Hermione's Deal

Hermione stared quietly out the window of the Hogwarts Express. Her expression was emotionless save a small frown that adorned her face. The compartment was silent. Harry and Ron had left to talk with someone, she didn't remember why. Ginny had quietly excused herself when Dean Thomas had arrived at the door. Hermione had waved at her and let the young girl go on her way. Hermione shook her head. Ginny wasn't all that young, was she? No, she was sixteen.

The sound of silence within the compartment was pervasive, but also welcome. After spending the summer at the Weasleys', Hermione was ready for a little peace. Truth be told, it had been quieter there she could ever remember. Fred and George were living above their shop, Percy was still absent from family gatherings, Charlie was away in the north, and Bill was still working in Egypt. This left only Ron, Ginny, Molly, Arthur, Hermione and Harry, but there was still always someone talking.

The subtle noise of the compartment door opening followed by a rush of air alerted Hermione of a new arrival. She didn't look up. It was probably Ginny, or maybe even Neville. The boy had grown up in the past few years. Hermione barely recognized him as the clumsy first year he had once been. She sighed, her breath flowing smoothly across her lips. So much was different, everything and nothing all at once.

She saw a black robe swish across her vision as her companion took a seat across from her. Hermione glanced back out the window and froze. Reflected in the glass was a pair of steely gray eyes staring directly at her. She blinked carefully, but when her eyes opened the pools of silver were still gazing at her.

"Hello, Mudblood."

A year ago, probably even a few months ago, Hermione would have bristled at the remark. Now she simply turned to face her companion properly. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

Blonde hair fell over piercing eyes. He smiled. "I was bored."

"Lucky me," she muttered. Then she glanced at the seat beside her. Her old copy of Hogwarts: A History sat beside the seventh year spell books and a worn journal.

His eyes followed hers as he reached for the journal. "What's this, Mudblood?"

A protest formed on her lips, but she let it fade. What did it matter if he read everything? It was only a matter of time anyways. "A journal."

He laughed, a brittle sound. "Where you write down all your dirty thoughts about Potter and Weasley?"

She shrugged. "Maybe."

He turned the pages with his slender fingers, barely reading the written words. Once he got to recent months he slowed, eyes narrowing as he read the text. Finally he stopped and drew in a sharp breath, the only sign of his surprise. She knew which entry he was reading. July 28^th. "Is it true, Mudblood?"

"Why would I make that up? Of course it's true." She tried to sit up primly, but her energy was gone. It was a strange relief that at least someone else knew.

He chewed on his lip. "I don't understand. Why would you, of all people?"

She laughed bitterly. "There's probably a lot you don't understand. But if you really want to know, I didn't have much of a choice...well I had a choice...but."

He eyed her journal entry again. "I can understand the need for self-preservation, but that doesn't seem like a trait that you would hold quite so dear."

"I didn't want to die. Not before July 31^st."

His expression twisted in confusion. "What's so special about July 31^st?"

Hermione smiled wistfully. "It's Harry's birthday. He and I had something special planned... it was going to be a night without Ron. Just the night, but it was still going to be just ours."

"But that night still happened didn't it?"

"Of course. But after everything I don't suppose it was worth it. If I had died everything would have been terrible, but at least I wouldn't know." Her eyes watered, but no tears fell. She could not cry in front of him.

He frowned briefly. "But how did it happen? Why didn't I know?"

"They came to my house while I was getting a few books I wanted to take back to The Burrow. My parents were out so it was easy enough. As for you, well I don't suppose they tell you everything. You're not in the inner circle."

"Yet," he breathed. After staring at her for a long moment, he spoke, "When are you going to do it?"

Her eyes snapped up. "What are you talking about?"

"Come on, Mudblood, I'm not stupid. I know what you're planning. I can see it in your eyes. It's a wonder the boy hero can't." He smirked.

Hermione shifted uneasily in her seat. "Leave it alone. Please."

His blonde hair flew about his face as he shook his head. "You really don't get it do you? It's now my duty to make sure you don't take yourself... out of our service. It would be a pity to lose such an important informant."

"You wouldn't!" she exclaimed. She shrank back into her seat. "You have to let me!"

"I don't have to do anything, Mudblood." He reached across the compartment and lifted her chin with his fingers. "However, I am loyal to our master. Isn't loyalty a good trait?"

She wrenched her head away from his fingers, his touch sending cold chills down her spine. "Not when it's misplaced."

He sighed. "Give me one reason I shouldn't stop you?"

Hermione glared at him with barely contained fury. "Don't you have a trace of decency?"

"What?"

"You know perfectly why I have to do this. You just want to coerce me into continuing to serve the devil..." her voice trailed off with a tremor.

He stared at her, his gray eyes showing his curiosity. "You actually believe it's that bad? Think of all the power you could have."

She scoffed. "Me? They would never give their Mudblood slave any power. We're on different sides of this. You, you're supposed to be there. Not me... I'm supposed to be with Harry...Ron, all my friends."

He ran a hand though his hair, leaving it immaculate as ever. "I'll make a deal with you."

Every instinct told her not to listen, but despite herself, Hermione nodded. "Alright, let me hear it."

"Imagine what would happen to me when the Dark Lord found out what I had allowed to ensue. It wouldn't be pretty and my chances for...power would be compromised. So I'll help you if you help me." He wasn't smiling or sneering.

She eyed him suspiciously. "I understand that, but what's the deal?"

He smiled, a vacant sort of smile that could freeze water. "Let me kill you."

"How would that help you?" She shook her head. It was an absurd proposition.

"Many ways. First, I could always claim that I found out you were going to tell the Order everything about our plans. Second, it's another scratch on the bedpost of evil." He spoke the last sentence with a small trace of sarcasm that almost made her smile.

Hermione shook her head. "No, they're smarter than that. They know I'd never share that type of information."

He inclined his head, perhaps she was right about that. "So think of a better reason."

Her brow furrowed with thought. "I don't know. I can't think of anything else. Wait... they know I'd never go to the people of the Order, but what if you caught me trying to slip my journal into Harry's things?"

"Perfect." He grinned, showing sharp white teeth. "Your name isn't on the journal is it?"

Hermione shook her head. "No."

"Good... but the events recorded are such that Potter would know it was you. But nobody else would, probably not even Weasley. It's amazing how much you don't mention about your real life in there, Mudblood. Here's how it goes: as I was passing by your compartment I saw you slipping the journal into Potter's bag. I thought it was his and wanted to get a better look at it, but when I read it I learned the truth. Realizing your intentions, I tried to stop you. They won't believe it if I killed you right off." He paused eyeing her thoughtfully. "But then you started to call out for Potter and I cast a silencing spell on the room. Once this happened, you tried to cast a memory charm on me... but realizing your change of alliance I deflected it and tried one of my own. But you're not a stupid girl, so you blocked it and after a few minutes of dueling I realized there was only one spell you couldn't block...the Killing Curse."

Hermione carefully ran the plan over inside her head. There were a few loopholes, but if he was convincing they could probably pull it off. She glanced at him. "That sounds fine, but why are you helping me?"

He frowned at her. "Perhaps I do have a shred of decency or maybe I just pity your pathetic existence."

"I'll hope for the former."

"You do that." He handed the journal back to her. "You do realize we're actually going to have to do this... so our wands have the right spells coming out of them and such that even under Veritaserum I can tell them what happened."

"I can't believe I didn't think of that..."

He smiled sardonically. "Probably because you don't have to worry about what happens tomorrow. You do realize I'm most likely going to have to leave school and stay as far away from the ministry as possible?"

Hermione nodded. "Of course, but remember I don't have to worry about tomorrow."

"Shall we continue?" he questioned motioning to Harry's open bag.

She waited until he had exited before placing the journal carefully among Harry's things. It was pity he would never get to read its contents.

"Give that here, Mudblood." His annoying drawl was clear as she, trying to appear startled, jumped back.

"Give what?"

"Don't play dumb," he spoke harshly. He grabbed the leather bound book and quickly flipped to the relevant pages. "Mudblood... what are you playing at?"

"So you know now." She put a distinct sadness within her voice.

He grabbed her wrists and threw her across the compartment. "You can't give that to Potter. That would compromise everything!"

Hermione shook her head. "You don't know anything!"

"I'm not going to let you betray us, Mudblood."

She turned her eyes to the door, suddenly realizing that this was now very real. Maybe if Harry did hear her he would come running and everything would

be all right. Maybe he would understand? She stared into the cruel gray eyes across from her. No, there was only one path now. She had already chosen. Opening her mouth wide she screamed, "Harry! Come quick! Harry..."

"Silencio!" he shouted waving his wand to create a variant of the spell that silenced the room.

She turned her own wand on him. "Obliviate!"

His eyes widened, but he quickly moved out of the way. He hissed, "Obliviate, Mudblood!"

Hermione fell flat onto the seat to avoid his spell. "Stupefy!"

He ducked and chuckled. "Expelliarmus."

This time she laughed. "What's wrong? You've forgotten everything but the basics? Locomotor Mortis!"

"You don't know what you're asking for, Mudblood. But if you want... Crucio!"

She gasped, frozen in place as the curse zoomed towards her. What had she expected? He wore the Dark Mark; he obviously would have no problem using such curses. Then the pain began, like a sudden explosion within her mind. She could feel her body withering and hear her screams echoing.

"This is the last time you challenge my authority, Mudblood and the last time you defy your master." He stared coldly down at her. "Finite Incantatum."

She gasped as the pressure eased, coughing blood into her hands. She stared sadly at him. "So this is the end. Thank you... Draco Malfoy."

"Avada Kedavra, Hermione Granger." He spoke softly, but the green light was bright as it impacted her chest. Turning away from her sprawled body, he grabbed her journal. "Incendio," he muttered while pointing his wand at it. The journal fell to the floor in a rain of ash. Without looking back, he departed for his own compartment.