My Soul Mate

Chapter One - Start Of A New Life...

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Draco tried to rush out of Hogwarts as fast as his legs could carry him, meanwhile cursing the Anti-Apparating and Disapparating charms in the school. After all, when you had a human being magically levitated behind you, you couldn't be too quick.

But as soon as he crossed the Hogwarts boundaries, he stopped to catch his breath. He was breathing raggedly and there was a stitch in his stomach. His wand was still pointed at Hermione, who was nevertheless Stunned. After a few minutes, Draco lowered his wand and Hermione fell to the grassy ground. Draco rolled his eyes and kneeled beside her unconscious form and grabbed her wrist. With a 'pop' sound, he Apparated away with Hermione.

He picked up the reports on the students' posts. First, Hannah Abbott - fiftieth love letter this week! This girl had to be stopped. Stewart Acklerey - two hundred Dungbombs order confirmed from Zonko's. Susan Bones - application number thirty-seven to Miss Monsoon Princess canceled. On and on. More love letters, more Stink Pellets, Canary Creams from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and god knows what else. He read them, got some off, got some detention with Snape and McGonagall and some, merely warnings.

The old man checked the ancient wall clock. Ah, it was already a quarter past eight. He kept his reports as they were and decided to head down for breakfast. But as he turned to leave, a report caught his eyes. It was Draco L. Malfoy's.

Dumbledore stopped in his tracks. His forehead creased. He had never, not once in six years of tutoring the Slytherin, gotten a post complaint against him. He pulled the report from the depths of the parchment on his desk and started reading it. It was from McGonagall.

Dumbledore -

I know it's hard to believe, but I think that there is something strange about Draco Malfoy's post. When I opened it, the parchment held the requirement for password. I have never intercepted such a post. It may be wise to look into his letter. I hope you don't forget what Severus told you before the starting of this term - Draco Malfoy may be a Death Eater.

Minerva.

Dumbledore stared at the report. It was possible that Draco Malfoy's post may hold information about Voldemort or a Death Eater. But then, he reasoned, his father had just expired in Azkaban from food poisoning. The letter may be from Lucius's wife, Narcissa, having some context about the family sorrows or estate, which she would not like to be intercepted. But then, no one could ever know. So without taking any risk, he called for Severus Snape from his lit fireplace.

"Severus, are you heading down for breakfast?" he asked as he caught up with the Potions master.

"Yes, Dumbledore," answered Snape. "Anything worthy of notice?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes," he replied. "I believe Draco Malfoy has got a mysterious post. I would like you look into his mind through Legilimency and inform me quickly. I must alert the faculty before hand, should anything unfortunate happen."

"As you say," said Snape. He closed his eyes and concentrated into the Great Hall, into the Slytherin table, into Draco Malfoy. Meanwhile, Dumbledore set off to get McGonagall to get to the Great Hall.

Snape got fleeting sentences from Draco's mind.

'deeply aggrieved by your father's unexpected death ... as if they do ...raided the place ...hid it before you could assassinate him ... rest assured ...I will find him ...Wormtail.'

Snape's eyes shot open. Draco has committed murder! He murdered someone! And he received a letter from

Wormtail! His suspicions turned true.

Draco Malfoy

is a Death Eater.

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With another 'pop' sound, Draco Apparated in an old, wooden house with Hermione, who still wasn't conscious. Draco let go of Hermione's wrist and looked around the house. The house was about six metres above the ground, supported by wooden pillars that were rather weak, giving the house a collapsible look. The stairs that led down were extremely rickety. The house was very dark and not large enough. There were only three rooms: a small bedroom with a small, wooden bed, a bathroom with a marble tub and a full length mirror (which was so dusty that you couldn't see your reflection) and a dining room, which also contained a small kitchen with a few steel utensils.

Draco smiled. He had been here last when he was about six or seven with his uncle, Alexander Malfoy. No one has entered the place for ten years now. The floor held dust, inches thick and the ceiling had too many cobwebs. Yet, Draco has always felt this small place to be warmer than his manor in Wiltshire.

Draco lifted Hermione and placed her on the wooden sofa in the dining room. He didn't wake her. He left her there and went to open the curtains. The sun's rays filtered through the doors and windows, illuminating the whole house. Outside was a stretch of tall, ancient deciduous trees. The dwelling was obviously somewhere in the middle of a forest. Draco could hear birds chirping every now and then, and the place looked as if it has just experienced downpour. The leaves of the trees shimmered with water droplets and the house's walls were rather damp. He turned away from the natural scenario and cast his eyes wearily around the walls. Eventually, his eyes fell on Hermione.

He cursed himself for kidnapping her. Why, of all the people, did he have to kidnap her? He could have kidnapped Pansy Parkinson, couldn't he? At least he could have made some bedding uses with her.

But even in his mind, the idea seemed ludicrous. The whole student population knew that Pansy was an utter whore and rather enjoyed staying with Draco. She would have rather willingly come along with him. That would threaten no one, no one at all.

But Hermione Granger? She seemed the perfect victim. Everyone knew how much he despised muggle-borns, let alone her! He absolutely loathed her. Yes, he could threaten the old coot Dumbledore and his Light sidekicks with her welfare. Everyone knew that he would never hesitate to harm Hermione.

Draco smirked. He felt rather proud of himself for his presence of mind and timely action. He had another weapon now. He exhaled deeply. He realized that he was still holding his wand in his right hand. He sighed. He would have to take some safety precautions to keep others at bay. Gradually, Draco started placing spells on the house. First, he made the place Unplottable. Second, he placed Anti-Apparating and Disapparating spells. Then, he made the house look like an old cave to any outsider. He supposed that this was enough. Draco always knew that being trained in the Dark Arts from childhood had its own uses. Mentally, he thanked Lucius and Voldemort.

And now for Hermione. He would have to do something to keep her in his domain. He racked his brain for a spell that would keep her bound to him as long as he wanted. He couldn't have her tied up all the time; he felt an uneasy twinge in his stomach at that thought. He couldn't have her under the Imperius Curse; she might fight it. He couldn't even confound her; she had a magical strength too brilliant for that. What could he do? He tried to remember what his father did to him when he was small and unruly. And then it struck him. The Shackelus Curse.

Draco walked towards Hermione. She was still senseless on the wooden seat. Draco pointed his wand at her and muttered, "Shacklio!" A faint white light lit in her body and illuminated her. This made Draco sure that he had performed the spell correctly. Pointing the wand still at her, he this time muttered, "Ennervate!"

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"Blimey! What did Malfoy do?"

"That was absolutely astonishing!"

"He is an evil bastard, he is!"

"Yeah, and a Death Eater for sure!"

Whispers rang across the Great Hall. Everybody was absolutely shocked by what had just happened. Draco Malfoy committed murder and was caught in front of the whole school. But he managed to dodge the powerful teachers and kidnap a student right under their noses! He had some nerve. And why didn't any spell effect him, but backfired upon the originator?

There was an utter chaos in the Great Hall. Snape glared at the students as he strode towards McGonagall and said, "Finite Incantatum!"

Immediately, McGonagall jerked into motion. She got up and ran to Dumbledore, who was still staring at the place where Draco had fled with Hermione. He felt terribly guilty and ashamed of himself. But above all, he felt afraid of facing Harry. He had let Harry's archenemy take his best friend away from him and he could do nothing! He dreaded seeing Harry.

McGonagall reached him and started ranting at once. "Dumbledore, what happened? Did he get away? And what are the people saying about kidnapping Miss Granger? Is it true?"

Dumbledore didn't answer, but the look on his face confirmed McGonagall of her fears and she fell silent at once. She regained her composure and pointed her wand at her throat and muttered, "Sonorus!"

Her voice was magically magnified when she spoke to the entire Hall.

"All teachers, please report in the Staff Room, immediately. All the students may go back to their respective common rooms. I am afraid, we may have no classes today. Everybody, clear off, now!"

The anxious, excited and angry whispers didn't subside as the students filed slowly out of the Hall. The teachers disappeared through a corridor behind the chamber at the staff table's right side. Harry looked at Ron, his face paler than ever and his eyes aflame.

Ron's jinx was wearing off. Gradually, he was able to move. He looked straight at Harry, whose fuming emotions were written across his face.

Both of them had never ever felt angrier in their lives.

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Hermione stirred slowly. She felt as if she had just traveled miles through the Floo Network. Her head was awfully dizzy and her limbs were numb. She didn't feel like waking up, but she had to.

Slowly she opened her eyes. She saw a burred, blonde head among brown and green air. She blinked; the face swam in and out of focus. She blinked again and again, until her sight was clear. Her head was throbbing with the effort of focusing and all she felt like doing was to go back to sleep. But by now, the face was quite clear. Draco Malfoy.

Hermione looked at him for a second and then screamed. She jerked away from the wooden sofa and sat bolt upright. Draco was standing over her. Hermione wished she had never awoken, as realization dawned on her. She remembered the fiasco in the Great Hall, the murder, the hexes and ... Draco stunning her. She looked wildly around. It seemed as if she was in a small farmhouse in some woodland, which were perhaps, hundreds of miles away from Hogwarts.

Hermione screamed again, louder than last time. She was with the enemy, a Death Eater, in a place whose location held no knowledge in her brain. This was absolutely unnerving ... and frightening.

"Where am I, Malfoy?" she yelled shrilly.

Draco smirked at her chagrin. "Somewhere in the Northern Tropic in Africa."

Hermione choked. Africa? Africa?

"And why am I here?" she shouted.

Draco flinched in the slightest at her accusing voice. He regained his serenity and answered snidely, "It doesn't take a genius to work it out, Granger. You are kidnapped."

Hermione glared at him furiously. "I know that," she said between her clenched teeth, much quieter this time.

"Oh joy!" said Draco in mock euphoria.

"Shut up!" snapped Hermione. Her pulse rate was increasing rapidly. A Death Eater has kidnapped her, a Death Eater who has already murdered someone and wouldn't think twice before killing her. Great!

"Why did you do it?" she asked quietly, casting her eyes to her feet, since they had started to water.

"Do what?"

"Do this to me! Why did you take me?" said Hermione, her voice clearly choking.

Draco raised his eyebrows. He remained silent for a while and then turned and took a seat on the dining table. "Isn't it obvious, Granger?" he said.

Hermione didn't look at him. She didn't want to let him see her cry. But of course, this was so obvious. He needed a bribe that's all. He was an evil murderer, and he needed bait for her friends.

Murderer...

the word haunted her mind.

Suddenly, she asked him, looking up at him after drying her eyes, "Is it true?"

"What is?"

"That you did kill..." Hermione's voice trailed away.

Whatever Hermione expected as a reaction from Draco, was certainly not this.

Draco clenched his jaws together and his face hardened inexplicably. He eyes went out of focus and he cringed. Almost for a few moments, he forgot that Hermione was present there. A fleeting emotion of horror and guilt showed on his face.

After a few uneasy minutes, Draco became tranquil. He blinked a few times and looked at Hermione. "Yes," he answered quietly.

Hermione's jaw fell to the floor. She shook her head and her breath quickened. "I don't believe it..." she said weakly.

Draco narrowed his eyes at her. "Why not?" he asked her, rather sincerely.

"H-how co-could you-u...?" stammered Hermione. "It is not that simple ... you killed somebody ... you took away someone's life!"

"I am aware of that, Granger," replied Draco coldly.

Hermione didn't know what to say. After some time, she asked Draco in a mere whisper, "Who was it?"

Draco didn't feel like answering... He knew that the reply would come down heavily on her.

"Who was it?" repeated Hermione.

Draco closed his eyes. The memories were terrible. He opened his eyes again and answered, "Hagrid."

Hermione stared at him for a long time. She showed no signs of movements at all. At last, she managed to splutter, "W-What? Wha-t?!"

Draco remained the most quiescent.

"What did you say?" yelled Hermione. "What did you say?"

"Hagrid," said Draco for the second time.

"How dare you!" screeched Hermione. "You bastard! Why did you?"

"None of your business, Granger," hissed Draco. He got up to leave. "Don't try and come after me, Granger," he said, "and don't even think about leaving the house."

With these words, he left Hermione to her miserable condition.

Hermione stared at the point Draco had been sitting. She felt absolutely heartbroken. She couldn't believe that Hagrid was dead ... gone forever ... forever. His cheerful, grinning bushy face began to swim in her mind. Hermione felt a rush of hatred towards Draco that was stronger than she had ever felt before. She felt like cursing him into oblivion. She didn't know if Harry or Ron or Dumbledore knew any of this. What would happen if Harry came to know this?

And speaking of her friends...

Streams of tears rolled down her face. She sobbed uncontrollably. She was thousands of miles away from her family and friends with none other than Draco Malfoy. She felt like she was dangling from a worn out rope in between life and death. Get a grip on yourself, she told herself; wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She was the bait, she knew it. So it seemed unlikely that Draco should kill her.

Hermione supposed that this was the start of a new life. A life without family and friends.

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Harry paced the sixth year boys' dormitory. Ron sat with his face set on his bed. Next to was him, was Ginny, sitting motionlessly, gazing at him. Neville, Seamus and Dean were sitting together on another bed and on Harry's bed were Lavender and Parvati.

"That was unbelievable," said Lavender, who looked very shaken.

Parvati placed a comforting arm around her, as there was a murmur of agreement from everybody except Harry and Ron. There was a moment of silence.

Suddenly Ron spoke. "That bastard!" her yelled furiously, slamming his palm on the bed. "I'll make him pay for this, I'll kill him!"

"Ron," said Ginny soothingly, "we all know what happened was terrible, but we can't do anything now..."

Harry stopped in his tracks. The entire tough exterior he had been showing broke down at Ginny's words. Silent tears poured down his face. "I am worried for Hermione," he said softly.

"We all are, we all are," said Parvati.

Dean looked around at his friends. He thought that they needed a change of subject. And then it struck him.

"Hey," he said with anticipation, "does anybody know who Malfoy killed, by the way?"

All of them shook their heads.

Dean rolled his eyes. "Why would he kill anyone, anyway?"

"Because he's a bloody Death Eater!" yelled Ron.

"But why would he?" pressed on Dean. "Could there be any special reason?"

"There may be..." said Harry thoughtfully, "there may be not..."

All of them nodded their heads, in a silent assent.

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It had been the second day after school reopened.

At four o' clock, Draco entered Borgin & Burkes. Borgin was sitting on his counter table, with an expression that suggested that he was already expecting him.

"Good evening, Mr. Borgin," said Draco as he came up to the counter.

"Ah! Young Master Malfoy," said Borgin in his oily voice, "I was hoping to see you soon."

"Business Borgin," said Draco crisply. "Did Rubeus Hagrid come here?"

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, he did."

"And did he sell that to you?" asked Draco.

"Er ... no, sir, he didn't," said Borgin apologetically.

"What?" roared Draco.

"Please, sir, do listen to me," pleaded Borgin, "I beg you."

Draco didn't say anything.

Borgin took that for a yes.

"He came here for the reason we were expecting him to," he began. "He inquired about the Emancipation Potion for Death Eaters. I, as you had told me to, deliberately hesitated to answer. Hagrid, however, pleaded. And according to the plan, I told him that the Potion's

recipe was only in a book called Manumission from Servitude and that the book had only one copy. The Dark Lord destroyed all the others. The only copy is now misplaced and the one who has it, is perfectly aware of the book's value and has concealed it. The Dark Lord is searching for it himself, as the rumors say, for he would trust no Death Eater with the task. He thanked me and left, sir. I couldn't do anything."

Draco glared furiously at Borgin. "You are hopeless, Borgin," he said disgustedly. "Obliviate!"

Borgin's memory was wiped of the entire plot.

Draco came out of the shop (with Borgin greeting him oily again) and asked the passers-bys if they had seen any person about twice as tall as a normal man and five times as wide. Some of them nodded and pointed out the direction they had seen Hagrid. Draco followed them hurriedly. He ran through lanes and streets until he caught sight of Hagrid, who was striding quickly towards the departmental building for guests that was in the outskirts of Knockturn Alley.

"Hagrid!" he called. "Hey - wait!"

Hagrid turned around. He was surprised to see Draco behind him.

"You lookin' fer me, Malfoy?" he asked, slightly surprised.

"Yes," said Draco as he reached the half-giant.

"What deh yeh want?" asked Hagrid.

Draco didn't beat about the bush. "Manumission from Servitude," he said simply.

Hagrid blinked hard. "What?" he said gruffly.

"Manumission from Servitude," repeated Draco slowly and clearly. "That Potions book you have got with you."

Hagrid uttered a cry of surprise. "How did yeh know?"

"Just give it to me, Hagrid. I need it."

But Hagrid laughed. "Yeh think I will, do yeh Malfoy? No way. It's Dumbledore's and I'll never give it ter yeh."

"Dumbledore has no use of it," said Draco.

"Oh yes, he has," said Hagrid. "And why deh yeh think I'll give it ter yeh, Malfoy, yeh stinking Death Eater? So that yeh could go and give it ter that scarlet-eyed reptile ter destroy? Never, Malfoy. Forget it."

Draco narrowed his eyes. "I need it," he said forcefully. "Not Voldemort."

Hagrid flinched. Nevertheless, he said, "I'll never give it ter yeh, Malfoy! Never!"

"Give it to me, you great oaf," said Draco quickly. There were only about five to six people there and they were starting to stare at them curiously, wondering the cause of the ado and Draco couldn't afford too much of publicity in this matter. If Voldemort got wind of what he was doing, he would be dead meat for sure.

"Okay Hagrid," said Draco with forced calmness. "Let's discuss the whole thing somewhere else. I don't want anybody else to know any of it."

"Hey, no -" Hagrid objected.

But Draco had already held his arm and Apparated.

But Draco had forgotten that Hagrid had very less magical powers and that he couldn't Apparate or Disapparate since he wasn't completely human.

As a result, Hagrid splinched and died.

Draco Apparated with Hagrid's upper part, while the lower was left back. Hagrid was bleeding badly and evidently lifeless.

"Oh shit!" swore Draco. He took the half Hagrid and Disapparated back to the market.

People were all shocked at the sight and they were getting panicky. Without wasting a second, Draco modified their memories and Disapparated with the both parts of Hagrid. He took Hagrid to the woods and buried him there with the intent of leaving his body to fend for itself, but the guilt that overwhelmed him compelled him to say a short eulogy and cast a charm of protection around the burial site. Maybe when the whole ordeal was over, Hagrid's friends could come and give him a proper burial. As he walked away, Draco shook his head bitterly. His death had been for nothing; he didn't even have the Manumission from Servitude.

Draco swore again and Disapparated back to Hogwarts grounds.

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Draco's eyes shot open. His forehead was sweaty and his pulse, brisk. He was breathing heavily. Draco was resting against a tree trunk, far from the house. It was about noon. He had just recalled that catastrophic evening. He had been doing that for two days now and was getting sick of it. He didn't murder Hagrid intentionally. It was an accident, all an accident. But no one knew that. They all thought it was deliberate...

Draco remembered his father's dying words spoken to him in Azkaban when Draco had paid him a visit.

"I know you have become a Death Eater, son ... but believe me, the path has no end. It would be disastrous. You are young and shouldn't waste your life away like that."

"But what do I do, Father?" murmured Draco sadly, bowing his head. "There's no turning back now..."

"There

is, Draco," said Lucius, his voice weak and faint.

Draco's face shot up. "There

is?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes," replied his father. "Make the Emancipation Potion."

"What?" said Draco, confused.

"Yes, son. This potion will make the Dark Mark vanish and hence, end any connection between you and the Dark Lord."

"But how do I do it?" asked Draco.

"Get the book, Manumission from Servitude. There is only one such book, and it is with Dumbledore. Spy on it and do everything you can to get it. Get yourself out from the claws of the Dark Lord, son, please do."

"I will, Father, I will."

And that is why the entire debacle had taken place. That is why Draco had done all this, confounding Wormtail magically to help him. Just to be free ... to be a Death Eater no more.

But nobody would understand that, would they, thought Draco spitefully. However, he had more pressing matters to deal with. He had to find a way to the place where Manumission from Servitude was hidden; otherwise he was done for. Though doing that may take him a long time, he would not give up. At the moment, he was hungry. He had had no breakfast and his stomach was rumbling audibly. He rose to his feet and walked towards the house, still recalling what he had done earlier.