Marked

Harry stopped outside the classroom door and turned to Hermione, a frown pulling down his handsome face. She'd known he wouldn't be in a good mood after the discussion they'd had the night before, but she'd hoped he would've calmed himself a bit by morning. Dumbledore had done his best to explain the situation with Draco, even going so far as to tell Harry he would seek his approval for the next part of the plan. Still, Harry had remained angry after the Minister had left, partly because the plan had brought Voldemort into an unpredictable human form and partly because he now had to rely on Draco to not betray either him or Neville. That, along with the Horcrux situation, was a culmination of circumstances he'd been hoping to avoid getting caught up in. Good intentions or not, the Minister had managed to get Harry and Neville exactly where he wanted them--in spite of Harry's best efforts to control the situation. Hermione knew he was going to remain livid for a while.

"Why are we here again?" Harry asked. "After everything we went through last night, I thought we'd be done with Dumbledore for a while. At least until he's able to tell us something useful."

Hermione smiled and took his hand. His expression softened slightly. "I know how you feel, but this might help. He's already met with Neville and it can't hurt for him to have a look at you too."

"Yes, but why?" Harry asked. He glanced at the door and drew his mouth tight. "He said he has no clue if he can take the portions of Voldemort's soul out of us, and he's already looked at Neville, so why does he need to examine me as well? How do I even know it's safe?"

"Of course it's safe," Hermione said. "We just saw Neville a few minutes ago and he's fine. He's examining both of you because you're different and he needs to know everything he can."

Hermione read everything he wasn't saying in his sudden skeptical expression. There might be a need to be cautious around Dumbledore--indeed, she knew the man was still harboring a number of secrets until he felt it was safe to tell her hot-headed boyfriend--but there was no reason to fear him. Rather than assure Harry of this, she said, "I'll be right there the whole time. He's not gong to Imperius you to go along with any part of his plan while I'm watching."

"Still, I don't see why--"
"Harry. For me," she pleaded. Hermione squeezed his hand and pulled him until their bodies were touching from torso to shin. Shifting her bag back on her shoulder, she reached up to touch his face and held his eyes with hers. "I know you still don't trust him and I understand that. I support it. But please give him every chance to save your life; he thinks this might help. If he can find a way to remove the main connection You-Know-Who has with you and Neville, it could make a lot of difference during the fight. You'd be able to use your wands without a problem, for one. He wouldn't be able to read your thoughts." She slid her other hand to the back of Harry's neck. "The nightmares would be gone completely," she whispered.

Smiling, Harry closed the distance between their lips. "I haven't had a nightmare since the first night we were together."

"Because we've been together in some fashion every night since then," Hermione responded. Hermione had the incomplete homework and sleep deprivation to prove it. "I know it helps you relax, but you should try Occlumency again. We can't keep this up. Ron was right, I'm getting pretty tired."

Harry laughed. "This is a bad thing?"
She giggled before she could help herself. If she answered that honestly, there would be no end to the teasing. Not that she needed to. He knew how she felt every night they were together. "Stop it! Just do this for me. If Dumbledore and any of the Ministry employees can figure out a way to eliminate this one issue, everything else will seem that much easier in comparison."

"Fine," Harry said. "I don't like it, but it can't hurt."

"I would say that's the right spirit, but you know I'd be lying," Hermione replied. After standing on her toes for one last kiss, Hermione moved around Harry and pushed open the classroom door. He followed her into the room and echoed Hermione's surprise at what they saw.

One of the desks in the room had been transfigured into a metal examination table several feet off the ground. There were cloth restraints at either end and a brace to hold a person's neck and head in place.

"Is he going to examine me or torture me?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore cleared his throat at the words and nodded once after the students turned to face him in the corner. "I assure you, it will be a painless examination. The restraints are merely to keep you from falling from the table while I conduct a thorough scan," Dumbledore said. He held up what appeared to be a small silver wand. Stepping closer, he extended it for the students to examine. The instrument had a row of small colored buttons going up the side and a clear plastic tip. Other than that, it was smooth and unremarkable.

"This is a medical scanner created by the Department of Mysteries for...unique cases. I'm going to run this over you from head to toe, with special emphasis on the area around your scar. It will collect any data we need to determine what, if anything, is unusual about you."

"You mean other than having a dark wizard gestating in my head?" Harry asked.

"Harry, don't be difficult."

"Hermione, I'm here, aren't I?" Ignoring her frown, Harry motioned to the scanner. "Are you sure it won't hurt?"

"Mr. Longbottom said he felt nothing during the examination and after he regained consciousness. It is designed for nothing but data collection."

"Right," Harry said. "That's why I have to be unconscious."

"That is merely for your comfort," Dumbledore said. "Previously, people have reported experiencing strange sensations--hallucinations and the like. If you prefer, you may remain conscious."

"No, I'll let you knock me out," Harry said. He looked at Hermione.

"I'm not going anywhere."

Nodding, Harry sat on the examination table and lay down. Hermione felt his nervousness and touched her hand to the crystal at her throat, hoping he could in turn feel how calm she was and that it would somehow help him. It wouldn't, not completely. She knew he felt the older wizard was going to hurt him. Nothing would convince him that wasn't the case, short of an end to the entire experience. Hopefully, that day was a long way off.

"You'll tell me the results as soon as possible?" Harry asked.

The Minister nodded and secured the straps around Harry's arms and torso. "Just relax, Mr. Potter. There is nothing to fear." He placed a hand to Harry's forehead and within moments, the boy was in a deep sleep.

"I'm surprised you were able to get him here at all," Dumbledore said. "He seemed most upset with me yesterday."

"Can you blame him?" Hermione asked. "He has every right to know what you're planning and if--"
"Please, Miss Granger." Dumbledore waved at her absently as he began programming the scanner. "I heard enough from Professor McGonagall yesterday. Mr. Potter is well protected by a number of people." He stopped and turned to Hermione. "I don't suppose you told him everything else while you were going on about Horcruxes. He doesn't seem overly concerned about the other matter."

"He...I..." Hermione stopped and chewed her bottom lip nervously for a few seconds. "I wanted to be sure before I said anything. Of course he doesn't suspect, why would he?"

"Why indeed?" Dumbledore asked, turning back to Harry. Pressing a button, Dumbledore began the medical scan at Harry's feet, his eyes narrowing as the scanner immediately let off a pale orange glow at the tip. The glow grew stronger as he moved up, increasing to a near-blinding intensity as he passed over Harry's chest. The Minister pressed another button and the glow receded, only to shift to a bright red as he waved it over Harry's head. He held the scanner still for a long moment, letting the instrument collect as much data as possible before turning it off and slipping into the pocket of his robes.

He turned to Hermione. "It is as I suspected. Did you bring something?"

Hermione nodded and searched through her bag until she found the clear glass globe. With a shaking hand, she pulled it out and held it out to Dumbledore.

"The prophecy? Fitting," he remarked. He glanced down to make sure the straps securing Harry to the table were secure.

"I...I just know Harry will never let anything happen to it," she said. "Are you sure this won't hurt him?" she asked.

"Miss Granger, any harm done to Mr. Potter was done by himself a long while ago. I merely seek to provide the solution you asked for," Dumbledore responded. Pulling out his wand, he held the globe in his other hand over the prone boy and began.

There had to be another way. Always another way, Hermione thought. She sat back onto Harry's bed and studied the globe in her hands. She turned the clear glass over and watched as the smooth surface reflected the scant amounts of late afternoon sunlight coming through the window. After all she'd seen and heard of Harry's past, she knew the best way for him to survive whatever might happen would be to have a second plan, a back-up in case things went horribly wrong. Half-baked plans had gone awry before and he'd survived it, but who knew what the rules were now? Would his mother's protection last in a world where she was still living? What if Dumbledore was wrong and Voldemort would be strong enough to fight them? What if he was wrong and only one of them could kill him, once he chose who to fight first? What if the prophecy was wrong and they were both headed for death?

Hermione had rarely taken chances in her life. She wasn't going to start trusting in the barest of hope now. Not when everything was on the line. Harry would understand it if he knew. Even if he didn't entirely agree, he would know in his heart of hearts that being prepared for the worst was more realistic, more honest than expecting only the best. Though, honesty wasn't something Hermione really wanted to think about these days. Not if she wanted to continue functioning normally.

With a grimace, she stood from the bed and pushed the globe back into her bag. She'd have to keep it in her room. She knew Harry would keep it safe, but the idea of having something of his close to her at night was comforting. At some point, even the hours they spent alone before they split into their dorms at night wouldn't be enough for her. Not if she had to get all of him she could before possibly saying goodbye for the last time. Again.

It didn't matter how tired she was, how wanton it made her feel sometimes, Hermione felt no shame in admitting to herself that she craved Harry's touch with a yearning that went beyond physical. Having his love had made him as much a part of her as her hand or mouth and she knew, as she had for a while, that losing him would probably do more than cause her sadness. Something inside her would die if he took his last breath. It probably wasn't healthy to fixate over anyone that way, but who would ever tell her that loving Harry enough to want him to live through the worst possible scenario was wrong? No one she'd listen to.

"Hermione?"

Hearing the tentative voice call her name from across the room, Hermione looked up in surprise as Lavender walked across the dorm towards her, stopping near the foot of Harry's bed.

"Can we talk?"

"I...sure," Hermione responded. The blonde didn't sound nearly as hostile as she'd been all week, and certainly nicer than Parvati had been lately. Being alone in the boys' dorm with her was probably safe. Besides, she could defend herself better than Lavender.

"I just wanted to accept your apology from the other day," Lavender said. "I also need to make one of my own. I was acting like a brat and I know it. Neville..." She smiled ruefully. "He made me see how hard everyone has it. And after hearing all of Harry's story last night, I know what you've been going through. Can you forgive me for being a bitch?"

Hermione's eyes widened. She hadn't been expecting a fight, exactly, but this? "I didn't think I had to. Actually, I should apologize again. I shouldn't have said--"

"No." Lavender waved off Hermione's words. "We both said some things we never should've said."

Not that we didn't mean them, Hermione thought. She didn't need to say that much out loud. She could tell from the other girl's expression they were thinking the same thing.

"Can I ask you something?" Lavender smiled as she said this, but Hermione sensed something odd behind it. Her hand moved to stroke over the crystal at her neck and she nodded. "How...?" Lavender stopped and an uncharacteristic blush colored her face. "I know this is none of my business, but what is it like with Harry? Now?"

"I--"

"No, I don't mean the sex," Lavender blurted. She looked around and pulled out her wand to close the door. She whispered, "I do mean that. You guys were together for a while and then he's just gone and replaced with someone else and...I know they're the same, but they're really not and you seem so happy now and I just..." She shrugged and lowered her eyes, letting her rambles hang in the hair.

Hermione wasn't sure if it was more appropriate to slap the girl for her nosiness or cry on her shoulder. If anyone could understand what it was like for a boyfriend to tell her something life-changing, it would be the girl standing before her. But Lavender Brown was one of the last people she'd confide in. Even if she was one of few people in on Harry and Neville's secret.

"I love him," Hermione said simply. It wasn't that simple and she knew it, but she didn't have time to get into the complexities with someone who really only wanted the simplified version of boarding school romance. "The whole thing is crazy and complicated, but at the end of the day, I love him. I want him to live and I'm willing to do everything I can to make that happen. And, as much as I loved him before, I've gotten to know him now and...I love him even more," she whispered, recognizing the words as true.

It was the first time she'd said it and actually meant it, but Hermione knew if she had a choice to go back to the way things were, she'd choose the obsessive, consuming craziness she'd been experiencing the previous weeks over the fun and quiet playfulness she'd had before. She'd treasured her previous relationship with Harry, but going through this with his other incarnation had brought out a passion in her that hadn't been there before, however close they were. Before, there had been sentimental attachment and attraction. Now? Now, there was a place in her heart only he could fill. Even if their relationship didn't last--for whatever reason--she knew she'd never have the same with anyone else. Nothing even close.

"I can't imagine how that's possible," Lavender commented. "With all the secrets you have to keep now and the way you were before--"
"Well, things change, don't they?" Hermione asked. "I didn't ask to lose him and Harry didn't ask to be a part of this prophecy. We're dealing with it the best way we can and I choose to be in a relationship with him as long as it's possible." She frowned. "And our sex life is none of your business. I don't go around asking you about Neville bending you over a table in Greenhouse Two, though I've heard enough about the two of you to write a book. You and Parvati would benefit from silencing charms when your discussions go past midnight. You do realize the rest of us don't want to know exactly how often he does that thing with his tongue?"

Before Lavender could respond, the door opened and Ron and Neville walked in. Both boys looked startled to see the girls standing next to Harry's bed.

"Neither of them looks hurt," Ron said, earning himself a glare from Hermione.

Lavender smiled. "We were just talking out our differences," she said. "Everything's fine now, right?" She glanced at Hermione briefly before walking away without waiting for an answer.

Neville smirked as she moved to put her arms around him. "I'll believe it when I see you both at defense practice not genuinely attempting to hurt each other."

"You know I only reserve my real fighting for Ron," Hermione said. "Someone's got to toughen him up. Where's Harry? Did he come back with you?"

Neville shook his head. "We insisted he take a shower right after Quidditch practice. He smelled like he'd been locked up in Ron's trunk for a week. He should be back in a few minutes." Neville squeezed Lavender around the waist. "Ready to head to dinner?" She nodded and the two turned and headed out of the room.

"I should go too," Hermione stated. "If Harry's already showered, I can just wait for him in the common room."

"Can you...would you mind waiting around?" Ron asked. "I'd like to talk to you."

It wasn't the sheepish grin he shot her that suddenly made Hermione wary, it was the soft blush and foot shuffling that accompanied it. It was strange seeing Ron nervous instead of blustering and loud. She didn't think she'd get used it any time soon. "No problem," Hermione replied. She took a step back and sat on Harry's bed again. "What do you want to talk about?"

Ron sighed. Hermione refused to giggle, even if he did sound like an overly dramatic girl at times. "It's Parvati. I think I've screwed up again."

"After I pushed you two to spend time together finally?" Hermione paused, willing that shrieky thing out of her voice. "Tell me what happened."

Following her gesture, Ron sat next to her on the bed. "We went for a walk around the lake after lunch. It was nice," he said, surprise widening his eyes. "At first I was kind of stuck for something to talk about, but then I remembered that you said to be myself and it was easy. Until I started going on about how helpful you were. She didn't exactly respond to that."

Hermione groaned. Hadn't Harry done a similar idiotic thing on a Valentine's date with Cho? Are all boys that clueless?

"Okay, look. Do exactly as I say the minute you leave this room. Tell her you think I'm ugly--"

"But, I don't--"

"Shut up Ron! Tell her you think I'm hideous and it's a bit pathetic that the only way I could get a boyfriend was to force myself on Harry." She held up a hand as Ron started to interrupt again. "Then say you feel sorry for me and the only reason you've ever taken my advice is that I'd know better than anyone how a desperate person can get close to someone they like."

Ron was silent for a minute. "That's really mean, Hermione. And not true. I can't say that."

"I know what I'm doing," Hermione insisted. "Doesn't matter if it's true or not. She's still upset with me about yesterday. She'll agree with every word of it. Especially since it implies that you're desperate to be with her."

"I suppose you're right," Ron said slowly. "It still feels weird to trash you to get her to be nice to me. I don't know about only being with a girl who wants me to put other girls down around her."

"It doesn't matter," Hermione said. "You've just started your relationship by saying something nice about another girl. You have to let her know--quickly--that you don't like me."

"That's rather stupid. I'm not going to keep doing that to you." He paused. "You're my friend."

"That's sweet, Ronald," Hermione said. "Don't go all soft on my account. You don't have to do it forever, just until she stops getting in a snit around me." Hermione shrugged. "Now that everything's all right with Lavender, Parvati will probably get over it in a day or two."

"Why can't I just wait until then?"

Boys, she thought. "I thought you'd love the chance since I keep beating you at practice," Hermione said. "Though, you should appreciate it. Lavender certainly didn't offer you any challenge last night."

"Challenge? Is that what you call it?" Ron asked. "You browbeat me until I can't focus."

"You can't focus because you're scatterbrained," Hermione teased. "Don't blame me for your shortcomings."

Ron laughed. "According to Parvati, I don't have any shortcomings."

"You obviously haven't gotten too far with her," Hermione said. They stared at each other a few seconds before bursting out laughing. She hadn't meant to say it, but when he started going on like that, Hermione knew he'd been about to lapse into that unfortunate boy habit of bragging about his physical attributes and...sexual prowess. At the thought of the fumbling redhead with a girl, Hermione doubled over in laughter, a few surprising tears slipping from her eyes. As their laughter settled, she noticed Harry standing in the doorway frowning. When he realized her eyes were on him, he quickly put on a smile and crossed the room.

"What did I miss?" he asked. "Sounds like it's pretty interesting."

"Nothing," they said simultaneously, which inspired another giggle from Hermione. "Ron was just telling me hysterically funny jokes."

"What can I say? All girls are a sucker for the Weasley charm," he said with a grin. "You'll have to write and tell me what to do next. After," Ron said, referring to her advice about Parvati. "Pretty sure we can't have a conference in the common room."

"I'll bring you something later," Hermione promised. She stood and moved to put her arms around Harry. His return hug was stiff. She turned to look up at him in question.

"Right," Ron said. "I'll leave you to it, then." Seconds later he was gone and Hermione was left with her unhappy boyfriend.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

Harry worked his jaw open slightly a couple of times, obviously debating what he wanted to say. "No, nothing," he said finally. "Just have a lot on my mind." Harry punctuated this with a kiss that turned into several leisurely kisses before he stopped abruptly and pulled Hermione towards the door. Before going downstairs, she escaped briefly into her dorm--ostensibly to put the prophecy globe in a safe place, but also to give herself a minute to wonder, what could be going wrong now?

Draco read the words on the page several times, hoping the meaning or the words themselves would change. He'd been expecting his aunt to go on one of her tirades about blood purity and "the Dark Lord's plan for us all"--the megalomaniacal bullshit she took to spewing when she was stressed. He'd thought she would press him--again--for the spell Dumbledore had forced him to leave out of his communications. What he hadn't seen coming, and did not entirely believe, was that his aunt had done something to her sister Narcissa. Hard to fathom, but there it was in black and white.

If you won't cooperate for me, I'm sure you'll do it for your mother, Bella had written. I should say, if you expect to see her again, you'll find a way to give me what I need.

The nefarious bitch. She knew he'd never be able to find out if she was telling the truth or not. It wasn't like he could write to his mother. He couldn't get out so much as a postcard without McGonagall or Dumbledore watching him. If her plan was to piss him off so that he'd take definite action for one side, she may have just done that. If Bella's plan was to scare him into getting her a spell or something else that would help fix whatever Dumbledore had arranged for her to do to the Dark Lord--well, she may have done that too.

For the first time that he could recall, someone had thought further ahead than he. This was sick. The lure of power was there, but Draco would not work underneath that woman if he could help it. He didn't want to side with Potter either, not for Lucius's sake, but because the Minister had threatened him. However angry he'd been the previous weeks, he had no wish to hurt Harry directly--not if it would bring down the wrath of all of his friends and half the Ministry. Revenge still seemed like a sweet idea in the abstract, but it had long since begun looking like it was more trouble than it was worth.

He was still deeply unhappy with the bastard, but Draco knew if he'd been in the same position--Harry's stepfather coming after him--having him arrested would be the minimum of what Draco would've done. Not that he considered Potter's actions a favor or empathized completely with his old friend, but Draco knew what his father could be like when he was doing something on behalf of "the cause"--a cool, calculating version of his disturbed aunt. Having gotten in the way, Potter had a real reason to fear him. One that Draco never would've been brave enough to take on himself.

Still, he wasn't forgiven for his part in Lucius's arrest. After he had cooled from his initial rage, throwing that crazy woman a few clues had been the furthest Draco had thought he'd have to take it. Was it cowardice? Maybe. Self-preservation, more like. So far, his actions had kept him safe from attack on both sides. That was the only thing that mattered. Now, what would he have to do to keep his mother safe? Murder Longbottom and Potter in their sleep? Tell Bellatrix about the strange conversation between Potter and Granger he'd overheard?

So much for family loyalty.