The Oracles of Prodigy

Chapter Four ~

How Do I Love Thee...

Draco writhed in pain on the floor of his dorm room. The Dark Mark was burning madly, and it didn't seem to want to stop. He had tried yelling for help but no words could escape him; all of his attention was focused on the searing fire extending from his arm.

Right after the incident in the library, Draco had ran flat out to the Slytherin dungeon; pushing about a dozen admirers on the way. He was angry in finding that the whole of his house was gone. He needed someone who was not fawning over him to occupy him. He couldn't think of what he had just shown Granger.

Draco had stomped up the steps to his room where he intended to rest the day away in hopes to forget everything; but someone elsewhere had other ideas. As soon as he had locked his door the symbol in his skin erupted with sizzling heat. Never had Draco known pain such as this could have existed. He tried to fight it and stand strong, but with every protest of the pain it only increased more.

Then it hit such a climax that he thought no more of wishing it away. He simply jerked and tensed on the ground, wanting to scream but not daring, hoping it to stop but then glad in a way that it didn't. At least no thoughts of the library could come to him.

****

"Stupid, stupid boy! Why did we trust him to do a thing like this? Wasting a perfectly potent spell on him; and then watching as he blabs it out to a MUDBLOOD!" Voldemort swung his arm in rage, knocking over everything that was on the mantelpiece of the Malfoy Manor.

"My Lord," Lucius broke in, stepping in front of his wife. "Draco may seem a tad weak at the moment, yes. But he will carry out our wishes; I have little doubts in my son."

Voldemort rounded on him, his slitted eyes burning with green fire. His next words came in a hiss, low and sinister, making Lucius fidget slightly.

"IF THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THEN THERE IS SOME DOUBT TO BEGIN WITH!!! Malfoy, everything I have been planning for rides on whether or not your boy gets the information I need!!! If he does not posses the knowledge I want from Dumbledore then my killing of that pathetic Muggle family was to waste!!! Not to mention that the power I could own would be lost to me forever!"

"My Lord," Lucius tried once again, hoping that he didn't look frightened by his master. If Voldemort ever knew his servants could cower so weakly under his rage then he would surely kill them; with the exception of Wormtail, of course. "My Lord, pardon my asking, but why can we not follow on the information given by the muggle family's father? Surely his knowledge is enough to find them?"

"Fool," the Dark Lord growled, swirling around and pacing the room. Lucius felt his wife, Narcissa, shiver slightly behind him. He backed up next to her, grabbing her hand and squeezing tight. Narcissa relaxed. She was as faithful as any other to Voldemort, but there were times where she wasn't sure she could take his power.

"Malfoy, we do have enough information to find these kids, but what happens when he go to them? With no knowing of their power or their level of magic they could blow us out of there in a second! Only Dumbledore knows what they can truly do and I need to know as well. But after that stunt your boy pulled in the library I have thoughts that maybe he will fail. I cannot have failures on my side, Malfoy. You know what happens to someone who fails me..." he glanced a look to Lucius. Lucius nodded obediently.

"My Lord, if we had just told him from the beginning what he was to do then maybe he wouldn't fight the Mark so much..."

"And take along the risk of him telling Dumbledore? I would have nothing of it! Your boy may be foolish, but he does have a mind of his own; and coming with that mind is a part of him that is good. If that part of him comes loose then he could have turned to the other side." Voldemort breathed deeply. Lucius bowed his head respectfully to his Master and Narcissa did the same.

"We did not mean to question your choices, my Lord," Narcissa muttered silently. Voldemort took her formal apology with nothing more than a nod. But Lucius still had to ask one more thing of the Dark Lord.

"My Lord, will you please release my son of the Cruciatus Curse now?"

"No," Voldemort answered bluntly. Lucius knew he wouldn't, knew also that Draco deserved it. But Narcissa was still Draco's mother and she couldn't bear her son to be in such pain. At Voldemort's refusal she slumped into herself, choking back a cry of sorrow.

"I will first let him know the error of his ways, and then I will withdraw it. But for now, he must know what happens if he pulls another idiotic stunt like he did with the Mudblood again. His mind is too strong for him, we must weaken it or else my hold on him will not work."

With that Voldemort sat down and closed his eyes, concentrating on Draco Malfoy's writhing figure. Lucius bowed once to him and lead his wife out of the room.

****

Harry was very, very lost. He had no idea what was going on. He had just come back to the castle after a tiring day in Hogsmeade, and was intending to rest before dinner; but since Ron had run off and left him in Honeydukes, Harry's energy was being tested. Now, though, everything was just getting too weird. He had come into the Entrance Hall to find Ron and Hermione talking. When he greeted Hermione, however, she went a bit mental on him and was acting like he was a bomb about to go off. Then she broke out in this fit about him being head over heels in love with her and then fell into silence before collapsing to the floor.

"Er-what is going on here?" Harry asked to both Ron standing behind him and Hermione lying face down and crumpled up on the floor. Harry saw that she wasn't going to answer him at the moment, (she was softly pounding her fist into the stone floor and mumbling into her robes), so he turned around to Ron. "Have you any idea?"

"Not one bit," Ron said. "I came in and Hermione gave me this death stare before asking me if I loved her too. Then she said she needed to talk to me, without you, but then you came and she got scared of you and then you asked her why and she told you to stay and you didn't listen so you-"

"Ron, shush! I didn't need a total recap of what I just did. I just wanted to know what's going on with her." He pointed to Hermione who was still on the floor. "What's up with Hermione asking us if we love her? I love her as a friend, yeah, but as more?" He shook his head. Ron shrugged, not even the faintest idea coming to his mind. Harry beckoned him forward and both boys bent down next to their friend on the floor. She seemed to be moaning and groaning inwardly.

"What do you mean? I have two?" Harry heard her say, but to whom she was talking to and what about he did not know. "How can that be? There must have been something wrong with the spell then. But there had to be!"

"Er, Hermione?" Ron questioned; and again he poked her. She responded with a loud yell of frustration. Scared, Ron withdrew his hand quickly and moved next to Harry.

"What did you do to her?" Harry asked gently and quietly, making sure Hermione did not hear him.

"Nothing, I just poked her. She's lost it, Harry, trust me. After all these years of studying those books, they've finally eaten away at her brain. We've lost her." Ron placed his hand across his chest and looked sadly at Hermione as if she were a fallen soldier. Harry did nothing to suppress his laugh; and this seemed to do the trick, for when he laughed Hermione looked up at him, her face stern and her eyes blazing with fire.

"What, may I ask, is so funny, Harry?" she snapped. Harry said nothing, but just shook his head, trying hard to put on a serious face.

"Actually, Hermione, we should be asking you that very same question," Ron injected. "What is wrong with you? You have to tell both of us, now or never; but choose now because dinner is in a couple of hours." He flashed her his lopsided grin and nudged Harry to stand with him. Both boys straightened up and then extended their hands down to Hermione. She took their assistance without hesitation.

"You have no idea how much chaos has happened since this morning," she told them, fixing her robes. "But I can't tell you here, we have to go outside somewhere, it's the only place where I'm certain no one will find me; no boy at least."

"What?" Ron asked blandly.

"I'll explain when we get outside," Hermione said, pushing them both towards the oak doors again.

"But Hermione, do you know how cold it is out there? I am not going back out! Let's just go to the common room or your beloved library?"

"Ron, we either go outside and talk or we don't talk at all and I leave you two to figure matters for yourself," Hermione threatened. Harry shot Ron a 'you-idiot-don't-test-her-right-now' look before pulling open the doors.

"Shall we?" Harry said, sweeping his arm to guide them out of the warmth of the castle. Hermione glanced at Ron, asking her question again without muttering a word.

"Oh all right!" he cried, throwing up his hands and stepping back into the bitter fall wind. Harry shrugged behind him and Hermione simply smiled.

****

"Malfoy did what?!" Ron asked, outraged. He stepped in front of Hermione, waiting for an answer. Hermione just looked to the ground to hide the pink tinge creeping up her neck.

The trio had decided to walk around the Quidditch field, huddled together against the cold. No one in their right mind would want to be outside since the wind hit an ultimate climax so they were insured privacy. Hermione had relived everything that happened to her since the two had left her at breakfast. She explained what happened in her room, the common room with Neville and when she walked down the student packed corridor. The whole time both Harry and Ron were silent, absorbing everything she was saying. But once she hit the part when she and Malfoy crashed and the spell swallowed him as well, Ron could keep silent no longer.

"Ron, please, that isn't important. What I really needed to tell you is where the spell came-"

"I'll kill him!" Ron erupted, balling his hands into fists. "I'll take my wand and-Harry! Harry, you could hold him for me! And then I'll whip out my wand-"

"Ron!" Hermione hit him in the back of the head, hard.

"Ah!"

"Ron," Hermione said, rubbing her forehead. "That is very sweet of you, but like I said, it isn't the point! I still haven't gotten to the important parts." Hermione shivered hard as the wind howled past her lifting her hair and leaving behind a fierce cold. She didn't have her cloak on like Harry and Ron, but she didn't want to go back to the castle to retrieve it. Harry noticed her trembling and caught her up on it.

"Hermione," he said, pulling off his own cloak and wrapping it around her shoulders, "I think we better get out of this wind. Let's go back to the castle, okay?"

"No!" Hermione cried. "If we go back all the boys I looked at are going to be waiting for me! Harry, you know how it is when people won't stop staring at you and leaving you alone! Besides, I'm not finished speaking. Don't worry, I'm not that cold." But she contradicted herself just then by cowering behind Harry from the bitter wind.

"Hermione, you're stubborn," Ron told her. Hermione rolled her eyes at him.

"Fine, then we'll just go into the locker rooms. No one will be there. Come on, let's go." Harry motioned both of them to follow him.

In the shelter of the Gryffindor locker room the trio found heat to warm their bones. When she stopped shivering, Hermione handed Harry back his cloak thankfully and then launched quickly into her story. She rushed over the rest of Malfoy's reaction to the spell, taking time to shoot Ron one warning glance before he stood in protest, and then she went on about how Crystal mysteriously contacted her in the library.

Through her view point and by her voice, Harry and Ron found out about why Crystal, the first born Oracle, cast the spell and how she did it. Like Hermione, they saddened at the fact that the spell could not be broken, until Leo put his own part in it. They understood that the only way for Hermione to regain her normal life was if she found her True Love. But who could that be?

"I bet you everything it's Lockhart," Ron whispered to Harry behind his hand, so Hermione would not hear. Harry let a smirk crawl across his face before wiping it away in light of Hermione's suspicious glance.

It took another 20 minutes or so for her to tell about the strange occurrence when Malfoy returned, showing her the Dark Mark embedded into his arm and asking for her assistance. She paused after telling them that, looking quickly to Ron for his usual outburst, but it never came. He was looking slightly horrified like Harry, but both of their faces were overcome with deep thought and worry.

"Go on," was all Harry said in reaction. Ron nodded slowly.

"Okay. Well, that was when Crystal came back to me. She sounded scared about something, but I didn't know what. Anyway, that was when I lost all hope about lifting the spell; but Crystal said I had a True Love. Well, of course I do but not now, so I told her that. She told me yes I did and to listen carefully to her words."

"So, you have one?" Ron said in a mocking voice, raising his eyebrows suggestively at her. "And, pray tell, who is this True Love of yours? I am anxious to know."

"Er..." Hermione stammered.

"Don't worry Hermione, I won't laugh at you," Harry assured her. "I'm not so sure about Ron though."

"And you should be," Ron said proudly.

"Well, I'll get to that part in a second. But what Crystal told me was that the only way to make sure who my True Love is, is to look them in the eyes." Hermione bit her lip nervously. She would tell them who it was by explaining why they weren't under the spell.

"But if you looked in their eyes, wouldn't they be under your spell?" Ron asked.

"But we're not under her spell," Harry pointed out. "Maybe because we've known her too long or we're too close as friends."

"No, that's not it," Hermione muttered.

"Wait Harry, I want to know who it is!"

"And I want to know why we're not under the spell!"

"The only way to know who my True Love can be is simple. The spell will not work on him when I lock eyes, so they won't be affected at all, they will act like nothing has happened! Their love for me will be too strong to be overcome by something so petty as a spell!" Hermione waited. She held her breath, watching and hoping that her best friends would figure out everything she just said.

Harry and Ron just sat for awhile, thinking hard about what Hermione had said and adding that to everything that had happened. They weren't under her spell, but they should have been because they were boys; and the only way to free Hermione from the spell was for her to find her True Love and have him admit that he was. Hermione had just said that she had to look her Love in the eyes to know it was him, for nothing would happen to him when she did; and neither boy was under her spell. She had looked both Harry and Ron in the eyes, yet neither was under the...

"Oh bloody hell!" Ron shouted, standing up in either outrage, relief, confusion, hunger, joy or disbelief.

"Hermione," Harry said, turning slowly so he could see her. Hermione could have sworn she saw the slightest hint of either joy or fear in his eyes.

"Yes, Harry?" she asked, trying desperately to hide the peculiar smile tugging at her mouth.

"Are you saying, that me and Ron are your-"

"But it can't be! That wouldn't make sense! The world has gone mental, that's the answer to everything! The world has gone mental!"

"But Ron, I looked both of you in the eye and you don't seem too loving at the moment. Plus, Crystal even said that both of you were my..." Hermione trailed away. It sounded weird saying it out loud.

****

Harry was speechless; I mean, what else could he say? How could he be Hermione's True Love? And it wasn't like knowing that Ron shared that same fate helped either. Sure he loved Hermione, he always felt he had this small obligation to protect her and make sure she was okay, but to love her like that?! She was his best friend! He had never thought of her in that way, truly!

People always said they we're more than just friends, but Harry didn't think like that...right? When only she believed him when he said he had never put his name in the Goblet of Fire last year, he had only thought his gratitude toward her was just that, gratitude...right? When she was his only friend, trying to get him to talk to Ron, spending every minute of every day with him; nothing happened between them for those few weeks...right?

Then on Christmas Day at the Yule Ball, she looked so radiant, so beautiful, striding along on Krum's arm. But Harry didn't want her on his own arm...right? Right?

****

Ron didn't know what else to do but say his prize-winning line: Bloody hell. What else would someone have done in the light of what he had just found out? Him, Hermione's True Love, alongside Harry? It was outrageous, ridiculous, not true, and not true at all...and yet...

Did Ron not have strong feelings for Hermione for some time now? He had made it known last year without intending too, that was for sure. He had been very protective of her in his own ways, devastated when she had been petrified in second year. He was always yelling at her when she did something against his will; it was his own personal way of showing he cared.

Then in fourth year Hermione had gone to the Yule Ball with Krum. Ron could faintly remember hearing his heart break when he had seen her. She was gorgeous, her sleek hair piled wonderfully atop her head, her blue robes flowing behind her and her glittering eyes staring about proudly. Ron recalled wanting to walk with her, not Krum; he didn't deserve to. Even if Harry was her partner Ron would have been happier, but Krum? He didn't know the great mind she had, the strength she possessed and the courage only she could handle.

But Ron knew, he had always known, always admired her for it. But to admire her so much as to love her?!

****

Hermione picked absentmindedly at her dinner, her head resting in her hand and her eyes focused intently on her two friends. Since their walk back to the castle, ( to much of the dismay of Hermione), and all the way until dinner neither Ron nor Harry had said a word.

Try as she might to speak with them they just ignored her that much more. Actually, Hermione felt as though they had purposely drifted from her; and she didn't blame them. It was uncomfortable to find out that you were the True Love of one of your best friends. But Hermione couldn't handle their silence towards her, she needed their support more than ever to figure her situation out.

Hermione had just decided to yell at Harry and Ron to talk with her; and at the same time yell at Harry for sitting on the other side of the table instead of his usual seat beside her. But she never got the chance for at that moment she had the strange feeling that she was being watched. She looked to her right and saw that down the table Neville was watching her. Actually, it wasn't only Neville; so many eyes were flashing in her direction before quickly turning away once they'd noticed she was looking back.

Hermione groaned loudly at them all before burying her head in her hands. She really did not want to be in the Great Hall, surrounded by the entire student body; but she had skipped over lunch and her worn body screamed out for nourishment; yet she still could not force down her dinner. Why were Harry and Ron not speaking to her? What was so bad about being her True Love?

They had been friends for five years now, have gone through situations that most everyone in the world hadn't gone through. Besides, Hermione had been hearing from her girls' dormitory that she was a shoe-in with either Harry or Ron, so what was the big deal? Sure it was awkward, but she needee their help right!

"She's over there, with Potter and Weasley."

"Wonder if she's with one of them,"

"No way, she's too beautiful to be with them; she should be with-"

"Me."

From the refuge of her hands, Hermione could here the guys under her spell whispering about her. A blush warmed her cheeks as the scowls and disapprovals from the other girls were made heard; yet they still weren't loud enough to drown out her admirers.

Hermione peeked through her fingers to see Ron and Harry. They were looking down at their plates, pretending not to hear everyone speaking. Hermione wished, for the first time in her life, that they would just get up and knock everyone's lights out.

"Not you! She'd never go for you, she's way too smart."

"I wish I were a Gryffindor right now..."

"Me too."

"Well I am!"

"She's so close I could touch her..." a sixth year said from beside Hermione.

"I know..." a Hufflepuff agreed from behind her.

Hermione could feel as both boys reached out to touch her hair. Frightened, she made to recoil away or to turn around and slap them both, but she never got the chance. She heard a bench scrape across the floor as someone stood up abruptly and then the clink of a fork dropping to the table. Hermione looked up to see what had happened.

Ron had stood up and reached across the table to grab the outstretched hand of the Gryffindor sixth year. He had stopped it just inches from Hermione, his stare boring into his skin. The Gryffindor in turn looked horrified; Ron had moved so fast and so suddenly.

Harry had stopped the Hufflepuff as well, yet minus the physical lightning. He had merely fixed him with his haunted and steady gaze, making him halt. The Hufflepuff stared back, trying to look away yet mesmerized by his emerald eyes.

"Don't touch her," Harry said in a low voice. There was no hint of warning, no challenge or anger in it. He was so bland, completely devoid of any emotion. It was even worse than if there were any at all. The Hufflepuff boy nodded obediently and drew back to his table.

He knew that rebelling over a Gryffindor was almost as bad as going against a Slytherin; you just didn't do it. And also the fact that this was Harry Potter speaking made him that much more scared.

"Same with you," Ron said, making his anger known. The whole of the Great Hall was watching now, almost all frightened by Weasley and Potter. Only Neville looked unaffected by them; he was still staring stupidly at Hermione!

Ron threw the sixth year's hand back and stepped away from his seat. Harry stood also and did the same. Ron could not take so many people looking at him so he quickly made to leave the Hall. Harry walked fast around the table and grabbed Hermione's hand.

"Come on, we're getting out of here," he said. He helped her out of her chair and led her out of the Hall. Unlike Ron, Harry was used to people staring at him; and the only good way to make them stop or to deal with it was to stare back. He glared all along the tables as they left until everyone went back to their plates. Hermione quietly thanked him for this.

Ron waited by the entrance for his two friends. When they were level with him he turned to retrace the route back to Gryffindor Tower, but someone was blocking his way: Malfoy. Ron backed up automatically, never taking his eyes off Malfoy. He prepared to hear an insult upon him for what he'd done but Malfoy never uttered a word.

Ron had noticed, himself, that he hadn't been his usual nasty self lately. But now he looked positively haunted.

His sleek blonde hair was very out of place and he was even paler than normal, (this was saying something as Malfoy could make snow look black). His grey eyes were wide and frightened and he was trembling slightly. He was slumped over himself a little and his robes hung from his elbows.

Having seen Ron, Malfoy tried to straighten, fighting desperately to intimidate him like always, but he winced as with so much pain at his small movement and abandoned that idea. Ron could feel Harry grasp his shoulder and move him gently to the side. Seeing this as his way past, Malfoy staggered slightly forward and then proceeded to the Slytherin table.

"Was it just me, or did Malfoy seem...different?" Ron said sarcastically to Harry. Harry shook his head and shrugged, looking at Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson fawning over the state he was in.

"Come on Ron, let's just get out of here," he replied. Ron nodded enthusiastically and led the way back to their common room.

****

Once in the safety of their own (and very much empty) house, Harry plopped gratefully into an armchair in front of the fire. He closed his eyes to the fire's glow, rubbing his forehead and trying to find the words to start off the conversation that always followed after such acts as today's. Harry did not see but felt Ron walk past his chair onto the couch beside him. He flung off his cloak, deposited it on the floor, and then fell into the cushions of the sofa.

Harry waited, eyes still closed, for Hermione to move to her usual armchair across from Harry, but she never did. Not hearing or feeling any movement from her direction Harry opened his eyes and peered around his seat. She was standing a little far back from them, almost close to the staircase entry to the dorm rooms. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her look was the one she always wore when either Ron or himself disappointed her severely.

"Hermione," Harry asked tiredly, "what's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Hermione repeated. Harry just nodded, not knowing why she was so angry. "What's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong!"

"Good." Ron's voice was muffled from next to Harry. It was probably because he had fallen face-down into the cushions out of exhaustion. Hermione heard him, however, and she did not take it lightly. In fact, she positively exploded.

"What is the matter with the two of you?! You would think that, being my best friends and all, that you would worry about what has happened to me and help me through it! Not completely trash my feelings by acting mournful over being my True Loves! Believe me, I never thought that either of you could be the right one for me. To be brutally honest, I'm a bit disappointed myself!" She stopped for only a second to catch her breath.

"Hermione, wait. Ron and I never meant to hurt your-"

"No Harry, you wait!" Hermione bellowed. Harry abruptly shut his mouth. He saw Ron sit up quickly next to him. It wasn't exactly smart to not listen to someone when they were scolding you.

"Hermi-" Ron started.

"Wait, I'm not finished! Ever since we came back from the Quidditch field neither of you have said a word; and by the look on your faces the whole way through it was obvious what you were thinking! Even though I am your friend it's not like I don't have feelings! You both seemed so disappointed that one of you could love me, especially you Ron!"

Ron took this moment to go completely red and sink low in his seat. Harry would have laughed at the sight of him like that if it were not for the gnawing feeling in his stomach. He honestly did not intend to act so horrified in finding out he was one of Hermione's True Loves. It was just the shock that had overtaken his features. But now that he thought about it he understood her fury.

He didn't even take the time to consider what she felt through this whole ordeal. But Harry was angry about knowing what he was; he just should have told Hermione that.

And then with Hermione blowing up at Ron and saying he was sad that he might love her!?! Like it wasn't common knowledge to almost the entire school that Ron worshiped the ground Hermione walked on! He probably never would have admitted it but he had always been quite taken with her for a few years now! Hadn't Hermione noticed? Probably not, Harry concluded. Then she wouldn't have gotten so angry at him.

"But I really don't need you two moping around about your fates! I don't know if I'm being selfish or greedy right now but I need you two to help me! You've seen what this spell has done to almost the entire school! The boys become unbelievable idiots around me, the girls hate me because they think I cast some kind of 'worship me' spell and the teachers look at me like I'm some kind of two-headed hippogriff! I need, no wait...needed your help through this before. But now I know I won't get that from you Harry, or you Ron! Why don't you two go and jump in the lake for all I care, I'll figure this thing out with just Crystal and my mind. Thanks so much for absolutely nothing!" She threw down her arms and turned on her heel towards the stairway.

"Hermione, wait!" Ron fell off the couch in a mad struggle to reach Hermione. He half tumbled into her before regaining his balance. Ron caught her arm and yanked her back with much more force than he probably meant to. "Hermione, I-"

"Save it Ron," she said sternly, "for someone who cares." Her eyes were welling up with, to Harry's unknowingly correct knowledge, tears held back from all day. Hermione pulled her hand out from Ron's fingers and dashed all the way to her dorm room, slamming the door behind her. Ron stayed rooted to the spot, staring at the space where Hermione had been just a few seconds before.

"I-I didn't mean to make her so angry," he said, looking up to Harry. He looked so ashamed with himself. Harry felt the exact same way.

"Neither did I," Harry said. "But she was right you know."

"Yeah, I know. Then again, when was Hermione ever wrong?" Ron asked, watching as Harry stood up and walked to him. "Harry, I'm not really disappointed about being Hermione's...you know..."

"True Love?"

"Yeah. I was just caught off guard I guess. I mean, what else would I have said?"

"I know what you mean, that's how I feel too," Harry admitted. Ron went on.

"I know that 'bloody hell' does nothing to lighten the situation, but that's who I am! When something amazes me or befuddles me I yell it! Yes, Harry, I know what you are going to say: we should have stayed with her and help her instead of go inside ourselves and wonder if we truly were what she said we were but how could we both be?! How is it that both of us could love that same person? And shut up Harry, I know what I just said was totally stupid but I'm on a roll here!"

Harry closed his mouth once again, watching as Ron continued to pace back and forth over the room over and over again. He was practically creating a canyon in his wake. Harry fought to keep his face stern and his attention averted to Ron's words.

"What should I have said, something false? "Oh yeah, Hermione, this is really no shock to me whatsoever! Don't you worry about a thing because me and Harry will totally think nothing of it and help you out with everything!' Or did she wants us to lie? 'Hermione, I think your mental! Do you have any right to think that I love you like that? How could I love someone as nerdy as you?!

"Or maybe I should have just said the truth on how I felt!!! 'Hermione, I really do love you, always have ever since third year, maybe longer! I am so relieved that I'm on of your True Loves other than idiot Krum back in Bulgaria! Believe me Hermione when I tell you I have only been faithful to you for four years and that no one I'll ever meet will amount to you and your beauty, your charm and your intelligence!' Yeah, that would have made a good news headliner! Let all of Hogwarts hear me spill the beans! Good thing no one knows that or else I'd be in-" And then Ron stopped in his tracks.

Harry watched, face glowing with satisfaction, as Ron turned slowly around to look at him from across the room. Harry just stared back, arms folded over his broad chest and head leaning back slightly. The smile he wore on his face would be the one to send Ron over the edge. It was the grin one wore when they held information that would kill you due to embarrassment.

"Harry," Ron said slowly in almost a whisper. "I didn't mean what I said. Just forget everything I just-"

"So you like her, do you?" Harry said, adopting the same taunting pitch as Malfoy had used over the years on him. Harry now understood why he had used it so often: it was fun!

"Harry, no. I didn't say that or mean any of it! Please, just forget-"

"No, you didn't say you like her, did you?" Harry shook his head knowingly. Ron practically fell to his knees.

"Thank you Harry. Thank you! Just, don't tell anyone, all right? Thanks old pal..."

"No...you don't like her," Harry continued. "You love her!"

"Harry!"

"Why didn't you say anything, Weasley! Or did you not notice our best friend falling apart over here?! She is right, you are an idiot." Harry looked down at Ron who had fallen to the floor. Ron shook his head miserably.

"You. Are. The. Worst. Friend. Ever." Ron was at Harry's feet, an embarrassed heap of robes on the red and gold rug.

"No, actually you are Ron because now Hermione thinks you hate her when actually you LOVE her and now she's probably crying in her room." Harry did everything in his power to look and sound angry but couldn't help but smile the entire time. Ron had just admitted that he loves Hermione! It was a miracle to hear him say it with his own mouth.

"I know, I know. I should have said something," Ron agreed in shame on the floor. "But, wait." He scrambled to his feet quickly. Harry just watched him, a grin in place the whole time. "What about you? You didn't say anything! Don't you love her?"

"Yes."

"I thought so! Nothing could come in front of your crush on that Ravenclaw, Cho Chang or something. Besides, if you ever really did like Hermione you would have never admitted it. I mean, you can't even tell Cho that you like...wait. What?" Ron looked at him, brow furrowed and as confused as ever.

"I-I love her," Harry repeated with a bit more difficulty this time. Ron took a while to process what he was hearing but then abruptly changed his attitude when he did. He cocked an eyebrow at Harry in answer.

"You do?"

"Yes."

"And you're getting angry at me for not telling her? Honestly Potter, I think that scar has messed with your brain!" Ron poked Harry in the forehead playfully. Harry swiped away his hand and laughed in turn.

"I love her as a sister Ron, but not as much as you do, no doubt about that," he answered. He nudged Ron, indicating that they should get some sleep. Ron nodded and followed him up the stairs.

"Yeah, sure. Course you only love her like that," Ron taunted. Harry shook his head and chose to ignore him. But Ron couldn't let him get away with embarrassing him and not returning the favor. What kind of best friend would he be if he didn't?

"Ron?" Ron snapped out of his thoughts and saw that Harry was holding the door open for him. He cast one mournful glance to Hermione's dorm door before going into his own. But he quickly dropped his saddened attitude in light of what he was saying to Harry.

"Course you don't love her more than a sister, because you're in love with my sister." Saying this received a shock to travel up Ron's arm for Harry had taken out his wand and poked his arm in reaction. The two boys laughed and closed the door. They could take a much earned rest until the next day, when they would explain everything to Hermione.

****

"Leo?" Crystal called, walking to every door in the corridor and peering in. "Leo where are you?"

"I'm not telling you!" Leo called back, obviously still angry with her. But Crystal smiled gently and followed his voice to a door on the left side of the hall.

This was one of the many spare rooms spread out among the tower. When Crystal pushed back the ebony door she saw why Leo was in it. This room looked exactly like the Gryffindor common room at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

She could remember, from long ago, when Leo had begged her to make one of the rooms an exact replica. He had been only seven when he read the book Hogwarts, A History and he wanted so much to attend the school. But when Crystal had told him he couldn't, he was devastated. A few days later he had come crawling to her with a picture of Gryffindor Tower. He had said that if they couldn't go to Hogwarts, then they should pretend that Hogwarts came to them.

Crystal could see Leo sitting by the fireplace. He was staring sadly into the flames while stroking an old, beat up wizard's hat. It was their own imitation of the Sorting Hat. Leo had been so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't hear Crystal come in.

"Leo?" she prompted once more. Leo jumped a little and looked her way.

"How did you find me?" he asked outraged. "I told you I wasn't going to tell you where I was!"

"Leo," Crystal answered, laughing a little and shaking her head. "I followed the sound of your voice. You never were really good at hide-and-seek." Crystal walked into the room and over to Leo. She sat down on the couch with him, her white dress rippling in response.

"Go away," Leo said, staring down at the 'Sorting Hat'.

"Leo, I need to talk to you."

"So?"

"It's about Hermione," Crystal said. This had much less affect on her brother than she anticipated. He only shrugged and placed the hat on the table behind the couch.

"What about Hermione? You want to cast another stupid spell on her? And what's wrong with you? You're acting...normal. You're not normal, Crystal. You're crazy."

Crystal could feel the pain as his words bore through her. But he had a right to say all these things, and she would let him.

"Listen. When you told me off about how I was acting, I kind of broke out of my...mental state. I always hear the words you say but never listen. This time I listened. You were right Leo, I used to fight this power of mine, it had been so easy at first. But then it started growing, as yours have, and it became harder. I know I shouldn't have given into the pain but I'm weak; you're not. Leo, I'm sorry I haven't been a better sister to you, I really am. But what you said to me broke the shell and now Crystal Tiara is back; I'm back."

Crystal looked at him, hoping against all hope that he would believe her. In the soft glow of the fire she saw a side to Leo she never had before; it was the child side of him. It was astonishing to Crystal that she never really understood that Leo was only a mere boy. He had always acted above his age, taking care of his older sister and arranging everything for her. But now he looked ten again; a small ten-year-old boy who was afraid of the world just like all the others. This sight filled Crystal's heart with bitter shame and guilt.

"Are you sure?" he asked in a high, hopeful voice. "Because if I find out this is one of your tricks you're going to get it!"

"No Leo, I'm not lying to you. I've always been able to break out of my mental state but I never really wanted to. It was my way of escaping the responsibilities put upon me. But now I'm back, I'm your sister again; and I won't use my power of foresight for a long time. At least until I learn how to fight it again."

Leo looked at her skeptically, trying to decipher any conceit in her words. But when he found none his face lit up, exactly like a little boy's would when he found the wonders under a Christmas tree.

"Come here tough guy," Crystal said, opening her arms to him. Leo crawled gratefully into her embrace before sitting back and getting down to business.

"Okay, tell me everything and I'll try and find a way out," he said. Crystal only beamed in response before both dived in to a very strategic and detailed plan about what to do.

"Don't worry Hermione, Leo and I are working on it now," Crystal said in her head.

"Thanks," Hermione answered back. Crystal could here the enormous relief in her words. In reaction to this she went back to work.

****

Harry lay in bed for awhile staring at the crimson color of his canopy. It was hardly even daybreak and he was very tired but Harry couldn't sleep a wink last night. He had been so worried about Hermione.

Not wanting to lie in bed forever Harry decided to just get up and get dressed. He went fairly slow about his business, trying to waste as much time as possible. So when he was all ready, the sun had risen some good length above the horizon.

Harry thought Hermione might already be up so he went to go knock on her door, abandoning the sudden thought of waking Ron up. Trying to wake him up before he wanted to was like trying make a rock move: it was impossible. The only person capable of doing it was Mrs. Weasley. So Harry quietly crept out of the boys' dormitories and crossed the stone walkway that led to the girls'.

"Hermione, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm fine. Honestly."

"Hermione, I know when you're lying to me."

Harry could hear Hermione talking to someone else through the oak door. He paused in front of it, pressing his ear to the cold wood. The other person talking had a very soft voice so Harry couldn't recognize or place it, but he knew the owner of it, he was sure.

"I didn't get much sleep last night, that's all," Harry heard Hermione say.

"Are you positive that's all there is? My brother and Harry haven't been giving you a hard time are they?" the other said in a teasing tone. Hermione laughed a little.

"Well Ginny, those two have been giving me a hard time since I met them." Hermione laughed again with Ginny, but Harry could hear it in her voice that she was still very angry with Ron and him.

"Well, if you are sure you're all right..."

"I am Ginny. Thanks for caring about me."

"Well Hermione, you're like a sister to me. Always checking up on me and helping me out with things. I just thought I'd return the favor."

"Thanks again."
"But if you're feeling tired Hermione I suggest you rest today. Don't go anywhere!"

"But Ginny-"

"Don't!" Ginny commanded in a playful pitch. "Promise?"

There was only silence that followed, so Harry guessed Hermione had just nodded. He wondered when Ginny would leave so he could speak with Hermione when the door fell away from his ear.

Harry immediately backed away, afraid Ginny and Hermione would decapitate him if they found out he'd been eavesdropping. But Ginny had only opened the door a crack and her back was to Harry; she was still saying something to Hermione.

"-and I'll come back later today to see how you're doing," she said. Harry didn't know where else to go so, like the brave and courageous guy he was, he stayed where he was, ready to face the accusation that would come when he was found.

"Okay, okay. I'll be here when you get back," Hermione answered. Satisfied, Ginny turned around to leave; but she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Harry standing before her.

"Er-" was all he could say at the moment. He didn't know if she was angry with him for being there or just plain shocked; she wasn't moving. "Um...sorry Gin. I wasn't listening in on you and Hermione. I just came by to talk to her and see how she was." Harry waited for her response but Ginny said nothing.

Instead she turned beet red and skittered down the stairs and out the portrait hole. Harry figured that she was still embarrassed about him kissing her. Like he wasn't! Harry didn't know if Ginny still liked him, but he only thought of her as a sister type...right?

Yes, you moron! His head screamed back before Harry got too engrossed in thought.

He nodded gratefully to himself and pushed open the oak door all the way.

"Hermione, we need to talk," he began. He looked up, expecting to see her sitting on her bed or standing by the window, but she was no where in sight! "Hermione? Hermione where are you?" And of course, no answer was spoken to him in return.

Harry crossed over the empty room to Hermione's neatly made up bed. On it was a piece of parchment bearing Hermione's tiny handwriting. It was a note addressed to Harry.

Sorry Harry,

I borrowed your Invisibility Cloak while you were sleeping.
I just needed to get out of the castle and be alone for a while. When I saw you in the doorway when Ginny left I couldn't speak to either you or Ron so I threw on the cloak and slipped past you and Gin. I promise to return your cloak when I get back.

Hermione

Harry crumpled the paper in his hand. So much for spilling the beans about Ron to her. It would have made her laugh or throw something; either way it would have lightened her spirits.

Not knowing what else to do, Harry fell down on to Hermione's bed. He checked his watch, wondering what time it was. It was already nine o'clock, explaining why Parvati and Lavender weren't in. Harry just sat there, looking around the room, having no strength to stand and walk. Sitting there, all alone and having nothing to occupy him, Harry's mind slowly trailed back to the conversation he had last night with Ron.

"What about you? You didn't say anything! Don't you love her?"
"Yes."

That moment had to be the worst moment in his life. Saying that he loved Hermione?! His every intention was to say no; say no and go to bed and then talk to Hermione the next day. But instead he had to say yes and try to find a way to cover it up.

Because Harry wasn't so sure he only loved Hermione as a sister.

There were so many times where he was glad she was there with him, beside him. She was no Ron of course, but there were so many things she did that Ron could never had done. She always believed him when he said something, never once did she ever doubt his word. Everyone was convinced last year that she was his girlfriend, and Harry had wondered, for just a brief moment, why wasn't she?

But Harry still wanted Ron and Hermione to...well, he didn't know what he wanted, but they seemed so right for each other. Harry couldn't forget the looks Ron used to flash in Hermione's direction, the way he always fought with her and enjoyed it so much. It had made Harry burst out in hysteria so often, but did he ever do that?

Sitting in her room, among all her things sent a wave of memories over Harry. When she looked at him with laughter in her eyes, when she hugged him with joyous tears, when she spoke to him...

"I can't believe I'm doing this," Harry said angrily to himself. He stood up abruptly and marched out of the room. "Who am I, Ron? I don't know why...because I couldn't possibly...-but then again...oh bugger," Harry growled at himself as he descended the stairs. "I don't even talk to myself but I'm doing it now."

Extremely occupied with his unusual behavior, Harry did not notice Ron waiting for him in an armchair by the stairway. He brushed right past him and to the fireplace where he continued to pace in horror of himself.

"Why am I even dwelling on this?" he asked calmly. "I don't love Hermione, not like Ron that is." He sounded completely unsure of himself.

"Are you positive?" Ron put in quietly from his safe corner.

"Yes I'm sure," Harry answered, still not noticing Ron and falling on to the couch now.

"Sure?" Ron tested.

"Y-yes."

"Honest?"

"Y-yeah...I am..."

"Liar."

"I know, I know!" Harry admitted, throwing up his hands. "But if Ron ever knew he'd kill me! We already crossed that road last year with my name in the Goblet! He's always been head over heels in love with Hermione-"

"Shut up," Ron mumbled, resting his head in his hand.

"-and if he ever knew that I..."

"Yes?"

"That I-"

"Go on."

"All right! I love her. Not like a sister I love her but really. Sure that thing about Cho was something but Hermione was-is there. Cho isn't; never really was actually. But if Ron ever knew he'd blow up on me." Harry fell sideways into the cushions. "But I do love her, and I can't help it."

"I thought so Potter," Ron said, getting up and walking to him.

"Oh no," Harry whispered, closing his eyes in horror. "Don't tell me..."

"Yeah Harry, you and I just had a real heart to heart talk here; and I can't believe you lied to me like that!" Ron accused, leaning over the back of the sofa and staring down to Harry.

"Look at me," Harry said miserably. "I'm you! Ow!" Harry rubbed the spot where Ron punched him in the arm.

"Serve's you right!" Ron told him.

"But Ron, how can we both love her?" Harry asked, still not sitting up.

"Yeah, I'll answer you Harry because I haven't been asking the same exact question for about, oh the whole time!" Ron moved around the sofa and sat down in the chair next to it. "You lied to me. Harry, haven't you learned never to lie to me? It always turns out bad!"

"Yeah," Harry said, straightening up and looking at him. "But when did I ever lie to you?"

"Last year with your name in the Goblet."

"But I was telling the truth!"

"Exactly."

"So what is the point?!"

"That if you don't tell me the truth I'll get it wrong and blame something on you that you didn't do at all."

"And that's my fault?" Harry asked irritated.

"Yes, see? Now I've blamed something on you that you never did because you supposedly lied to me again. Just don't do it

Harry, I'll figure you out in the end," Ron answered, waving his hand in conclusion.

"Anyway," Harry said, standing up and looking very confused, "what do we do about Hermione?"

"Well," Ron replied, standing up as well. "Shall we talk about that over a spot of breakfast? I'm starving."

"Yeah okay, let's go." Harry followed Ron out the portrait hole and down to the Great Hall.

****

"Are you sure, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked, fear lurking in her words at his answer.

"Yes, Minerva. I have just gotten word from a close member of the family. Their information together with the reports in the Muggle newspaper have brought me to my conclusion." Dumbledore walked out from behind his desk and over to his phoenix, Fawkes.

"So he knows about them, doesn't he?" McGonagall pressed on. Dumbledore only nodded. "But Albus, no one should have known about them other than you and the boy! You had to tell Potter, Weasley and Granger about them because she was intervening!"

"Well, first Minerva, you know about them," Dumbledore pointed out, eyes twinkling at her. Professor McGonagall looked to the ground a little. "And I must say that you are just as sneaky as the students in finding out information. But about Voldemort-"

Dumbledore allowed Fawkes onto his arm and started walking around his office with him. McGonagall followed in his footsteps.

"He's always known about them, thought of them as a myth when he was in school. I honestly don't know how he figured them out but somehow he did. That was probably why he worked so hard and was in the school library so much. He was always looking for more information about them, and on his way finding out more and more about the magical world. He knew more than probably most of the Professors. But his curiosity of them found him the information he needed to go after the boy."

Dumbledore sighed deeply.

"But how could he have known about them?"

"I believe that was my fault, Minerva."

"You?" she asked, outraged that he could blame such a thing on himself. "You would never do such a thing!"

"My dear Professor," Dumbledore said, smiling. "You always thought me to be a perfect saint. But I assure you that it was me.

"When I found out so many years ago I was just as fascinated with them as I am now. When I was teaching Transfiguration I couldn't help but let little things slip about them. Not enough to let any ordinary student to string together...but Tom was never an ordinary student, was he? I strongly underestimated his intelligence. But enough with dwelling in the past." The Headmaster let Fawkes fly back to his perch before settling, once more, into his desk chair.

"What do we do now, Albus?" McGonagall asked hurriedly.

"We don't have much time now. First thing I have to do is get Harry, Ron and Hermione to the Oracles. The portal will open in one day's time. The next time after that is next year, when we had planned to go; but we cannot wait any longer. Minerva, I ask but two things of you. Go now and find the three and tell them of the plans. Tell them nothing but of our change in schedule. They do not know about the boy and I intend to stall that until later.

"Also, when we are gone, as Deputy Headmistress you are naturally in charge of the school. Along with that duty I need you to contact Remus and Arabella. I need their report on the location of Voldemort and why Black hasn't answered either Harry or I in months. Do this for me and I will be eternally grateful," Dumbledore told her.

"Of course, Albus. Anything, you need not ask," she assured him.

"Thank you so much," he praised.

"I will go inform them now." And she hurried out the room and off to look for the trio. Dumbledore watched her go and then sat back in his chair. He breathed in deeply, trying to calm his nerves and think straight.

"Rest in peace, Jakob. Your death shall not be in vain." Then Dumbledore stood up and began to prepare for the departure in two days.

****

Hermione threw off the cloak when she had finally reached the other side of the lake. She breathed in the cool, fresh air and brushed her hair out of her face. She started her nice, calming walk around the blue water as she folded up the cloak and slung it over her shoulder.

For about five minutes Hermione just strolled about, trying to clear her mind and anger by breathing in the fresh air. She made sure not to stray too close to the Forbidden Forest, knowing the insane dangers that lay within, even during the day.

As the wind caught her hair, Hermione looked back to the castle with a stern gaze. She was still angry about Harry and Ron, but also very disappointed that she could not go to the one person who would certainly help her. But what if she looked Professor Dumbledore in the eyes? That would be much too weird.

"At least Crystal is finding a way out of this," she said to herself. The brief reassurance from the Oracle yesterday was enough to lift a satisfying amount of the burden laid upon her shoulders. "But what do I do if she can't help the spell?"

With that in mind, Hermione had a very relaxing walk around the lake for about fifteen more minutes before her mode was tragically shattered by the presence of an unknown Death Eater.

****

"So Ron, where's Hermione this morning?" Seamus called eagerly down the table. Not wanting to cause a scene by beating up his fellow Gryffindor and supposed friend, Ron stabbed his fork into his bacon. He looked up at Harry who was battling his own inner demon.

Dean and some fourth year Ron didn't know were on either side of him prodding him with their wands and talking about Hermione. Ron had to hand it to Harry, he was dealing with them much better then he ever could. Harry's eyes were closed and he was gripping his spoon rather tightly, but other than that he showed no signs of strain.

"So Harry, you seen her today?" a Ravenclaw asked from behind him. Ron shot him a very obvious look of irritation which made him retreat back to his table in silence.

"See Harry? I told you Hermione was really pretty," Colin yelled from the other end of the house table.

"Yes...Colin," Harry called back with as much calm as he could muster.

"Well Ron, have you seen her?" Seamus pressed on.

"No," Ron answered.

"Why not?"

"I don't know, Seamus. Have you seen her?"

"No," he replied.

"Then your answer is the same as his," Harry interrupted, throwing down his spoon with a clatter. "Come on, let's go look for her," he whispered to Ron. Ron nodded in huge relief and lifted himself from the bench. As they walked out of the Great Hall Seamus called to them one last time.

"Well, if you see her will you tell me?"

"NO!" Ron yelled, and then fled from the shocked silence that filled the hall.

"Good job at keeping discreet," Harry muttered into his ear. Ron shook his head.

"Thanks."

"Well, lets go and find Hermione and tell her the truth," Harry said, taking in a deep breath.

"Can't we just tell your truth?" Ron chanced. Harry only stared at him. "Guess not. Okay, but we have to 'announce' it to her properly so the spell will lift, right?"

"Right."

"Okay then, let's go."

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley!"

Ron spun around along with Harry only to be face to face with Professor McGonagall. Ron knew they weren't in trouble because McGonagall didn't look angry. In fact, she looked anxious and worried.

"Yes Professor?" Harry asked.

"Boys, the Headmaster would like to have another word with you as quickly as possible," she told them.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Well Potter, let's just say that it has to do with the business of a very important secret." She gazed at them intently from under her poised hat. Both boys looked to each other with wide eyes and then back to the aged witch before them. She suddenly looked surprised about something and began searching about the Entrance area.

"What are you looking for Professor?" Ron questioned.

"Well, both of you are here but I see that Miss Granger is not with you. Very odd I must say. You three are usually always together. Where is she? I doubt very much that she'd want to miss such an important meeting with Professor Dumbledore."

"Er-well, Professor," Ron started, "we don't know where she is either. At least I don't. Harry?"

"She's outside somewhere but I haven't a clue where. We could go look for her and then meet Dumbledore if you want?"

"Yes, yes. That would be splendid of the two of you. All right then, I'll tell him that you three are on your way." She smiled at them once and then turned to head up the stairs.

"We better get started then," Harry informed Ron. He responded in his usual nod and they opened the oak doors and entered into the blazing sunlight.

****

Moving as fast as she could with out drawing too much attention to herself, Hermione swung the Invisibility Cloak off her shoulder and around her frame. She stayed rooted to her spot as Malfoy came walking around the other side of the lake; and in Hermione's opinion, he looked horrid.

His hair was in tangles, his face was flushed red and he was practically dragging himself to the water's edge. It looked as though getting dressed was a burden for him as well because his robes were mussed and put on all wrong. As he trudged closer to where Hermione stood she noticed that his breathing was rattled. She could hear him struggling for air as he fell onto the ground just a few feet from her.

Sprawled in ruins, Malfoy crawled on his hands and knees so he could sit right on the bank of the lake. Both just kept still for awhile. Malfoy sat, catching his breath and Hermione stood very still; obviously still scared of him and forgetting that she was not visible.

"Stop, please," Draco whispered. He was clutching his arm again and Hermione knew why this time. It was because of the Dark Mark. But she still stared at him in curiosity. Who was he talking to?

"Okay. Well, I better get out of here before I witness something I would rather not like to," she whispered to herself. Making sure the cloak covered all of her, Hermione began to take slow, silent steps back to the castle. But she couldn't help but hear Malfoy's next words.

"I take it back, I don't want to be the one. I don't want to kill Potter." He said it so softly, so silently that Hermione hardly could hear him, but she did.

Kill Harry? What was he talking about and to whom?! Thoroughly frightened, Hermione continued to walk on. She was right behind Malfoy when the wind carried down two other voices from up the bank. Looking in their direction, Hermione saw Harry and Ron walking toward where her and Malfoy were, both talking rapidly.

"But why did she run off like that? It's not like Hermione to run off and not fight back," Ron said.

"Well Ron, would you have liked to fight against Hermione?" Harry pointed out.

"Oh, right. Well, we better find her so we can see Dumbledore."

Upon hearing Dumbledore's name Hermione's attention was taken. Dumbledore wanted a meeting? If it was the Headmaster then Hermione didn't want to miss it! She had half a mind to throw off the cloak and call to Harry and Ron; but then what would Malfoy think if she suddenly appeared before him? Wondering what his reaction to Harry and Ron was, Hermione turned around to look at him.

As the voices of her two best friends met his ears Malfoy's whole appearance changed, literally! His entire body stiffened at their conversation. He whipped around and panic filled his eyes as he saw that Harry and Ron's figures were growing slowly as they came closer.

"No," Malfoy whispered urgently, clutching his arm again. Then Hermione gave a small gasp and backed away quickly. What looked like small, green electric lightening began to spread from the Dark Mark. It swept over Draco and altered his looks dramatically.

His tousled hair was slicked back once more and his robes righted themselves on his body and looked brand new. He was blown to his feet and he no longer looked flushed and scared. A serene calm claimed his face and his skin resided to their natural normal pale color. The lightening passed once over his eyes before vanishing into the wind. Hermione just noticed then that Malfoy's eyes had been blue, but were now grey in the wake of the lightening.

"Potter and Weasley," he muttered, as the duo came closer. Neither had seemed to notice Malfoy standing their yet. Looking back at Malfoy, Hermione was able to see him tug down his sleeve to cover the Mark, which was glowing green except for...What was this?! Hermione squinted to make sure her eyes weren't failing her. Being the clever witch that she was, Hermione saw a small flaw in the Mark on Draco.

She had never seen one like his before. Among the glowing green of the skull and snake, a miniature slash by the skull's face was glinting red before going out almost immediately.

"Odd," she muttered slowly.

****

"Hey, Harry, look. What's Malfoy doing here?" Ron asked. Harry shook his head and walked forward.

"What are you doing here, Potter?" Malfoy spat, returning to his natural nasty self. Harry shook his head and aimed for a more friendly approach.

"Looking for someone," Harry replied.

"And we could ask you the same question, Malfoy," Ron said from behind Harry, looking rather calm and collected.

"You could Weasley, but I find no obligation for me to answer. I have the free will to come here," he barked. Hermione could tell that both Harry and Ron were utterly confused. Sure Malfoy was being as horrible as he ever was, but from his actions for the last few days this regular attitude seemed almost unusual.

"Look Malfoy, have you seen Hermione anywhere here?" Harry asked. Ron's eyes widened and he poked Harry in the back.

"Ow! What is it Ron?" he asked behind him. Ron shook his head in irritation.

"Good one Harry, you don't even remember? Hermione looked Malfoy in the eyes too! If you mention her name he'll probably start acting like Seamus and all they other guys in the castle."

"Well," Harry said turning to Malfoy, who was still standing as smug as ever, "he doesn't seem to be affected at all."

"What? Weird," Ron stated. Hermione had to agree with him. It looked as though Malfoy was free of her spell. This made Hermione glad, no doubt, but how had he been able to avoid it? It was a spell cast by one of the Oracles of Prodigy, the most powerful beings to ever live, according to Dumbledore who was, with no question, always right.

"Sorry Potter. I haven't seen that Mudblood anywhere and I better not. Unlike you I don't associate with filth." And with that Malfoy held up his head and pushed pass them, stalking towards the castle in the exact opposite manner than when he had come to the lake.

"If he doesn't associate with filth then why does he have Crabbe and Goyle as pals, I ask you!" Ron yelled to Malfoy's already gone back. Harry laughed along with him. "Well, he wasn't much help Harry. Come on, we have to find Hermione so we can see Dumbledore."

"I know, but where could she be?" Harry questioned, looking all around the lake area.

"Right here," Hermione answered, pulling the cloak off herself. Ron jumped a little and Harry spun around quickly.

****

"There you are," Harry said, stating the obvious.

"Come on Hermione, we got to go see Dumbledore. He's waiting for us," Ron told her, grabbing her arm and tugging her along.

"Ron," Harry said. Ron stopped in his tracks and turned to him.

"What?" he asked, completely clueless.

"Er Hermione-Ron and I have to tell you something," Harry said to Hermione.

"Oh, that," Ron said, dropping Hermione's arm and hanging his head.

"What is it?" Hermione asked, folding her arms across her chest.

"Well, it has to do with what has been happening to you lately," Harry told her. He nudged Ron beside him.

"Yeah, yeah," was all he said in response.

"You mean, about the spell?" she assured. Harry nodded. "What about it?"

"Ron and I think we have the solution to it," Harry continued. Hermione shook her head.

"No Harry. The only way to break it is if my True Love announces his love for me. Now, I already know you and Ron don't particularly feel that way about me, and I'm relieved about that. So Crystal is already trying to find a way out of it through her magic," Hermione informed them. "So come on, we've got to see Dumbledore." She beckoned them to follow her.

"Wait Hermione," Harry said. Hermione stopped.

"What is it now?"

"Er-" Harry looked to Ron and Ron returned his gaze. "How exactly should we do this?"

"How would I know?!" Ron said, clearly on the brink of his nerves. Harry shook his head and faced Hermione again.

Say 'I love you'.

"What?" Harry asked Ron, looking back to him.

"What did you say?" Ron said in turn, looking to Harry in surprise.

Say 'I love you'.

"What is it?" Hermione repeated, deaf to the voice haunting Harry and Ron.

"Did you say that?" Harry asked again.

"No! Did you?"

"No."

"What are you two on about?" Hermione questioned in annoyance.

Oh my god! Just listen to me and tell Hermione 'I love you'!

"Who are you?" Ron asked out loud.

The one who started all this.

Silence.

Hello?

"You're....you're...." Ron stammered.

"What are you talking about Ron?" Hermione persisted. She was becoming anxious to meet Dumbledore. She supposed it wasn't right to make the Headmaster wait so long.

Do it now!

"Hermione!" Harry cried in frustration, turning around to look at her.

"What?!" Hermione yelled back.
"I love you, I truly do. No questions asked."

Silence.

"Ron, you better do this too or the spell will never be broken," Harry said through clenched teeth.

"But you already said-"

"Ron!"

"Fine!" Ron said, losing his nerves once and for all. "Hermione I love you! I love everything about you! I absolutely adore you and everything you are, used to be and will become for years."

Silence.

"You didn't have to do all that," Harry whispered.

"Lost myself right there," Ron muttered back. Then they both looked at Hermione for her reaction.

She didn't move in the slightest, also seemed to stop breathing as well. Her arms were still folded across her front and she was still sitting into one hip; the only noticeable reaction was that her eyes had gone very, very wide.

****

"Dumbledore knows," Voldemort hissed from his seat in front of the fire. "He has gotten word of the death of the boy Jakob through his spies." The Dark Lord turned in his seat so he could face Lucius Malfoy. Malfoy raised his head high at his master's gaze.

"Yes, my lord?" he asked politely. Voldemort narrowed his eyes evilly but kept his tone level.

"I wanted to ask you the extent of your son's knowledge in the Dark Arts?" he questioned.

"I assure, master, Draco has been educated well above his station. He knows quite a fair number of spells, curses and potions, sir," Lucius answered. Voldemort smiled calmly.

"The exact answer I wanted to hear," Voldemort praised. "You may go now Malfoy. I want you to alert Avery and Wormtail that the boy's death has been discovered. I want no further killings until I get what I want."

"Yes, my lord," Malfoy said, then bowed himself out of the room. Voldemort watched him go before turning his gaze back to the dancing flames before him.

"Draco," he hissed silently. "Draco, listen to me and obey your master."

"Stop, please," Voldemort heard Draco plead hundreds of miles away at Hogwarts.

"Why must I? You've always wanted this, haven't you? To work alongside your parents, aiding the greatest sorcerer in the world and becoming his most trusted servant? Since you were but a mere boy you have been fascinated by the Dark Arts; and your parents had to do little to convince you to.

"I know how horrified you were when you discovered that boy named Harry Potter defeated me fourteen years ago. You hated Potter since and tried to persuade him to befriend you on your first encounter, as to strike a whole in Dumbledore's heart. But when he refused you vowed then and there that if I never returned, you would finish him off for me. Now what has happened to that faithful Death Eater, I ask."

"I take it back, I don't want to be the one. I don't want to kill Potter." Voldemort could hear the weakness weighing down in Draco's voice. Fighting the Dark Lord wasn't a wise decision.

"Take it back? But why?" Voldemort asked in mock curiosity. Then abruptly changed to his usual sneer. "Are you growing weak under my hand boy? I don't need a coward on my side at the moment and have no hesitation to rid of you." This was a downright lie.

Voldemort needed Draco, he was the only one young enough and intelligent enough to handle the spell he had cast on his Mark. To dispose of him would be a great mishap in the plan. Plus, there was still the question of the Balance...

How is he doing this? He can control me with such power, and unlike the Imperius Curse I can't fight it, Draco thought, not knowing that Voldemort could hear.

"You have much to learn dear Draco," he muttered. Then he heard and saw what Draco did. Harry Potter's voice was ringing through his ears. His and that idiot Weasley's son. Voldemort couldn't let meddling Potter ruin him once again. His plan was much too perfect for that.

"Oh, right. Well, we better find her so we can see Dumbledore," the red-haired one said.

"I cannot let anyone see you in such a state! Suspicions are rising as it is. Get up boy and I'll fix you," he urged, standing up in alarm, his power radiating from his body.

"No," Draco protested, grabbing his arm where the Mark was placed.

"Do not deny me boy! With the mistakes you and I have made I'm surprised that Dumbledore isn't sending out his cavalry on you. What with you falling under the Mudblood's spell and then fighting mine with it to call to her for help...I cannot have that again. It was a failure to me as well for not taking a closer watch on you. But no more! You will not get caught!"

Then Voldemort flicked his wand and a hundred miles away it took form. Malfoy was changed to his usual state, making him appear normal; but the lightening passing over his skin left sparks of pain in their wake.

"Potter and Weasley," Voldemort heard Draco say. His spell was in fine working order, Draco had no recollection of what has been happening to him temporarily.

"That's it boy, go on about your business. I'll command you when the time is right," The Dark Lord hissed as he settled back down into his chair and continued to watch.