Draco Falore

Just look at the array of betas who helped with this chapter!
I owe thanks to: Kalangitan (who put a lot of effort in making this chapter better), Shay (who always manages to put a smile on my face), Lainey (who made time for me when she really shouldn't have), Amichay (my inspiration for all the love scenes), Parker (who has come to trust her ability to read my mind), and Simon (for being so helpful even when he's speachless)

Where we left off: Draco arrived at Hogwarts under false pretence and stayed under the Headmaster’s (and Voldemort’s) watchful eye. Harry woke up in the infirmary to find that his magic was slowly coming back to him. Unfortunately, he also found that he could still link with Draco in the Death Eaters way. Hermione regained consciousness (thanks to Draco’s kiss), and she needs to make a choice. In addition, Ginny’s ring also needs to make up its mind about its owner’s true love.

Draco Falore

Chapter 6: Show no regret

Draco bowed his head, not daring to look straight into the tiny green flame that was dancing on his open palm.

‘Yes, Master. I understand.’

The Trophy Room was dark and empty. Even Mrs Norris was nowhere near. Although it was still early morning, the lack of windows in the room made it dim and gloomy. That is why Draco had decided it was so perfect for his purposes. He had put a silencing charm around him, making sure that even if anyone could break his locking spells they would not hear his private conversation.

‘Good,’ Voldemort’s voice hissed from within the fire, undimmed by its small size. ‘You will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams.’ A short silence ensued. ‘I have considered this,’ the Dark Lord continued, ‘and decided to give you a little sample right now.’

Draco gasped and staggered back. A warm feeling initiated in his Dark Mark and spread quickly inside him. Within less than a second, it consumed his entire body, reached the tips of his toes and fingers, and put out the communication flame. Draco hoped that the Dark Lord had expected this reaction and did not think that he had abruptly ended the conversation. One does not hang up in the Dark Lord’s face.

***

Ginny stumbled into the infirmary, almost crumpling under the load of books she was carrying. She heaved them all onto Hermione’s bed, resisting the temptation to drop one of the bigger tomes on Hermione’s toe. Shuffling the books a bit, she read a few of the titles. ‘Advanced theory of seen and unseen brands, Concealed charms: How to make your enemies hex themselves, Links, Bonds and Barriers.’ She frowned at Hermione. ‘Why do you need all these books?’

Hermione sat up, her face lit up with excitement. ‘Thanks Ginny! I wanted to do a little research so that the time I spend here won’t go to waste.’

Ginny gave her a dubious look. ‘This research isn’t exactly little. Do you really intend to read all these? Actually, you’d better. Madam Pince nearly ate me alive when she saw the stack I was checking out. ’

Hermione lifted her head from the book she’d already opened. Her gaze was distant, as if her mind stayed inside the book. ‘I’m sorry about this, Ginny. I just want to figure out why Harry and Draco bonded. I really don’t understand this, and I should have. I don’t think this link is really complicated magic, and I should have had an explanation by now. I’m going to get to the bottom of it.’

Ginny wasn’t taken back by the outburst. Hermione often went into long rants about her studies, whether school-related, or Harry-related. ‘So you don’t think Harry is a Death Eater,’ she stated.

‘He is most definitely not a Death Eater,’ Hermione said firmly, her lips pursed in determination. ‘But he may have some residuals of the Dark Mark in him, and that worries me.’

Ginny didn’t like the idea either, but Hermione’s frown and her slumped shoulders indicated that there was more to it. ‘Why?’ she asked.

‘It’s a bit complicated,’ Hermione said, squirming. She gave Ginny an uneasy look, as if she wasn’t sure if the other girl could handle the news.

Ginny sat down and tried to appear as if she was going to stay there until Hermione explained things to her, which was exactly what she intended to do.

Hermione took a deep breath and sighed heavily before relenting. ‘All right,’ she said. ‘Brands like the Dark Mark are more than just a way to state ownership on people.’

Ginny already knew that, but she just nodded, not wanting to cut Hermione off.

‘They are also used to summon people, or to…’ Hermione bit her lower lip, looking utterly miserable.

‘Or to?’ Ginny said, her voice more high-pitched than she had intended.

‘Keep surveillance on the branded person.’ Hermione blurted out quickly, as if she was afraid that the words would escape her if she just gave them the chance. She stopped, and looked up at Ginny, almost afraid of the other girl’s reaction.

‘You mean that You-Know… Er… Voldemort can tell where Harry is at every given time?’

‘More than that,’ Hermione said sadly. ‘These marks let the owner see and hear everything that happens to the ones carrying them. This is how Dumbledore could record several of Harry’s memories into his Pensieve.’

‘Because Harry is carrying Dumbledore’s mark, too,’ Ginny summed up the information. ‘And if he still has the Dark Mark… Oh no!’ she gasped and put both hands over her mouth.

‘Now you see why I want to study this issue,’ Hermione said, sticking her nose back into the book.

‘What do you hope to find?’ Ginny asked.

‘I don’t know,’ Hermione said in an attempt to wave Ginny off. ‘That’s why I’m reading.’ She sighed, and looked up at Ginny again. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be harsh. I just want to concentrate on this. The best thing I can do is find something that will explain what happened without suggesting that Harry may still carry the Dark Mark.’

Ginny screwed her mouth. ‘That’s highly unlikely.’

‘You’re right,’ Hermione said. ‘In that case, I’m hoping to find a way to block the effect. If the Mark can’t be removed, at least it should be disabled. Unfortunately, now that the physical evidence has been removed, this could prove tricky, as there’s nothing to direct a spell at.’

‘Anything I can do?’

‘You can grab one of these books and join me.’

‘As tempting as it may sound,’ Ginny said, grinning, ‘I promised Madam Pomfrey that I would clean all her phials today. I think a few of them are beginning to grow things that really belong in Professor Sprout’s greenhouse.’

Hermione gave her a wide smile before turning back to the book. ‘There will be plenty to read when you’re done,’ she said. ‘Just don’t let anything in that sink bite you.’

***

Draco walked two steps behind Professor McGonagall. Growing up around Death Eaters, he was used to being glared at, but the way the professor looked at him was worse than any deadly stare he’d endured in the safety of Malfoy Manor. He was grateful for the nice warmth he still felt after the conversation with the Dark Lord, although he knew that the more he relished it, the more dependent he was on their connection, and that idea scared him. McGonagall’s glower became an open flame as she reached the gargoyle leading to the Headmaster’s chambers. Draco stopped in his tracks, allowing her to whisper the password out of his earshot.

It was a relief when McGonagall didn’t follow Draco in, but allowed him to ride the moving spiral staircase alone. Pale and stiff, he knocked on the door and went inside, not waiting for an answer. He knew the Headmaster was expecting him.

‘Come in, Draco,’ Dumbledore said, ignoring the fact that Draco was already inside his office. Several of the past headmasters and headmistresses portraits grimaced at the sight of the boy. ‘Sit down, please.’ He stood up and slowly smoothed his long white beard.

Draco sat silently and examined the Phoenix that was perched by the window, deliberately avoiding the Headmaster’s eyes. The bird looked back at him with equal interest.

Dumbledore circled his desk and stood by Draco’s chair. ‘I’m not going to ask you why you’ve made the choices as you have,’ he said to Draco’s evident relief. ‘Everyone can make mistakes. I’ve made my fair share of grave mistakes in my time. I remember that I once accidentally used an animation spell on a mop in a Muggle house. It was very…’

He stopped and gazed at Draco’s failed attempts to appear bored. ‘I’m sorry, I’m diverting. Where were we? Oh, I also believe that anyone can be redeemed, if he or she so wishes. The important questions are: do you see your past choices as mistakes, and do you want to come back to our side?’

‘Yes, and yes,’ Draco said firmly. His fingers were digging into the sides of his chair.

Dumbledore hummed to himself, and then turned to Draco, his eyes glittering dangerously. The boy was taken aback by the stare he did not recognise on the headmaster, who was usually wearing a benign smile. ‘How do you intend to prove it?’ Dumbledore asked.

Draco choked. ‘Prove? I… I thought that saving Weasley and Hermione would be proof enough. It nearly got me killed.’

‘Hardly,’ Dumbledore said, almost in grief. ‘You let them escape from your own home, while you were under the protection of your father. You knew that although you might come to harm, he would make sure you survived.’

Draco shook his head, first vehemently, and then in a defeated gesture. ‘There is something else I can do. I know there is a girl being held prisoner right here, at Hogwarts.’ Draco chose every word carefully, repeating Tamara’s cover story to him. The details were fresh in his mind from that morning’s conversation with the Dark Lord.

Dumbledore frowned at these words, his thick white brows brushing the bridge of his nose. He stood up straight and looked down at Draco. ‘Where exactly?’

‘To find out how she’s being held, I’ll have to go back home. I’m quite certain that this time there will be a welcome party waiting for me there, and there will be nothing my father can do.’ Slowly, as if he was very tired, he pulled up the sleeve of his robe and exposed his Dark Mark. ‘This will tell them exactly when to expect me. It shows the Dark Lord where I am, what I do, and who I’m talking with. At times, I even believe it allows him to know what I’m thinking.’

‘I know,’ Dumbledore said. ‘And it is possible to block your connection to Voldemort.’

Draco concealed the shiver that passed through him at the sound of the name. ‘You can block it?’ he said, amazed. ‘Then why didn’t you do it before?’

‘It had to come from you. You have to want to block the connection, or it wouldn’t work.’

‘And you have a way to make certain that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named can no longer see and hear what I’m doing?’ Draco wasn’t sure if that sounded right. ‘Some things that I want to say and do… he’d better not know about.’

‘I can make sure that the connection is broken.’

Draco felt an unexpected rush run through him. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to keep Dumbledore’s spell active. He chose to have the Dark Mark, with all its implications, but the idea of being free just for a few hours… to be able to go and do whatever he wanted without worrying about whether the Dark Lord was going to approve of his actions… He raised his arm to Dumbledore and in a voice louder than he had meant said, ‘I’m ready, and I want to.’

Dumbledore’s frown deepened, but he picked up his wand from his desk and pointed it at the black snake that was coming out of the black skull, which was burned onto Draco’s soft flesh.

Long tongues of white smoke wrapped Draco’s arm from the tips of his fingers to his rolled up sleeve.

There was no need in Dumbledore’s test. When the smoke cleared, Draco could sense the change deep inside him. It wasn’t just the lack of pleasant warmth from the Dark Lord’s last gift. It was like feeling a man standing over his shoulder, only the other way around: like someone who had been with him for a very long time had moved away. In a way, the breaking of the connection was like being born again, detaching himself from the protective imprisonment. The thought that he would soon have to give this up nearly made him cry.

Dumbledore put a warm hand on his shoulder. ‘How are you holding up?’ he asked.

‘Better than expected,’ Draco said, not sure if that was the truth.

‘What you are doing is the most difficult task possible,’ Dumbledore said, his worried expression turning into compassion. ‘Giving up your loved ones and having them all consider you a traitor.’

‘Well, I like being on the winning side,’ Draco said, waving off the graveness of the Headmaster’s words.

Dumbledore smiled. ‘I thank you for the vote of confidence. Now, if I’m not mistaken, you have a rendezvous with a few documents at Malfoy Manor.’ He circled his desk, took a little box out of his drawer and handed it to Draco. ‘This Portkey will carry you back to Hogwarts Castle when you’re done.’

The boy got up and reached for the box, but Dumbledore did not let go of the Portkey. Instead, he covered Draco’s hand with his own, holding him with warm fondness. He looked worriedly into the youth’s serious eyes. ‘Be careful,’ he said quietly. ‘We’re nearing the end of this battle. Now is not the time to make foolish mistakes.

Draco nodded once, took the box, and was gone without a backward glance.

***

A light touch on Harry’s shoulder woke him. Smiling, he opened his eyes to see Madam Pomfrey hovering over him. He had to make a great effort not to turn the smile into a horrified expression, and by that risk offending the nurse. He spent too much time in the infirmary to allow himself to upset her. He couldn’t even begin to imagine how many foul potions that would cost him.

‘It’s time to take your Strengthening Potion,’ Madam Pomfrey said, ‘and then you can have lunch.’ She placed a loaded tray on his nightstand. Harry glanced at the Yorkshire pudding, kidney pie, steak, and pumpkin pasties, and was willing to drink any potion that would allow him to storm that tray.

‘This is for both you and Hermione,’ the nurse said. She chuckled at Harry’s slightly disappointed expression. ‘I charmed the plates to re-fill for as long as you can eat.’

‘Oh, there’s plenty here anyway,’ Harry said, trying to correct the impression, but he only made the nurse laugh harder.

‘Quite all right,’ she said. ‘A healthy appetite means that I’m doing my job well. Eat away.’ She slapped Harry on the wrist as he reached for a lamb chop. ‘The potion first!’

Harry had to take a long gulp of the Pumpkin Juice to get rid of the taste after swallowing the potion. With the goblet in his hand, he looked to Hermione’s bed for the first time. She was almost buried under a pile of books, so absorbed that she hadn’t noticed the food or Harry, or the fact that he had woken up.

He slid out of bed, filled a second goblet with the chilled drink, and walked quietly to Hermione’s bed. She still hadn’t noticed him. Bending over her, he served the goblet to her lips. He could see his hospital robes brushing against her cheek. Her smell was like a breath of fresh air, untarnished by all the medications around. Hermione mumbled ‘thanks’ as she automatically took the goblet and set it aside, all the time keeping her eyes on the book.

‘This juice has a side order of dinner,’ Harry murmured into her ear.

Hermione looked up, as if startled out of a dream. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘Thank you. Glad to see you’re back on your feet. Start without me, I’ll be right over.’ With that quick outburst, she was absorbed into the book again.

‘What are you reading?’ Harry asked.

Hermione looked at him as if seeing him for the first time. ‘What? Oh. This is a study on the counter-action of two spells cast on two different people.’

‘Why are you so interested in this topic now?’ Harry asked. ‘We’ve already passed all the NEWTS. I didn’t even know there was a counter-action when the spells aren’t cast on the same person.’

‘Oh yes. Says here it happens a lot. I need to read some more, but I think it has something to do with the changed magical field around a person who’s under a spell. Works best when both magical fields are altered the same way. Take people who carry a certain branding for example: the fact that they have the same magical signature provides them with a great shortcut in communication.’

‘Yeah, I know,’ Harry said sullenly.

Hermione put a hand on his arm. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I didn’t mean to be insensitive. This is just fascinating. But I’m looking at this for you,’ she hurriedly added as Harry seemed even more crestfallen. ‘I’m trying to figure out why you linked with Draco.’

‘Isn’t it obvious?’

‘No. I don’t think it is. And even if you don’t think so, I am sure that you have nothing of the Dark Side left in you.’

‘Thanks,’ Harry said. Her confidence meant more to him than he had realised before she had stated it. He sat by her legs and tried to read the book upside down.

After the third time Hermione had to push Harry’s fringes out of her way, she gave up. ‘Here, you read this. I’ll start on Hexes and Jinxes: How to know what you’ve been cursed with. Let me know if you find anything interesting.’

Harry nodded, sinking as deep into the reading as Hermione had before.

Three hours later, when the nurse walked into the infirmary, she found the two of them lying side by side on the wide hospital bed, open books spread all around them. Harry was mindlessly pulling repeatedly on one of Hermione’s curls while she nibbled on a small piece of pie she had summoned from the tray earlier.

‘Eating in bed!’ The nurse cried, startling the two and causing Hermione to crush the pie to little crumbs. ‘And you barely touched the food,’ she continued. ‘The two of you, get up right now and sit down to eat properly while I clean up this mess. Honestly! How do you expect to get better, if you don’t watch your health?’

Exchanging amused glances, they did as told. Thankfully, the refill spell kept the food warm and fresh.

‘Actually, I’m really hungry,’ Harry said, mouth full of pumpkin pasty.

‘Then why are you eating the desert first?’ Hermione asked. Not waiting for an answer, she added, ‘Thanks for skipping lunch to help me.’

‘Don’t let Ron catch me saying this,’ Harry laughed, ‘but it was fun.’

‘It was, wasn’t it?’ Hermione said pensively. ‘We haven’t done this for so long.’

‘Ever since we started dating,’ Harry agreed. ‘Just seems that we have better things to do when we’re together.’

Hermione said nothing for several minutes, keeping her gaze fixed on a huge boiled potato drowned in gravy that rested on her plate. Then, as if the conversation had never ceased, she asked quietly, ‘Are those things we do really better?’

Harry stopped his assault on the food for long enough to chew his lower lip. ‘We should do this more often,’ he said, not providing Hermione with the answer she wanted.

***

Draco walked up the lane to the main gate of the Malfoy Manor. Why he didn’t manage to Apparate into the ancient mansion house, he did not know, but he was grateful for it. He had taken the long route to Hogsmeade, which meant extending his way by several miles; still, he was less than anxious to get his Dark Mark active again.

A small flock of fairies left their tiny fountain pool and came flying to Draco. He waved them off. In a few hours, when the sun began to set, their light would be useful, but right now, he had no patience to their annoying buzzing.

Draco’s father was waiting for him at the entrance hall, pacing impatiently by the door. His sombre expression cleared as he saw Draco step in. He rushed to him as quickly as he could manage without losing his distinguished appearance. In his reassuring paternal clasp, Draco could feel the clutch of the Dark Lord seizing him once more. He took a deep breath and said the words that echoed in his head the entire way home.

‘Father, Dumbledore has disabled my Dark Mark. Do you know how to re-establish the connection?’’

Lucius Malfoy stepped away from his son, a satisfied smile spread on his lips. ‘Our Master already knows about this loss of communication. He is here, in the Drawing Room, waiting for you.’

Draco paled and a shiver went through him as he followed his father into the depths of the mansion. Was he going to be punished for losing the connection for several hours? Would he be tortured? Or worse, would he not be allowed to return to Hogwarts?

‘We are both very pleased with your decision to come here to fix this problem,’ Lucius said, alleviating Draco’s fears.

The main library had always been the bleakest in the house. It had no windows, and the brown spines of the books, which covered every bit of the walls, swallowed much of the little light that reached the room. Still, Draco had never seen it so dark. It was more than a mere lack of light. It was blackness that seeped right into his bones and settled inside him, attaching itself to his very soul.

Draco took two steps into the room and kneeled, bowing his head down. ‘Master,’ he intoned as his father went past him and stood by Voldemort’s side.

‘Rise,’ Voldemort ordered. With his snake-like voice, it was difficult to determine whether the word was spoken harshly. However, it was not followed by a Cruciatus curse, which was always a good sign.

‘It took you longer than I expected to get here,’ Voldemort hissed. Now, there was no mistaking the angry tone.

‘I am sorry, Master. I wanted to make it look like I was preparing for a fierce battle.’ Draco showed him his thigh-wand and his backpack, which inside, contained little more than water. ‘I had no intention to keep you waiting. I did not know you were here.’

Voldemort nodded and turned his back to Draco. ‘Do you have news for me from Hogwarts?’ he asked, still facing the fireplace. The flame was slowly changing its colour from bright red and orange to bluish-green.

‘Only what I have already reported to you this morning, My Lord. They intend to remove the anti-Apparation defences from the castle for the end-of-the-year feast. They will allow anyone to Apparate in.’

‘Is that it?’

‘One more thing, Master. I have told Dumbledore about the prisoner, as you have instructed me. He is anxious to have her released. I said I needed to come here to discover her whereabouts. I thought it would be a good idea to speak to you in our territory. When I suggested it, I didn’t realise how important it would be.’ He slid up his left sleeve and kneeled again, stretching his arm to Voldemort.

With his eyes closed, Draco felt the touch of Voldemort’s long, white finger on his blackened skin. At once, he was held in invisible bonds again, committed in body and soul to the Dark Lord.

He had thought the feeling would be painful, and was pleasantly surprised. The same warmth he had felt that morning wrapped him again. He sprang to his feet, energy surging in his veins.

‘Thank you, Master,’ he said, meaning it.

‘Do you know what it is you’re feeling, Young Malfoy?’

‘Gratitude for being allowed to serve you?’ Draco tried.

‘That, you should be feeling all the time,’ Voldemort said. ‘Do you know what I just gave you?’

Draco was afraid to use the word ‘no.’ ‘I do not know, Master.’

Something resembling a smile spread on the horrible scale-like face. ‘It is power, young Malfoy. You are now a more powerful wizard than you were this morning, and even more powerful than you were yesterday.

‘All the combined magical ability of all my servants is in my hands to use. I can draw on it when I find it necessary. I can become as powerful as a thousand wizards put together, and more. I can also shift the magic as I please. Give you a little more, when I deem you deserve it, or take it all away, when you are no longer of any help to me.’

‘I can now beat Potter in a duel?’ Draco asked. He could already imagine Harry’s face after being defeated: humiliated, and surprised.

Voldemort snorted. ‘Not unless you use your Slytherin cunning. That boy enjoys a similar spell, only he permanently has the magical abilities of several dead people.’

‘Through Dumbledore’s brand?’

‘Yes. Potter got everything Dumbledore didn’t take for himself, and the old fool didn’t take much of that magic.’ The crack between Voldemort’s thin lips widened. ‘This inability to use all the resources available to him will be his downfall.’

‘Yes, Master,’ Draco said.

‘And now, you should get back to Hogwarts.’ Voldemort handed a torn document to Draco. ‘Tell them that you managed to infiltrate the manor and sneak out unnoticed. We don’t want to have you confined to the infirmary again.’

The tension in Draco’s muscles eased. He turned to the door, but before he reached it, the door opened and Saitaina burst in.

‘Draco! You’re still here,’ she panted, trying to catch her breath. ‘I want to come back with you.’

‘What?’ both Draco and Lucius said.

Voldemort’s response was harsher. ‘Infidel!’ he spat, pointing his wand to her.

Saitaina threw herself to her knees. ‘My Lord,’ she said. ‘I am his fiancée, and he is taken away from me and thrown into the arms of his former lover.’

‘Who is spoken for, now,’ Draco said, the words coming out more bitter than he had meant. He could feel the withering stares of everyone in the room. ‘Hermione will not be a problem,’ he said, this time managing to control the shiver in his voice.

‘You shall go with him,’ Voldemort said, looking at Saitaina. The impression of the smile was gone from his face. ‘You will say that you are following your love even as far as switching sides. Those Muggle-lovers believe in such ludicrous fairy-tales.’

‘Of course, my Lord,’ Saitaina said, moving closer to Draco. ‘I am following my love.’ She linked her fingers through Draco’s and closed the distance between them. Draco could feel her stomach pressing to his, her breasts threatening to burst out of her very-low cut robes. Before he knew what he was doing, her intoxicating smell had enveloped him. He pulled her chin up, his other hand trying the impossible by drawing her even closer, and kissed her deeply, passionately, harshly.

When his brain began registering his actions, Draco was literally up to his neck in the girl, or more. Every inch of his body ached to be with her. All of his being worked to get her closer. Every little bit of him - except one part at the back of his head. And that part was well practiced in taking over the potion-struck mind.

Draco’s first conscious thought was to shove Saitaina away, but he reconsidered, taking the specific witnesses into account. He broke the kiss and gently pushed her from him, one arm still wrapped around her naked waist. ‘This is enough of a demonstration,’ he said, looking up to his father and Voldemort. ‘We should not linger any further.’

Voldemort’s scarlet eyes were narrowed. He seemed unsure whether he was satisfied with Draco’s ability to resist Saitaina, or upset at her inability to overwhelm him. ‘Miss Moricia,’ he said. ‘I expect that your connection to me will be cut off as well. You will use Draco’s daily communication to report anything of importance to me.’ He waited for her to nod. ‘You are both dismissed. I will see you on Friday, after our victory over Hogwarts.’

***

Hermione felt someone’s gaze on her and raised her eyes. ‘Harry, good, did you… Oh, Ginny, I’m sorry, I thought you were Harry. He went to find Sirius.’

‘Disappointed?’ Ginny asked, amused.

‘Only a little,’ Hermione laughed. ‘He was helping me with this research. We’ve made pretty good progress.’

‘Harry?’ Ginny exclaimed. ‘Research? Is everything all right between you two?’

‘Yes. We’re fine,’ Hermione said hastily. Then, with more confidence, she added, ‘better than fine, actually. It was really fun, working together.’

Ginny gave her a sceptical look. She removed the books from the chair by Hermione’s bed and sat down. ‘You know,’ she said gently, ‘it is only natural if you feel a little rise in the tension, now that Draco is here.’

‘No tension,’ Hermione said.

‘You really shouldn’t be bothered by it, if you have some,’ Ginny insisted.

‘There is no rise in the tension,’ Hermione said, closing her eyes. ‘I was expecting it, too, but Harry doesn’t seem to be worried at all.’ A dark cloud passed over her face before she looked at Ginny again.

The redhead girl bit her lower lip. ‘Maybe he just trusts you,’ she said.

‘Does Lee trust you?’ Hermione asked.

‘Of course.’

‘I’ve seen the way Lee looks at you when you talk to Harry. He wouldn’t say anything, but his entire body is rigid, and his fists are clenched as if he’s preparing to punch Harry at the slightest sign of making an advance on you.’

‘Yeah, I’ve noticed it,’ Ginny said, moving uncomfortably in her chair. ‘I talked to him, and he promised to behave himself.’

‘He is behaving himself!’ Hermione cried. She waved her hands in the air, knocking down a few of the books on her lap. ‘Being a bit jealous is natural. You just said so yourself.’

‘Don’t get so upset,’ Ginny said. ‘Harry is a much calmer boy than Lee. Maybe he’s just controlling himself better.’

‘Harry is calmer than Lee,’ Hermione said, but there was no relief in her voice. ‘He is definitely calmer than Draco is, and is no longer interested in you in that particular way. Lee’s worries are based only on his possessiveness towards you.’

‘That’s what I’ve been telling him!’

‘Which is all right,’ Hermione cut her off. ‘Harry, on the other hand, should have been worried. Draco made it perfectly clear that he’s still interested. He used every opportunity he has had so far to kiss me, or more. The words he chose to whisper in my ear; his desperate looks…’ Hermione shook her head, her eyes glazing over. ‘And when he wants something, he’s not one to let anything get in his way.’

Ginny’s brows came close together in a worried frown. ‘Harry should be worried,’ she said, ‘but not because of Draco’s intentions. This dreamy expression you wear when you speak about Draco… You still love him, don’t you?’

Hermione collected her knees to her chest, making herself very small before answering. ‘Yes,’ she whispered.

‘And you don’t know who to choose,’ Ginny added.

Hermione shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes.

‘Do you want to borrow my ring?’ Ginny asked compassionately. ‘It can help you make a choice.’

Hermione raised her head, a sad smile on her lips. ‘Thank you, Ginny,’ she said, her voice quivering. ‘But I don’t need a ring to tell me who my true love is.’

With her last words, the tears began to flow freely down Hermione’s cheeks, large and warm like the rain after smothering heat. There was nothing Ginny could do but hold her and every few minutes, cast a drying spell on her robes.

***

Harry was grateful to Sirius for suggesting they head back to the infirmary to continue their conversation over there. He wanted to see if Hermione had made any progress since he’d left her nearly two hours earlier. The longer they worked together, the more confident he felt that they would find another explanation for his bond with Draco. There was something in the systematic way she researched the books: something that gave him the impression that they were constantly getting closer.

Hermione was in the exact same position she had been when Harry had left: her face hovering over one book, another held in each of her hands, and the bed completely covered with parchment and more open books. Her hospital robes were stretched and smudged, as if she’d been hit by repetitive drying spells, but Harry knew it was probably just the ink from the books she had held to her chest.

As they passed through the infirmary door, Lee tried to squeeze past Sirius and Ron. He even leaped over Nagini, who came out to greet them, but as he felt uncomfortable pushing Dumbledore, he had to wait until they were all inside to see that Ginny was in there.

Ginny, who had been muttering to herself over a pile of dirty phials, watched them anxiously. She smiled at Lee, but the smile didn’t last long before worried features replaced it. Lee stopped his advance and stood by Harry, looking keenly at her.

Unconsciously turning the ring on her finger, Ginny took measured steps towards the group. She seemed like she wanted to turn back and run. Her advance was very much like the way Winky moved through the forest on the night of the World Cup, when invisible strings had her tied to Crouch. Ginny also seemed to be pulled forward; pulled by her hand, which was rising almost on its own volition, creating a barrier between Harry and Lee.

From a few inches away, Lee stared into the eyes of his love. More than anything, she seemed terrified. He blinked, and she was gone. She had dashed out the door, a choke sob escapig her throat before she disappeared.

Lee gave Harry a confused look, his eyes giving away as much fear as Ginny had showed before leaving. Then, he turned around, leaped over two loops of Nagini’s body with one great jump, and tore after Ginny.

Harry made to hastily go after him, but Sirius caught him around the shoulders. ‘It’s their problem to solve on their own,’ he said. Harry frowned, unconvinced. Sirius pulled him farther from the door, trying to pick up the conversation where they had left off. ‘You were saying something about letting the Death Eaters Apparate into the Great Hall.’

‘No,’ Harry said, taking the bait. ‘There are too many exits to the Great Hall. I think you should reconsider the room the Death Eaters are going to Apparate into.’

‘Limiting the Apparation to the Great Hall was Severus’ idea,’ Dumbledore said, pacing slowly by Hermione’s bed. ‘He has reasons to believe that Voldemort and his followers will expect it to be this way.’

Harry tried his best to listen to Dumbledore and ignore Nagini, who kept crawling from the door to him and back. He almost managed it, despite the fact that her long body was now folded three times along the passage, when she rammed his legs, nearly knocking him off his feet. Harry grunted and stepped away from her, doing his best to hear what his godfather had to say.

Sirius nodded. ‘The Death Eathers will be more suspicious if we make them Apparate anywhere else,’ he said.

Nagini raised her head almost to Harry’s ear. ‘Harry, I want to talk to you,’ she hissed.

‘Not now, Nagini,’ Harry whispered. He turned back to the conversation, but there was no conversation left. Everyone was staring at him, their mouths open to various sizes. While they all knew Harry was a Parselmouth, hearing him actually use the language was a completely different thing.

Harry slumped his shoulders and turned to the snake, who was half-heartedly biting at a knot in her tail. ‘All right, Nagini,’ he sighed. ‘What did you want?’

The giant head rose up at once, and Harry could swear it made a little jig. ‘You have time now?’ she asked. ‘It seemed like you were really busy. You can really talk?’

‘I can talk,’ Harry said after taking a deep breath. ‘What did you want?’

‘I like talking to you,’ Nagini said as sweetly as a fifteen-feet long, one-foot-thick snake could hiss.

‘Is that it?’ Harry asked.

‘No, I just thought it would be nice to tell you that I like talking to you. You’re always saying nice things to me, and it just occurred to me…’

Harry had to hold himself not to shout in frustration. Sirius seemed anxious enough to see him talking to the snake. If the hissing became too loud, he might jump to wrong conclusions. ‘Nagini,’ he cut her off. ‘Thank you for being nice, and I like talking to you, too, but everyone here is waiting for you to get to the point.’

Nagini looked around her. This time, she was careful not to lose her balance. ‘There are many points in this room,’ she said, almost whining. ‘Which one do you mean?’

Harry knew better than to explain an expression to the Snake. He’d had too many frustrating conversations with her, trying to explain ‘foot of the hill’, ‘give a hand,’ and the likes. ‘You’re right,’ he said, sounding as apologetic as he could. ‘Forget about the point. Just tell me what you wanted.’

‘You sure?’ Nagini said. ‘Because if you just show me which point you meant, I can go there. No problem.’

Harry bit his lips hard and nodded.

Nagini looked at him a while longer, and then relented. ‘I want to get out.’

Harry frowned. The door was closed, but that had never stopped Nagini before. In the last few months, she even learned how to open it without breaking the doorknob. ‘Then go,’ he said.

‘But then the nurse will be angry again.’

Harry’s confusion grew. ‘Why on earth would Madam Pomfrey be angry with you for leaving the infirmary?’

Nagini gave him a look with puzzlement that matched his. ‘I thought she didn’t like it when I scared people,’ she said.

‘Scared people? Who would you scare?’

‘The blond boy I accidentally hissed at yesterday. I didn’t mean to…’

She trailed off as Harry turned away from her. Finally, he knew what she was talking about. He strode to where Sirius and Dumbledore were standing, and quietly said, ‘Draco Malfoy is standing outside the room, listening in on us.’

Sirius’ jaw clenched, and for a moment he reminded Harry of the escaped prisoner he had met four years before. He drew out his wand, but Dumbledore stopped him before he could get to the door.

The headmaster shook his head, his kind expression blemished with worry. He gestured to the door, which took his invitation and opened.

Draco Malfoy was there, as Harry had predicted. But he wasn’t listening in on the conversation. It was very clear that he couldn’t care less about what was being said in the room. As a matter of fact, Nagini could have slithered past him, and he probably wouldn’t have noticed. He was too busy kissing Saitaina.

Harry rushed to Hermione, who had turned very pale. Ron was already by her side, face as white as hers; not even a single freckle remained visible on his cheeks to give the illusion of colour. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and urged her to rest her head on his chest. She quivered, and was obviously trying to control herself.

‘I love you,’ Harry whispered into her hair, but somehow, he felt that the words had little meaning right then and there.

***

Ginny ran down the corridor, letting her legs lead the way. The veil of her tears added to the darkness of the night, completely blocking her view. She didn’t know where she was going. She just wanted to get as far away from the infirmary as she could; put a distance between her and Lee.

But was that really what she wanted? Only yesterday she thought she couldn’t get enough of him. There was nothing like “too close” or “too much time together”. Every minute they could get was a great gift. So what changed?

Harry.

That pang in her chest every time she thought of him. The deep affection she had for him; the sympathy; the need to take care of him. And the guilt. But the guilt was only added to the list after the ring pointed him out.

Did she really need that ring to show her the right man? If so, why did it feel so very wrong? Was it really just the terrible shame of being engaged to one man and loving another?

‘Ginny!’ she heard Lee’s voice calling after her. She hastened her pace, escaping the inevitable confrontation. But his steps became closer, the urgency in them almost tangible. With his longer strides and his prolonged Auror training, Lee quickly caught up with her, grabbing her arm from behind.

‘Ginny,’ he said, panting. Holding her still, he moved on to face her. ‘What…’ and then he stopped, noticing her tears. His voice broke to a quivering whisper, and he held her close to him, letting her weep into his chest. ‘Why are you crying?’

Ginny shook her head, wetting the entire front of his robes.

‘Please,’ he said. ‘I love you. There’s nothing you can say that will make me think less of you.’

At this declaration, Ginny’s sobbing increased. How little did he know. But then, what choice did she have? What right did she have to keep deceiving him? As the spell on the ring indicated, she had been lying to him, and to herself for over a year. She slowly pushed herself away from his protective embrace, her breathing hitched. Unable to speak, she raised her hand, showing him the ring. With her other hand, she wiped her eyes, ready to stop crying.

‘The ring?’ Lee tried to guess. ‘Is there something wrong with it?’

Ginny hesitated. There was nothing wrong with the ring. It worked just fine. It was the bearer who was faulty. Slowly, she nodded.

‘The spell doesn’t work?’ Lee tried again, this time missing the point. ‘Don’t worry about it. You had so much on your mind…’

He stopped as Ginny shook her head firmly. She took a deep breath, and then tried to speak. Her voice was distant to her ears, as if someone else was speaking for her. Oddly, it was steadier than she had expected. ‘The spell did work,’ she said, feeling beyond tears, now. ‘It just didn’t pull my hand to the right man.’

Lee froze, his eyes fixed on Ginny as if begging her to give some explanation; to say something that would alter the meaning of her last statement. But she had nothing of the sort to offer. ‘What do you make of it?’ he asked.

Ginny shrugged, biting her lower lip.

‘Do you still love me?’

‘Of course I do!’ she said without having to think about it. She took a step towards him, and then stopped herself.

Lee closed the short distance between them, taking her in his arms. ‘Was that why you ran out of the infirmary just now? Because you felt the pull of the ring?’ his voice was tender, caressing her as his hand moved in her hair. Then, he tensed, his voice harsher. ‘Was it Harry?’

‘No. Yes. Oh!’ Frustration took over Ginny, and she stopped for another deep breath. ‘It was Harry, but it happened yesterday, when he first came into the hospital. Just now… I wanted to test the ring again. See if it still pulls me towards him, but I couldn’t…’

‘Couldn’t?’ Lee asked. His hand stopped moving in her hair, but he still held on to her, less like a lover and more like a man holding on to a last piece of wood left of a shipwreck.

‘I was too nervous,’ Ginny said. ‘I held my hand between you and… Harry… but it was shaking so badly that I couldn’t feel any pull at all.’ Now her entire body shook in his arms.

Lee bent down and kissed the top of her head, unable to feel angry with her. As she shook again, he put his hands on her shoulders, and looked into her eyes. ‘Forget about the ring,’ he said. ‘It is just a stupid tool. Don’t let it confuse you. What is in your heart?’ He swallowed hard, and went on. ‘If you tell me that you think Harry is the right one for you, I will not stand in your way.’ His eyes were less brave than his words, betraying pain and fear.

The tears that she had barely managed to control before started flowing again. ‘I love you,’ Ginny whispered, and then with more confidence, repeated, ‘I - love - you.’ Her hand suddenly flew to his chin, pulling his face to hers for a kiss. She began laughing into his lips - a relieved, half hysterical laugh, mixed with the salt of the tears.

‘Now the bloody thing works,’ she said, trying to sound indignant, but too happy to succeed.

‘Not that I’m not grateful,’ Lee said when he was finally able to tear his mouth from hers, ‘but what happened? Why did you feel it taking your hand to Harry?’ He uttered the name as if it was a foul word.

‘Hermione was probably right,’ Ginny said, ignoring the new question on Lee’s face. ‘I was worried about Harry when he disappeared, and I was thinking about him. A lot. I love Harry. But not the same way that I love you,’ she added hurriedly as Lee frowned. ‘The ring was probably suggesting that I should be quicker in taking care of his injuries.’

Lee seemed to relax, but there was still a glint of jealousy in his dark eyes.

‘I think now is the right time to discuss the way you behave every time you see me with Harry,’ Ginny said. ‘I’m engaged to you. There is absolutely no reason to be jealous. The two of you can be really good friends…’

Lee shut her up with a kiss, delaying that discussion to another time.

***

Lee sighed as his tracking charm screeched for the third time. Sirius was probably back at the Headmaster’s office, ready to go back to the Ministry, but he simply couldn’t find the strength to leave Ginny again.

‘You really must go,’ she said, looking sadly at the reddening talisman in his hand. ‘I will see you soon.’ She gave him one last, passionate kiss, and shoved him away from her.

Lee did start walking, but his mind, along with his heart, was left in the corridor behind him. For that reason, he was extremely startled when he walked into someone.

‘Bill!’ Lee exclaimed. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.’

‘Well, you couldn’t have seen me,’ Bill said, trying to conceal a smile. ‘I was right here, and you definitely weren’t. I was looking for you, actually. I would like to have a few words with you.’

Lee looked at the talisman, which began buzzing angrily again. ‘I’m sorry, I can’t. I need to go back to the Ministry.’

‘This’ll only take a few minutes,’ Bill said. He put a large hand on Lee’s back and led him into an empty classroom. ‘Just turn that bloody thing off; I can’t think with this noise.’

‘It can only be turned off by the one who initiated the call,’ Lee explained, trying to get out of the classroom, but finding his way blocked.

Bill took the screaming red device from Lee. ‘Let’s see…’ He pointed his wand to it and muttered a few sentences. The talisman squealed and twisted in his hand as if it was trying to get away, and then it returned to its natural placid green. ‘Very similar to remote-controlled bombs,’ Bill said, handing it back to Lee. ‘Now, if you just answer a few questions…’

‘If it’s about Ginny,’ Lee said, ‘then forget about it. I’m not leaving her, even if every one of her brothers throws all the curses he knows at me. We are getting married!’ He squared his shoulders and stood as tall as he could in an attempt to stare eye to eye with the giant redhead.

‘So you won’t be threatened away,’ Bill said, watching Lee nod confidently. ‘That’s a good start.’ He leaned back against one of the tables and half sat on it, which brought him to eye-level with the other wizard. ‘What about her, though? What if someone threatened to hurt her? She’s in great danger, just being friends with a FIAT agent, but being the wife of one…’

‘FIAT?’ Lee said, trying to sound as bewildered as he could.

‘Oh, don’t look at me like that,’ Bill said. ‘My own brother is heading the department. What? You didn’t really think I was buying all that ‘standardising caldrons’ mumbo jumbo. Always around that idiot, Fudge who can’t seem to remember his name, and being called to secret meetings with ex-Aurors who are obviously still active. I did some digging; asked a few questions. You’re not as secretive as you would like to think.’

Lee listened with growing amazement, but something Bill said gave him an idea. ‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘Ginny is in danger. But isn’t being Percy’s little sister a much greater exposure than being my wife? As a matter of fact, you’re in the same danger as she is.’

Bill frowned. ‘You’ve got a point there,’ he said. ‘Seems that there is only one thing left to do.’

‘What is that?’ Lee asked, hoping that Bill wasn’t about to suggest that Percy would quit. Although a bit too pedantic at times, the young manager was considered the best thing to have ever happened to the Aurors division.

Bill got up and put his hand between Lee’s shoulder blades, guiding him out of the classroom. ‘To extinguish the evil, of course. I’m coming with you.’ He took the talisman from Lee’s hand. ‘I do believe that this thing said something about a meeting. Shall we go?’

***

Ron jumped to his feet the moment Ginny stepped out of the room. Draco and Saitaina were sitting on the bed opposite Harry and Hermione, only the blond boy was now stopping every one of her advances before she could get close to him.

‘Get out,’ Ron said, positioning himself right in front of Draco. ‘Crawl back to the Slytherin sewer from which you came. We don’t want you around us.’

‘Believe me,’ Draco drawled. ‘It’s no great pleasure sitting here and looking at your polka-dot face, but the headmaster asked me to stay here.’

‘He asked her to stay here,’ Ron said, pointing to Saitaina. His eyes locked on hers, and he forgot what he was about to say.

‘I think I remember you,’ Saitaina said.

‘I certainly remember you,’ Ron whispered, taking a step closer. She offered her hand to him, and he took it, bending down to kiss her.

‘Hey!’ Draco cried. ‘That’s my fiancée you’re kissing!’ He reached for his wand, but stopped in mid motion, as if under a freezing spell. Then, he retracted his empty hand from his robe pocket, and there was a hinted glint in his silver eyes. Leaning back on his elbows, he watched the two move from gentle kisses to wild attempts to swallow each other.

‘She’s his what?! Harry said, his eyes wide, and growing even wider as Ron picked Saitaina up and carried her to another bed, away from Draco.

‘They’re engaged,’ Hermione said coldly. ‘Harry, do something! That woman has Ron bewitched!’

Harry couldn’t control his laugh. ‘Engaged? Malfoy is getting married?’ Then he caught the tortured look on Hermione’s face, and gagged. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said, his voice full of compassion.

‘I’m all right. Go help Ron.’

Harry almost said that Ron seemed to be doing very well on his own, but thought better of it. He held out his wand, which he still needed at this stage of his recovery, and walked to the couple.

He tried tapping Ron on the shoulder before resorting to magic, but stirred no reaction from him. Draco, on the other hand, made a little snort before resuming his indifferent observation.

Angry with Draco, Harry turned to Ron and tore him from his partner, forgetting about magic or his wand. Saitaina seemed like she was about to cry, and Ron had to lean against Harry for a long moment before he seemed to even know where he was. Then, he launched at Draco.

Harry grabbed him again, and hauled him away in much the same way as he had when separating his friend from Saitaina.

‘Did you see that?’ Ron cried, struggling to get free from Harry’s grip. ‘Now he’s using this innocent woman to get his way.’ His face was red, his ears looking like they were on fire.

‘Innocent,’ Draco snorted. There was a weird noise from Hermione’s direction as well.

‘I’m not…’ Saitaina began and then met Ron’s anticipating dark eyes. ‘I am, actually,’ she said in a more confident tone. ‘I told He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named that I would help Draco spy on you. This was the only way he allowed me to come here. I waited a long time for a chance like this. I don’t want to serve the Dark Lord again. But he!’ She waved her finger at Draco. ‘He is still in his service.’

Draco jumped to his feet, finally losing his apathetic posture. ‘Liar!’ he said. ‘You told me you wanted to come with me wherever I was. I helped smuggle you from the Manor. I risked my life for you!’

Saitaina shook her head vehemently. ‘You didn’t risk anything. You went with the Dark Lord’s blessing. Look!’ she grabbed Draco’s left hand and exposed his arm. ‘He’s carrying the Dark Mark.’

‘So are you,’ Draco said, lifting her hand and violently changing their positions.

‘So am I!’ Ron said, pulling Saitaina away from Draco. ‘It means nothing.’

‘Exactly my point,’ Draco said. ‘Thank you, Weasley.’

For a moment, it seemed like Ron would make another attempt to punch Draco, but then his muscles relaxed, and there was a faint smile on his lips. ‘Are you really on our side?’ he asked, looking straight into the grey eyes.

‘Of course I am. Didn’t you see all those Death Eaters come after me when I saved your life?’

‘Are you sure?’ Ron insisted.

Draco grimaced and didn’t bother to answer.

‘Good,’ Ron said. ‘Then you wouldn’t mind testifying to that under Veritaserum. Hermione, you still carrying that flask around?’

Hermione nodded. She fumbled in her nightstand, and produced a small, transparent flask.

‘On the contrary,’ Draco said. ‘I would mind. The fact that I’m fighting on your side doesn’t mean I have nothing to hide. Just nothing that is any of your business.’

‘Then it’s obvious on whose side you really are,’ Ron said, his face screwed in near-cruelty. ‘Get out of here.’

‘It’s the infirmary,’ Draco announced, not moving. ‘I’m waiting for the nurse. I have this terrible headache. I think it may be related to your annoying voice.’

‘You have no headache. If you had one, you’d have taken a painkilling potion. There are plenty of those around.’ He reached for Madam Pomfrey’s desk and held up one of the goblets that were waiting there for whoever wanted them.

Draco snatched the goblet from Ron and took a small sip. ‘It didn’t help,’ he said. ‘I still need to wait here.’

‘You didn’t drink it up.’

Draco emptied the goblet and handed it to Ron. ‘There. Happy now?’

‘Very,’ Ron said, smiling. ‘Would you have been killed if you hadn’t come to Hogwarts?’

The answer was obvious to Draco. The Dark Lord would have killed him if he refused his orders. It was a definite ‘yes’, but he wasn’t going to share that with Weasley. ‘Yes,’ he said. A look of horrified surprise spread on his face. ‘You put Veritaserum in the potion,’ he said.

‘I might have… a few drops… three, to be exact.’

Draco’s eyes narrowed to slits. ‘You ask me one more question before this wears off, and I’ll kill you. I’m under truth serum, so you know I mean it.’

‘I’ll take my chances,’ Ron said. ‘Why are you still chasing Hermione when you’re about to get married?’

‘This is an arranged marriage,’ Draco began. He slapped a hand over his mouth, but the words came out from between his fingers. ‘I don’t love Saitaina. I love Hermione. Never stopped…’ a great struggle seemed to take place inside of him. He bit on his fingers and seemed to be in great pain; much more than just from his injured finger. ‘Loving her. Even…’ He got up and staggered towards the door. ‘When I…’ He reached the door and whispered the last few words into the corridor outside.

With the pain of not telling the truth under Veritaserum lifted from him, Draco was able to stand straight again. ‘I will get you for this,’ he spat towards Ron, and then fled.

Next time: Bill has a little surprise waiting for him at the Ministry of Magic’s Final Frontier Intelligence Agency (FIAT). Draco has a bigger surprise waiting for him when he transforms the ‘sleeper’. And of course, the Draco/Hermione/Harry triangle continues to complicate matters.

***

To get updates, cookies and other goodies, join us over at HP_Deception

***

Thanks go to:
Special thanks to the reviewers on the HP_Deception list. You do have a way of extracting hints and spoilers from me :).
Lady Swan: Ooh. Sorry I missed your longer review. I'm not sure Ginny and Bill were very friendly towards Draco. Hmmm... Will try to correct that impression next time :). You are right about it being weird that Hermione doesn't go into a fit at the thought of Harry and Ginny together. It's a big fat hint as to where her heart really lies.
Saitaina: Don't worry, dear. You've still got a few tricks up your sleeve ;). Get used to being taken with Ron, though. Will try to help you on the list.
kavitha11: You're absolutely right about Draco being Voldemort's man in Hogwarts. Draco can't do too good a job at winning their trusts, being constantly watched by the Dark Lord. You think Ron is still being a prat? *bursts into tears* I'm doing my best to be nicer to him. Oh well. I liked your pairing suggestion :D. Actually, there's an alternative ending to KDIL (stashed) with exactly these couples. Don't think it would work here, unfortunately.
AVK: Lucius is a fanatic. You've got that right. However, you're very quick to take Draco's word about Harry still being a Death Eater. True, he's got supporting evidence, but he's hardly been trustworthy...
Mwalimu: (More detailed response on the list). I'm sorry I upset you with my evil grin ;). I promise to be nice to Lee. Thanks for the word corrections, and especially for backing Liaso up on the 'hot' air' thing. I wasn't sure if that was a British/American thing. You're right about Hedwig (a bit of a spoiler). It was Simon's original idea. I'm not sure about Snape. Unlike many, I truly dislike him (then again, I don't like canon!Draco either). He didn't perform well under pressure in PoA, and he certainly made his feelings about Sirius clear at the end of GoF. I do agree, however, that he wouldn't have complained if there was anyone around to hear him.
jodiodi2277: There were two V-day cookies. One that was released on V-day (mostly H/H) and the one you mentioned. Both were written on request... Well,I wrote down your request for a follow up :). You're right. To be more realistic, Hermione and Harry must still be weak in the next chapter. Will make sure of that.
Bertie Bott: Hermione would have stayed longer in a comma if it hadn't been for Draco's kiss. That, and I need her to start acting... As for Draco trying to Win her heart back - I thought he was doing just that, in his distorted, illogical Malfoy way.
miuccia: You put a lot of confidence in me ;). I hope I don't let you down...
draco's angel: I'm afraid it'll take a while before the next installment, but I'll do my best :).
Shirow: You're probably right. The chapter would have been better if I had taken the time to elaborate. Unfortunately, then it would have been out no earlier than August...
Pilar: Ooh. Sounds like you've got plenty of reading to keep you occupied for a while. I'm extremely honoured to have my fic listed with the others in your stack. Will give a more detailed answer over the list.
A Shade Violet: Thanks for leaving a comment. Hopefully, the 'where we left off' at the beginning of the chapter will help you find your orientation again.