"Yes, Hermione. You are beautiful, why not let others see?" At that, she walked back over to Millicent.

How odd. What is Pansy up to? She usually only has insults to offer, but not this time. This time she was calling me by my first name and helping me get out of a costume that was one-step short of being a stripper to something classier. How odd.

From there the trio went to Honeydukes and then to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer before returning to Hogwarts. The Gryffindors took the table they normally did together towards the back. The three of them were in their own world talking and joking about the past summers events, they always ended up at the Burrow for a few weeks at least, and classes. The three steered clear of Voldemort talk that year. Harry was still getting over the previous year's events. Hermione however, knew that Harry needed to talk. It was in his eyes. Ron knew also, but he always seemed oblivious until him and Harry was alone, then they could talk man to man. Little did they know they were being watched.

Sitting in dark corner Draco pointed Hermione out to his mother. Narcissa smiled watching the girl. She looked from the girl's animated conversation with the boy-who-lived and the Weasley boy and then looked back to her son's expression while watching her.

"I can get her to show her abilities."

Narcissa raised an eyebrow at her son. "You can?" He only nodded when he noticed his chance. The brunette had gotten up from the table and was heading to the girl's room. She was in the middle of the space between their table and Draco's when he stepped out of the darkness to cut her off in her path.

"Sod off Malfoy." There is that damn smirk, again.

"Why, Granger, is that any way to talk to a Malfoy?"

"A Malfoy? Listen here, Ferret Boy."

"Watch it, Mudblood! You do not want your boyfriends to find out the truth about you, do you?"

That did it.

She had already been glaring at him and he had not noticed the slow rumbling growing louder in the sky. He lost himself again. The spark always in her eyes, he ignited once again and he became trapped within its flames unable to pull away. She stared pure hatred in his eyes as their voices could be heard throughout the Three Broomsticks.

"Malfoy! How can I tell them what I do not know!" Great I just told him more than necessary, I do not know. "You are so arrogant! You think this world revolves around what you think and that I would care what a twitchy little ferret would think, just because he has the name Malfoy! Well, I do not!" Harry had never heard Hermione so angry or so loud. But she was not done. She noticed she had backed him against a pillar by an empty table. She took in a breath to start again, but she did not get the chance. The low rumbling became a crashing roar as a bright bolt of lightening shot out of nowhere, hitting the table next to the arguing couple. Several screams could be heard, including Hermione's. Draco saw the look of fear on her face and before she knew it, she had a hand in front of him and he found that power flowing toward him knocking him back to the pillar he had jumped from. This time Harry and Ron saw everything. There was one scream heard above all others--Harry's. Ron looked to find his best friend dropping to the floor clutching his scar. Hermione turned and ran in fear.

Harry was getting to his feet at the same time as Draco. They both watched Hermione go. Ron started to go after her, but Harry stopped him.

"Let her be. We will catch up to her later." Ron just nodded in agreement and turned their glares to Draco. Draco just stood there--he had not meant for it to go that far. Watching her run off in tears, though not the first time, nagged at him somehow. They just watched as Draco lifted his wand to the table and muttered, "Reparo," and turned to leave with a woman they knew as Narcissa--even though the boys had not seen her since right before their fourth year.

Why is she here?

On the way out of The Three Broomsticks, Narcissa informed her son she was going back to Hogwarts with him. She needed a word with Dumbledore. Draco found this odd--his father always spoke ill of him, but his mother was a completely different entity than his father. And Dumbledore was the one who made sure he and his mother was safe from the Death Eaters after his father went to Azkaban. There were obviously things he did not yet know about.

"Son," Narcissa cut into Draco's wondering thoughts, "you might want to stop calling Ms. Granger mudblood. That is nothing but a filthy word your father taught you and it holds no ground in an argument against her."

Draco's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Son, if she is who it would appear--she is no muggle-born."

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Draco knew where he would find Hermione--the library. His mom had gone to speak with Dumbledore and he went to find Hermione.

Should I apologize? Draco Malfoy apologize? Right--and I love Care of Magical Creatures class.

He entered the library and quietly made his way to the back, trying not to be too obvious. When he turned the corner, right behind the last bookshelf, he found the Gryffindor. Books were surrounding her on the table--everything from Modern Magical History to Powers You Never Knew You Had and What do With Them Now You've Wised Up. Draco chuckled at this.

Granger--always thinking she can find the answers in a book.

Then he noticed her long eyelashes resting on her tear stained face. She sniffled slightly in her sleep and Draco noticed that muggle music thing on her head. He had seen it a lot on her lately. This gave him an idea. Obviously, she listened to it when stressed or what not and he thought, maybe, if he could hear what she was listening to, he would somehow know what she was feeling.

Why ? Since when do I give a crap if she is crying or upset? She is just a silly mudbl...no, mom said no, not if she is who she thinks she is. But who is that? Oh well, here goes.

Draco sat down at a table directly across from her facing her sleeping figure. Relaxing, he closed his eyes and let all thought drift away. His soul concentration was Hermione and the music in her mind. He inhaled deeply and felt a rushing sensation, like when he is on his broom chasing the golden snitch.

~There were tears and running. People moving out of the way. The portrait of the Fat Lady. Password--patronus. A crimson room. Grabbing something off the bed. The library door. Books. Music. Sleep. Music.~

The beat of the music came to Draco first, and then the words flowed.

~ lie.
A face that laughs every time I fall.
And watches everything
So I know that when its time to sink or swim
That the face inside is hearing me
Right underneath my skin.

It's like I'm paranoid looking over my back
It's like a whirl wind inside of my head
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin.~

Draco could not listen to anymore. He opened his eyes and let everything from Hermione fade. Not telling anyone was killing her and at the same time, she was afraid to. Hermione stirred awake and lifted her head.

Warm honey eyes locked on the melting icy silvery eyes.

Why is he here and what is he doing?

Harry and Ron burst into the library looking for her at this point.> Harry was glaring at Draco though, deciding this was not the time, he turned his attention to Hermione.

"Hermione, when did this start?"

Hermione sighed and told Harry everything that she had discovered this summer and Draco hanging around all the time trying to find out. She even expressed her concern at owling her mother about it, but she having not received any kind of reply. She noticed the concerned look on her best friend's face.

"What is it Harry?" For once, Hermione did not know something and it seemed Harry did.

"There are only two wizards in the world I have ever heard about being able to do extensive wandless magic like this."

"Who," Hermione whispered apprehensively.

"Well, Dumbledore is one." Harry stopped talking and looked into her innocent honey eyes.

"Harry, who is the other one?" She said this a little more demanding--more like Hermione normally would.

"Voldemort."